U.S. approves first brain wave test for ADHD
US regulators on Monday approved the first brain wave test for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, saying it may improve the accuracy of diagnoses by medical experts.
Cases of ADHD are on the rise in the United States, as are the number of prescriptions for stimulants doled out to young people who appear to have difficulty concentrating or controlling impulses.
The new test, known as the Neuropsychiatric EEG-Based Assessment Aid (NEBA) System, measures electrical impulses given off by neurons in the brain.
A 15-20 minute test calculates the ratio of certain brain wave frequencies known as theta and beta waves in children age six to 17.
“The theta/beta ratio has been shown to be higher in children and adolescents with ADHD than in