Diagnosing ADHD by physicians has been dogged by controversy ever since the condition was added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM) in 1980. No one has hit upon a foolproof way to identify it, which means ADHD is paradoxically both under- and overdiagnosed. Traditionally diagnosed through psychologists who take a patient’s clinical and personal history over the course of several hours to make an assessment, or via a neuropsychological evaluation that tests for other learning disorders and includes I.Q. testing and visual spatial skills.

The first approach can cost several hundred dollars; the second promises more accuracy but can cost up to $9,000. Both methods are effective, to varying degrees, but getting evaluated and tested for ADHD can be expensive and time-consuming, and girls and children of color are much less likely to go through the process and receive a diagnosis than boys.

QbTest is poised to bring some needed clarity to the diagnostic process by taking the subjectivity out of ADHD testing and allowing people to be diagnosed affordably and online with a telehealth-friendly version of the test, called QbCheck. Both versions of the test function as a supplement to the traditional clinical interview.

QbTest positions itself as bringing objectivity, accessibility, and a high standard of patient care  to the world of ADHD diagnosis by supplementing a clinician’s diagnosis.

What is a Qbtest? QbTest is the widest FDA cleared medical device that provides objective data for diagnosing and treating ADHD. It is a computer based test that measures the core symptoms associated with ADHD including hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention/distractibility. It combines a test of attention ability with a movement analysis based on an infrared measurement system. The test results are presented in a report that compares your child’s results with a non-ADHD group of people of the same age and gender. The test is performed in Erin’s office in Mesa, Arizona, and you can read the results together that same session.

How is a QbTest performed? The test is performed in front of a computer screen. The test equipment consists of an infrared camera, a head-band with an infrared marker attached to it and a responder button. During the test a number of symbols are shown on the computer screen. The task is to push the responder button when a certain symbol appears on the screen. The test takes 15 minutes to complete and is not dependent on your child’s language, reading or math skills.

How should QbTest be used? Assessing ADHD may be complicated and there is no single clinical tool that is able to give you all the answers. The QbTest provides objective data that together with other information will help Erin Jones, owner of Revival Psychiatry in Arizona, assess your child for ADHD.
QbTest also provides a valuable baseline measurement that can help to evaluate any future changes in your child’s activity, attention and impulsivity. If an ADHD diagnosis is established, QbTest can be used to help monitor your child’s response to treatment, and to achieve treatment optimization.

If this is something you think may help your child we encourage you to make an appointment to discuss this in more detail, or ask Erin Jones, our Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, about this treatment tool at your next visit.