ADHD is a behavioral disorder that affects the concentration and impulse control. Finding a proper diagnosis for ADHD is essential for many reasons, including the distribution of medication. ADHD has been falsely diagnosed and many patients, usually children, are unnecessarily medicated. To prevent this, we decided to look into the current diagnosis and we found that it was based on observation of behavior which is a highly inaccurate approach to a diagnosis. Instead of a set of accurate and biological tests, usually children are taken to a specialists by a teacher's recommendation and then medicated if the specialists deem necessary. This aspect of the diagnostic process was what we wanted to address and fix.
ADHD is a very complex disorder, which explains why many researchers shy away from devoting their time, money, and expertise towards this research. According to aboutkidshealth.ca, ADHD patients have smaller frontal lobes, more temporal grey matter, their caudate nucleus is affected, and their cerebellum is affected, which are all directly correlated with their concentration, impulse control, inhibition, and motor activity.
Our Diagnostic Test:
Grey Matter:
In order to test the amount of grey matter in their brain, our test will consist of language based reasoning and memory measures.
More specifically, we will test auditory memory by reading to our subjects sets of words and numbers to remember within 1 minute.
Then we will test visual memory by visually giving our subjects different words and numbers to remember, also within 1 minute.
In addition to memory, we will test their ability to analyze literature and language through the already created standardized tests for each grade level. Their ability to not only focus and concentrate throughout the test but also their ability to do well on the test will be a factor into the diagnostic test.
Caudate Nucleus:
The Caudate Nucleus is practically a feedback processor, meaning that it uses past experiences and knowledge to make decisions. In order to test how well this part of the brain is functioning, the patient will play the game memory.
Rules of the game:
- Shuffle a deck of cards.
- Place them face down arranged in a table of rows and columns.
- The players try to match pairs until all the cards have been matched.
Prefrontal Cortex, Cerebellum, and the Oculomotor Nerve:
In order to know if the Prefrontal Cortex, the Cerebellum and the Oculomotor Nerve has been affected, we will use our modified test based off of the visual field test that has been proven to work by a published study with the title of “Oculomotor Anomalies in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Evidence for Deficits in Response Preparation and Inhibition” by researchers Dr. E. Mark Mahone, Ph.D., Dr. Stewart H. Mostofsky, M.D., Dr. Adrian G. Lasker, M.S., Dr. David Zee, M.D., and Dr. Martha B. Denckla, M.D.
This study directly tests the Oculomotor nerve, which is responsible for eye movement, but the motor skills and the reflexes aspect of the test has a correlation with the Cerebellum, and the processing of information, meaning telling the eye to move to the light, is the Prefrontal Cortex’s responsibility.
Procedure for test 1 (tests motor skills):
Patient’s head movement is restricted with a chin rest and a bite bar. The patient will look into an instrument that takes away all distractions visually and leaves the patient staring into only a screen that is completely blank. Then an LED (light-emitting diodes) will light up 10° from the center. Exactly when the light was illuminated, the patient will have to move their eye to the light which is 10°. Once the light turns off, the patient moves their eye back to the center. This same procedure is repeated 20°, 30°, and 40° from the center, along with -10°, -20°, and -30°, and -40° from the center. The faster speed at which the patient is able to recognize the light and move their eye towards the light provides an indicator that they have an intact and pretty well functioning Prefrontal Cortex, Cerebellum, and Oculomotor Nerve.
Procedure for test 2 (tests memory and processing ability):
Similar to procedure 1, patient’s head movement is restricted with a chin rest and a bite bar. The patient will look into an instrument that takes away all distractions visually and leaves the patient staring into only a screen that is completely blank. Then an LED (light-emitting diodes) will light up 10° from the center. The light is illuminated for 0.5 seconds but then turns off. Once the light turns off, the patient moves their eye to where the light used to be shining and then moves their eye back to the center. This same procedure is repeated 20°, 30°, and 40° from the center, along with -10°, -20°, and -30°, and -40° from the center. The more accurate the person is with moving their eye to the designated location, the more it indicates that they have an intact and pretty well functioning Prefrontal Cortex, Cerebellum, and Oculomotor Nerve.
We came into this project asking the question, “Can a test be created to more accurately diagnose ADHD?” Based on our extensive research, we have concluded that yes, a test can be created to more accurately diagnose ADHD. Throughout this project, we have compiled many different and unrelated tests to come up with a diagnostic test of ADHD.
Researchers have been shying away from ADHD research, and more specifically research towards a more accurate ADHD diagnosis. However what we found was that there are so many tests out there — standardized tests, memory games, visual field tests from your regular eye appointments, etc. All we have to do is tweak those tests a little and broaden the purpose of those tests. Instead of limiting visual field tests to those at risk for glaucoma damage, administer these tests to everyone, and it can be used to diagnose ADHD and possibly other disorders and diseases.
Looking back at this project, we are both immensely proud and we have become even more passionate about this disorder. We started this project off as just a 20 time project, but what it has turned into has been beyond what we even thought it could be. We have learned such a great amount about the nervous system and ADHD. We have created a test that, when coupled with the current surveys, can be an extremely effective and more accurate diagnostic test.
We not only answered “yes, a test can be created,” regarding our initial question, but we answered, “yes, a test, which is a compilation of auditory and visual memory, a standardized test for analyzing literature, the game memory, and the modified visual field test, can be created. Based on this we deserve an A+, because we have gone above and beyond what we set out to do. We worked diligently and used our times very well during class and we learned so much. But more than anything, we are just so incredibly proud of the work we have done.
Although part of this project is giving ourselves a grade and justifying why we should get that grade, this project is much more than a grade. This project has become our passion. This project truly shows people the importance of research on ADHD and why there should be more research. This project has inspired us to not only share this research but continue our study on ADHD.
We have made a test that will change the system, change the perception, and hopefully inspire others to work towards bettering the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD.
Link to Ananya's reflection on her 20 time experience
Link to Veda's reflection on her 20 time experience
Link to Ananya's reflection on her 20 time experience
Link to Veda's reflection on her 20 time experience
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