qEEG & ADHD

qEEG's and ERP's are the two electrophysiological assessments which are conducted at our Centre.

The qEEG stands for ‘quantitative electroencephalograph'. It represents the statistical analysis of the electrochemical activity of the brain of an individual against a set of normal values. The assessment procedure involves the placement of a specialised cap on the patient's head. The cap has terminals which can pick up brain function impulses eminating from the head and these impulses or brain waves can be transposed onto a screen and measured using digital technology. This data is then used to create graphs of the brain wave activity which can then be compared with 'normals'. QEEGs produce an objective measurement which is of benefit to practitioners and clinicians in guiding treatment rather than relying soley on clinical observations or questionnaires. The qEEGs can also test the effectiveness of the treatment mode.

ERP's (evoked response potentials) measure the brains response to particular stimuli. These are either visual or auditory cues. The brain's response is recorded and compared with 'normal' values to produce a graphical representation of related brain activity.
The electophysiological assessments above have been used by practitioners in the United States and Europe for over 20 years. The use of the technology involved in these tests has been strongly supported by proper medical and scientific evidence and peer review. Our own Centre has been using these reliable, definitive, diagnostic tools for the past 11 years.

Testing Procedure

Following is a short description of the typical procedure which the patient undergoes for the purpose of diagnosis of a behavioural condition such as ADHD, Depression, Anxiety, Addiction etc.

1. The patient is advised to arrive at the Diagnostic and Treatment Centre at least 10 minutes before their appointment time, notifying the receptionist of his/her arrival.
2. When the medical technician and the patient are ready, the technician will bring the patient into a sound proof testing room. The technician will prepare the patient for the assessment by placing a specialised cap on the patient's head. This cap allows any electrophysiological brain activity which eminates from the patient's head to be transposed onto a screen. The technician will carry out some preliminary testing to check if the signal from the brain is amplified enough for recording.
3. The patient is then asked to respond to various visual and auditory cues and the brain response is recorded as a graph against the 'normals'. Some patients describe the procedure as fun. The assessment process last between 30-40 minutes. The approximate duration of the entire procedure is 50 minutes.
4. The patient is then free to leave. Results can be expected within 2 weeks.

Results

If a patient has been referred to the Centre by a medical practitioner, the report is sent to the referring doctor so that the doctor can discuss the results and possible treatment options with the patient.

Follow-Up

Follow-up Assessment is conducted on a case-by-case basis.
In general, if the patient is not found to exhibit any behavioural conditions, we recommend follow-up once a year. This kind of follow-up allows us to determine whether there has been any change in brain function from the previous year, whilst also enabling us to recheck for conditions such as depression, anxiety and stress which can develop over a period of time.

If our tests indicate that a patient exibits brain function which is associated with abnormal behaviours, we generally recommend a follow- up assessment two or three times a year. These follow-up assessments provide a valid check on the effectiveness of the treatment mode. This enables the practitioner to review the treatment and to establish if a change in treatment mode, medication or dosage is required, e.g. A patient may need to change from one prescribed medication to another in order that the desired therapeutic effect is achieved. Alternatively the dosage of a prescribed medication may need to be adjusted in order that the outcome is the best possible one for the patient. Thus follow-up neurophysiological assessments allow the long term treatment plan to be tailored to the needs of each individual patient, and give a clear indication of the effectiveness of the treatment plan.