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Quotient System Identifies Attention Deficit Disorder -- on Wheels!

by Matthew Zuras on February 16, 2010 at 08:28 AM

Oh, great. The FDA has recently approved med-tech firm BioBehavioral Diagnostics' Quotient ADHD System for diagnosing scatter-braininess. A rolling cart that resembles the blood-pressure monitors frequently found in drug stores, the system presents the use with a series of games and tasks that supposedly help to detect ADHD symptoms. A pair of cameras -- one on top and one near the legs -- monitor restless movement while the subject is testing. (With the amount of coffee consumed in the Switched offices, we can say with a high degree of certainty that those leg-bouncing detectors would recommend a killer dose of Adderall for the whole editorial staff.)

There has been ongoing debate over ADHD for last 30-odd years, from concerns over long-term stimulant medication, to its jump in patient diagnoses over the past two decades. Regardless of what camp of the ADHD controversy to which you hold allegiance, it seems odd that diagnosing a condition with subtle and varied aspects, like ADHD, would be relegated to a machine instead of a thinking diagnostician. We assume that (hopefully) this will only be another tool in the doctor's bag of tricks.

But BioBehavioral Diagnostics notes on its site that "ADHD historically has been challenging to diagnose because many of the assessment tools rely largely on subjective information from parents and teachers, in addition to clinical evaluation." Since the specific causes and physiological existence of ADHD are unclear, we kind of like the idea of subjective criteria for diagnosing this condition. Let's not subject our kids to robots before scribbling off a prescription; instead, let's take their whole personality into account before deciding they have a disorder. [From: Quotient via medGadget, via: Engadget]

Tags: adhd, biobehavioraldiagnostics, diagnosis, health, medical, quotient adhd system, QuotientAdhdSystem, top

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