How Quantitative EEG Can Be Used for ADHD Diagnosis
According to the American Psychiatric Association, ADHD affects 5% of children and adults yearly. For families who live with a loved one with this condition, daily life can be challenging. Problems in school and at work often arise due to the patient’s difficulty in paying attention or sitting still.
Traditionally, ADHD has been diagnosed by observing a person’s behavior over time to see if they correspond with at least 6 classic inattentive or hyperactive symptoms. In short, a diagnosis has been strongly based on external observation, which can be too subjective, running the risk of overdiagnosis or medicating someone who could very well thrive without ADHD medication. To solve this problem, physicians have sought an objective test that could help diagnose ADHD more accurately.
EEG: Meeting the Need for Objective Testing
The demand for more objective ADHD testing has led physicians to Quantitative EEG, which has recently been approved by the FDA as a valid way to test for ADHD. Quantitative EEG makes a brain map that reveals how much activity is going on in the brain and where it is happening.
A QEEG can discover where there is a lack or an overabundance of activity. It can also find out where activity is not coordinating well. All this data, combined with behavioral observation, determines if the patient has a valid case of ADHD.
Avoid Medication with EEG
Accurately diagnosing ADHD reduces the risk of medicating a child who does not necessarily need chemical interventions. Through EEG we can better understand the patient’s brain and see how strong the case of ADHD is, or if the patient even has the condition. In the event of a positive ADHD diagnosis, EEG can help us develop a neurofeedback training program to help reduce the patient’s need for medications or get rid of their need to be on drugs entirely.
If you would like to schedule a free appointment to discuss your options for diagnosing ADHD with EEG, contact Northwest Biofeedback Center at 847-627-8164 or 224-334-3070.