“No one knows for sure.”
Those are five words doctors hate to use when talking to a patient about
a medical condition, especially when the patient is a child.
Unfortunately, these words are a part of almost any conversation
regarding possible diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
(ADHD).
ADHD is a neurobehavioral developmental disorder that impacts
approximately three to seven percent of children. And, while ADHD has
been an identified medical condition for decades, there has never been
an objective test that allows doctors to give parents a certain
diagnosis. So, a doctor can tell you if you have heart disease, diabetes
or cancer, but a doctor can’t tell you for sure if your child’s
behavior issues are due to ADHD or another issue or condition.
Doctors historically have diagnosed ADHD through evaluation of behavior
reports provided by parents, teachers, and other adults who spend time
with the child, coupled with a physical assessment to rule out any other
medical condition. If the behaviors match the description of ADHD and
other medical conditions can be ruled out, then an ADHD diagnosis may be
made. However, behavior reports are very subjective and vary greatly.
For many parents, this is a difficult realization given ADHD treatment
typically involves prescription medication, which may have other side
effects that need to be managed and monitored.
Thankfully, new technology appears to be creating greater certainty in ADHD diagnoses.
The FDA has recently approved the Quotient® ADHD System providing
doctors and parents with objective measurement of hyperactivity,
inattention, and impulsivity for clinical assessment of ADHD. Research
indicates motion is a key indicator of hyperactivity. The test, which
only takes about 15 minutes, involves the child sitting at a
specially-designed computer workstation. The System uses a patented
Motion Tracking System to measure an individual’s movement while
focusing on visual stimuli and accurately measures motion and analyzes
shifts in attention state.
The System then compares the results of the patient’s test to other
individuals of age and gender matched groups. Results are calculated
based on 19 or more parameters that combine to give greater than 90
percent accuracy in identifying ADHD. Results are available immediately
allowing doctor and parents to move forward with treatment plans
promptly.
The report provides a variety of data:
- Motion Analysis — Provides a graphical representation of area,
spatial complexity and number of movements made by the child during
testing. - Attention State Summary — Shows how the patient’s attention
shifts over time. Motion is tracked over the course of the test and
categorized as attentive, impulsive, distracted, and disengaged. - Quotient Composite Scores — An Index Score is generated which
integrates motion and attention indices. The patient’s results are then
compared to data from other individuals of similar age and gender.
Scaled Scores are generated on Motion, Attention, and Global attributes
providing a calculation on a 10-point scale. For example, individuals
who do not have ADHD usually score around a four on this scale, where
individuals with ADHD score, on average, a seven.
The reports require interpretation by a doctor or clinician. The test
can be repeated periodically to determine progress achieved through
treatment plans or in patients over time.
For more information on mental illness, TMS Therapy for depression, or Quotient Testing for ADHD, please contact Anjum Bashir, MD at 309-808-2326 or 217-422-0027. His Bloomington office is located at 205 N. Williamsburg, Suite E, and he also has an office in Decatur. He is one of the few physicians in Central Illinois offering Quotient Testing for ADHD diagnosis.
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