New Test May Help Diagnose ADHD In Children

October 20, 2010

Oct 19, 2010 5:48 pm US/Eastern

Jillian Cody, 13, sometimes struggles to stay focused in school because she has

attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD. " Sometimes I space out, mostly

in the classes that are harder for me. "

That's why Jillian's mom brought her to the New England Center for Mental Health

in Littleton to undergo the new Quotient ADHD test.

The device which was recently approved by the FDA, uses motion sensors to

analyze how much a subject moves, their impulsivity and response time. " Because

it's a chemical regulation, you can see the frontal lobe activity not being

there full-fledged, so they can not regulate their body, " said Dr. Madhavi

Kamireddi of the New England Center for Mental Health.

Jillian's mother Tracey agrees, " With ADHD, everything can be so subjective so

it's nice to have this objective test. "

Doctors say the new test is not only helpful in diagnosing ADHD, but monitoring

patients who take medication to treat the condition.

" There is no cure, but it is a treatable condition so when it can be corrected,

it's worth improving the quality of life, " Dr. Kamireddi explains.

Jillian's mom Tracey says, " She's been on medication for ADHD since second

grade, since she's a student who really needs it, so it's a great way to tell

whether its time to adjust her medication. "

The test, which only takes 15 to 20 minutes, costs $150 but is covered by some

insurance companies. For more information, log onto BioBDx.com or call

1-877-246-2397 or contact the New England Center for Mental Health at

978-679-1200.

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