What do the letters in TICLS mean and which part of the PAT are they used in?

• A. Tone; Interactiveness; Consolability; Look/Gaze; Speech/Cry; Appearance of PAT
• B. Temperature; Irritability; Color; Lethargy; Speech; Circulation to Skin
• C. Tone; Interactivity; Consolability; Look; Cry; Circulation to Skin
• D. Tone; Interactivity; Consolability; Look; Cry; Appearance of PAT

Answer: (A)

TICLS is a quick checklist for assessing how a child is presenting, focusing on appearance. Tone describes muscle tone and energy; Interactivity looks at how the child responds to people and surroundings; Consolability gauges how easily the child can be soothed; Look/Gaze assesses eye contact and visual tracking; Speech/Cry notes the quality of the cry or speech. Taken together, these elements form the Appearance portion of the Pediatric Assessment Triangle, not the breathing or circulation parts. The other PAT components are Work of Breathing and Circulation to Skin, so TICLS specifically evaluates appearance. Therefore, the correct choice lists Tone; Interactivity; Consolability; Look/Gaze; Speech/Cry and identifies them as part of the Appearance of the PAT.