Diagnosing ADHD typically takes a long time. There is first a 10-week “watchful waiting period,” during which a general practitioner has parents watch their child for specific behaviors, and then the child is referred to specialists to be assessed based on specific symptoms. This long period for diagnosis can be detrimental, as earlier intervention is better for treating the disorder.
Instant ADHD diagnosis? It may be easier to diagnose than people could have ever imagined.
Can a new technology diagnose ADHD in minutes?
However, a new technology called Braingaze claims that it can make an accurate diagnosis of ADHD in a matter of minutes. Braingaze tracks eye movements, which it uses as an indicator of a person’s attention span. While not yet on the open market, it could significantly change how the disorder is diagnosed, and possibly help with earlier diagnosis which could lead to earlier intervention and a better time managing the disorder.
A few months ago, Dan Maudsley was diagnosed with ADHD. It has been reported that the BBC journalist became the first person in the U.K. to have his diagnosis confirmed by the new system.
Laura Lurns · Learning Success expert
Key takeaways
- ADHD usually takes time but that might be a thing of the past now.
- A new technology can take just ten minutes to diagnose ADHD.
- Right now it can take a few weeks to diagnose in ADHD.
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Your school district must evaluate your child free of charge if you ask in writing, whatever your income and whatever the outcome (US, 34 CFR 300.111 and 300.301(b)). That route takes time and answers a different question than you do. This one starts today, from what you already know.
Your answers stay yours. We do not sell your personal information, and we do not hand identifiable assessment data to outside AI companies to train their models.
A screener is a starting point, not a diagnosis. If your child might need formal accommodations (an IEP or 504 plan), or you suspect a vision, hearing or medical cause, pursue a professional evaluation too. That is the only route to those supports.
