Medical:ADHD Testing Tool

There is no single, definitive test for ADHD. Diagnosis is usually based on a comprehensive examination to rule out other causes of the symptoms, behavioral checklists and family/school assessments.

Now there’s a new office-based test that may aid in the diagnosis of ADHD, called the Quotient™ ADHD System (BioBehavioral Diagnostics Co.). Small bands are placed around the forehead and the lower legs. The bands contain reflective markers, enabling an infrared Motion Tracking System to detect head and leg movements. The test is like a computer game, requiring the user to hit certain targets on the screen with the press of a button, while avoiding other targets.

Theresa Cerulli, M.D., Neuropsychiatrist, in North Andover, MA, says as the patient “plays” the game, the computer tracks the level of attention (how well the appropriate targets are identified and marked) and impulsivity (measuring the number of hits on targets to be avoided). All the while, the Motion Tracking System is recording movements of the head and leg reflectors at a speed of 50 times a second. The fast tracking enables the computer to measure subtle changes in motion.

The Quotient test is approved by the FDA and can be used for children and adults. The child test takes about 15 minutes and the adult version about 20 minutes. Once the test is done, the data is submitted to the company’s online server. Within a short time, the information is processed. The physician can access the report and download or print the results from the company’s website.

Cerulli says the scores provide an objective measure of attention and impulsivity. This enables physicians and families to determine the true degree of symptoms and see how those symptoms may impact school and other areas of a child’s life. Cerulli says some doctors use the test to get a baseline measurement of a patient’s symptoms, then retest after medications have been used to see if the drugs are helping. However, the test is not yet approved for medication management