Benefits and challenges of virtual ADHD testing
Disclaimer: This is a quick reference guide and is in no way a substitute for clinical training. The purpose of this document is to give clinicians a bird’s eye view of what to expect when interpreting an objective ADHD test.
As an after-effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, the US saw a 60% reduction in office visits for primary care providers. Research suggests virtual mental health care can be as effective as traditional, in-clinic visits. ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, is one of the most commonly occurring neurodevelopment disorders (NDDs). Telehealth has the potential to increase treatment availability, decrease diagnostic waiting times, and aid in neurodevelopmental monitoring.
Here are the benefits of remote ADHD testing and strategies to overcome potential hurdles that may arise.
Benefits of telehealth ADHD testing
Greater flexibility for bookings and appointments
Telehealth ADHD testing allows you to have greater control over how, when, and where you assess your patients. Not only you, but your patients will also find value in virtual ADHD care. Tests can be taken from the comfort of their home at a time that suits them best. This can be particularly beneficial for adults with work or care commitments and for children by limiting the need to miss school.
Increase in appointment availability
A recent online survey found that 87% of participants rated how quickly they were able to be evaluated as an important factor when selecting a healthcare provider. Having the ability to assess in-clinic and virtually can allow clinicians to treat more patients. Furthermore, this flexibility can help you save time and reduce administrative burden of late or missed appointments.
Overcome geographical challenges
Telehealth-aided ADHD evaluations can help limit challenges associated with geographical disparities in access to care. You can assess patients from rural locations with the required licensure, where previously, access to care may have been an issue.
Access to robust data that supports patient care
Some patients may be unaware of externally manifested symptoms such as fidgeting. Adults who were not diagnosed in childhood may have developed adaptation strategies to manage or mask ADHD symptoms. In such situations, adding objective measures can provide more context. Combining subjective data with the objective data obtained from a QbTest or QbCheck report helps standardize and streamline the ADHD pathway.
Reduce burden
Telehealth can reduce the expenses and efforts of travel, which usually are incurred while attending healthcare appointments. External factors that usually affect in-person attendance, such as bad weather or difficulties with commuting are also reduced.
Overcome challenges with Telehealth ADHD testing
QbTest Telehealth, powered by QbCheck includes data on patients’ activity levels during the test, including subtle movements that may not be obvious. The digital test also provides detailed reporting on each symptom as well as a Total Symptom Score, assessing the likelihood of that patient having ADHD based on a comparison against age and sex-at-birth control group. To learn more about interpreting objective ADHD tests, read our guide.
In addition, there is dedicated clinical support to help clinics use and navigate tests and reports. Enabling at home testing without the need for clinical teams to directly set up and guide patients through testing can reduce time and administrative burden for clinics.
We support clinical teams in setting up the optimal testing environment for QbTest and QbCheck. We also include a step-by-step guide to walk patients through the set-up and testing process remotely. Voice, text, and video instructions highlight how the patient should set up their space and minimize distractions. This facilitates ideal testing conditions.
QbTest Telehealth includes video instructions and a practice test before proceeding to the main test.
