Motion Sensor Device for ADHD Diagnosis?

An associate professor at the McLean Hospital claims to have invented the first objective diagnostic test for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Called the Quotient, the device consists of a motion sensor that tracks the child’s movements, and distinguishes between normal movements and the jittery restlessness that is characteristic of ADHD.

Here’s how the Quotient works: The test-taker sits at a computer, playing a simple game. Black stars flash against a white screen, and the patient has to hit the space bar as they appear. The task measures concentration and impulsivity. Three cameras record the position of reflective dots strapped to the forehead and shins, taking frames at 50 times per second.

In a study of 29 children, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in 1996, it was reported that the device accurately identified 16 of the 18 children who had been previously diagnosed with ADHD, and all 11 who did not have the disorder.

Researchers have found that children who have ADHD differ from other children, not just by the number of movements they make, but also by the quality of movements. Children who do not have ADHD move more erratically, while those with the disorder had simpler, swaying movements.

Some people say that the Quotient is not much different from the CPT or continuous performance test, an older test for ADHD that has been largely abandoned as a diagnostic tool. The full article details how the Quotient is a much better tool than the CPT.  Do you agree with the inventor’s claims? Share your thoughts below!