First ADHD brain wave test approved by FDA

Diagnosing someone with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is often a tricky science because it relies heavily on psychiatric and behavioral examinations. For the first time, the Food and Drug Administration has approved a device that could aid doctors by providing physical evidence for diagnosis.

The Neuropsychiatric EEG-Based Assessment Aid (NEBA) System is the first medical device of its kind to help diagnose the neurobehavioral disorder in children and teens. It uses an electroencephalogram (EEG) test to look at the patient’s brain waves.

“Diagnosing ADHD is a multistep process based on a complete medical and psychiatric exam,” Christy Foreman, director of the Office of Device Evaluation at the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, said in a written statement. “The NEBA System along with other clinical information may help health care providers more accurately determine if ADHD is the cause of a behavioral problem.”

An EEG records electrical impulses given off by nerve cells. It records the number of times the signals are given off each second.

The test is often administered to evaluate sleep problems, measure unconsciousness, diagnose problems from head injuries and monitor the brain during surgery. Now, it may help diagnose ADHD….

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