Jul 17, 2013
New E E G Based Test Helps Diagnose A D H D with Greater Confidence
Psychological disorders are usually diagnosed by trained psychiatrists that watch for certain behavior characteristics that are telltale signs of underlying conditions. Experience and a keen eye are often all that a doctor has to work with, often making diseases like ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) be inconsistently diagnosed from doctor to doctor.
Now a new test from NEBA Health of Augusta, Ga has been approved by the FDA that may help bring a new level of objectivity to the diagnosis of ADHD. Called EEG-Based Assessment Aid (NEBA), the system calculates the ratio between the brain’s theta and beta waves. Children with ADHD are known to have high theta/beta ratios compared with less hyperactive kids. While the new system can help identify those with such brain wave ratios, the diagnosis of ADHD still needs a combination of objective and subjective findings for an accurate conclusion. The test requires about 15-20 minutes of cooperation from the child while wearing an EEG cap, but is otherwise non-invasive and pretty much pain free, save for the discomfort of wearing the cap.
FDA press release: FDA permits marketing of first brain wave test to help assess children and teens for ADHD… http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/Pre...
http://www.medgadget.com/2013/07/new-eeg-b...
Now a new test from NEBA Health of Augusta, Ga has been approved by the FDA that may help bring a new level of objectivity to the diagnosis of ADHD. Called EEG-Based Assessment Aid (NEBA), the system calculates the ratio between the brain’s theta and beta waves. Children with ADHD are known to have high theta/beta ratios compared with less hyperactive kids. While the new system can help identify those with such brain wave ratios, the diagnosis of ADHD still needs a combination of objective and subjective findings for an accurate conclusion. The test requires about 15-20 minutes of cooperation from the child while wearing an EEG cap, but is otherwise non-invasive and pretty much pain free, save for the discomfort of wearing the cap.
FDA press release: FDA permits marketing of first brain wave test to help assess children and teens for ADHD… http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/Pre...
http://www.medgadget.com/2013/07/new-eeg-b...
"Mixed Reaction to FDA Approval of ADHD Brain-Wave Test"
...Reactions have been mixed regarding the recent approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the first brain-wave testing system for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents. The new system is based on electroencephalogram (EEG) technology.
As reported by Medscape Medical News, the FDA approved the noninvasive Neuropsychiatric EEG-Based Assessment Aid (NEBA) system in July as a conjunctive tool in diagnosing ADHD in individuals between the ages of 6 and 17 years.
"Diagnosing ADHD is a multistep process based on a complete medical and psychiatric exam," said Christy Foreman, director of the Office of Device Evaluation at the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health, in a release.
Used along with these important steps, the new system "may help healthcare providers more accurately determine if ADHD is the cause of a behavioral problem," she added.
However, R. Scott Benson, MD, a child and adolescent psychiatrist in Pensacola, Florida, questions whether the new system really is any better than the diagnostic tools already in place — and whether it adds unnecessary costs.
"We live in a very cost-sensitive environment when it comes to healthcare," Dr. Benson, who is also a member of the Council on Communications for the American Psychiatric Association, told Medscape Medical News.
"As doctors, we love science and would love to find a definitive test to tell exactly what condition someone has. But we haven't found that yet, and I don't think this test is going in the right direction," he added.
Nevertheless, Howard Merry, president of the device manufacturer (NEBA Health, LLC), stands by his product.
"While NEBA does cost patients up front, we believe the boost in clinician diagnostic accuracy will ultimately be cost saving," he told Medscape Medical News.
Reliability Unclear?
The NEBA system, the use of which reportedly takes 15 to 20 minutes, calculates ratios of theta and beta brain waves given off each second. Past research has shown that this ratio is significantly higher in individuals with ADHD.
"ADHD is a very heterogeneous disorder. Our goal is to be more specific in defining these heterogeneous categories so that we can improve treatment," Martin J. Drell, MD, president of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), told Medscape Medical News. ...
Dr. Martin Drell
"Having such a system would be a dream come true, but I don't think we're there yet," said Dr. Drell.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/809079