QbCheck and QbTest are FDA- and MDR-cleared, CE-marked digital ADHD tests that objectively measure the core ADHD symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity.
In this guide, we’ll explain how objective testing works, the benefits of objective ADHD test results for diagnosis and treatment, how to interpret a QbCheck report, and answer common clinician FAQs.
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How QbCheck ADHD test can help diagnose and manage ADHD
Diagnosing ADHD can be complex. Clinical interviews, observation, rating scales, and questionnaires are all valuable tools, but their subjective nature can lead to inconsistencies and data gaps. Integrating QbCheck into your ADHD assessment pathway provides standardized, consistent symptom data benchmarked against a large normative database.
Using QbCheck can help you to:
- Reduce diagnostic uncertainty
- Test patients consistently as part of a standardized clinical pathway
- Provide tangible evidence to support diagnosis and treatment planning
- Track motor activity with 1mm precision, giving insights into the smallest activity patterns
- Monitor symptom change over time and assess treatment effect
- Removes hardware dependency and clinic room constraints
With rising ADHD awareness and demand for quicker, evidence-based assessments, objective data isn't just helpful; it's essential.
What do digital ADHD tests measure and how do they work?
QbCheck is a 15-20-minute computer-based test for assessing ADHD symptoms in people aged 6 to 60 years. Using a built-in webcam, facial tracking technology, and real-time activity tracking, QbCheck tracks a test taker's physical movements and responses to visual stimuli.
During the test, the user responds to a sequence of visual cues, pressing the spacebar only when instructed. The test records every movement, click, and pause. Then, it analyzes and benchmarks against age and sex-at-birth-matched control groups.
This combination of objective performance data and real-time movement tracking gives you a more comprehensive view of how ADHD symptoms present over time. For a detailed report on how objective testing works and its benefits to your practice, get in touch with our expert team.
How does the data from Qb testing relate to the core symptoms of ADHD?
Our ADHD technology has been designed to provide data on the three core symptoms of ADHD:
- Hyperactivity – tracked by analyzing movement throughout the test
- Inattention – measured by how often a user misses or delays responses to target stimuli
- Impulsivity – identified by premature or incorrect responses
How to interpret ADHD reports
QbCheck results explained
Once patients have completed their QbCheck test, you will receive a report combining objective performance data with visual comparisons like charts and graphs. While the QbCheck report does not provide a diagnosis, it offers objective evidence to support your clinical judgment.
ADHD total symptom score (TSS)
This summarizes how closely the test taker’s results resemble those of individuals with typical ADHD symptom patterns. Alongside the TSS you will see an indicator of how common that score is in the general population. This can help you gauge how distinct the test taker’s profile is.
Cardinal parameters
Activity, inattention, and impulsivity are the three core areas of measurement. The test benchmarks each parameter against a control group matched by age and sex, so you see exactly where a patient deviates from typical behavior for people with the same demographics.
Time-based performance graphs
QbCheck breaks the test down into segments (known as quartiles), allowing you to observe whether symptoms like inattention or impulsivity worsen over time, a common pattern in ADHD.
Visual comparisons
Graphs show side-by-side comparisons between the test taker and a matched peer without ADHD. This helps clinicians visualize the gap between typical and symptomatic performance, making it easier to explain findings to patients and parents.
👉 Clinical tip: Watch for a steady increase in omission errors or erratic response times in later quartiles – these patterns often correlate with attention fatigue in ADHD patients.
The DSM-5 ADHD symptom checklist in QbCheck
Alongside objective test data, QbCheck includes the DSM-5 ADHD Symptom Checklist, a rating scale completed by the patient (or a parent/teacher for children).
Using objective data from QbCheck alongside DSM-5 criteria
- The checklist includes all 18 DSM-5 symptoms (9 inattentive and 9 hyperactive/impulsive)
- Test takers rate how often they’ve experienced each symptom in the past 6 months:
“Never or rarely”, “Sometimes”, “Often”, “Very often”
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- Children (ages 6–17) need six or more symptoms rated “often” or “very often” in either category
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- Adults (ages 18+) need five or more in one category
The system does not calculate the rating scale into the QbCheck score but displays it alongside. This allows you to review subjective and objective measures side-by-side when making diagnostic decisions.
Why use both objective and subjective data when diagnosing ADHD?
No single test or tool can definitively diagnose ADHD. The data from Qb testing identifies behaviors that match symptom profiles of people with ADHD during test conditions. The DSM-5 checklist and other subjective measures, such as rating scales and data from clinical interviews, tell you what’s happening in a patient’s everyday life.
Combining the results of a digital ADHD test with subjective measures can increase the accuracy of ADHD diagnosis to 89.5% in adults and 86.7% in children.
QbCheck vs QbTest
What's the difference?
QbCheck and QbTest are ADHD tests designed by a team of clinical psychologists to objectively measure the three core ADHD symptoms. They are recommended objective testing solutions for remote assessments and in-clinic testing.
While QbTest is our flagship FDA-cleared medical technology, it utilizes hardware and software to deliver objective data to clinicians. Its intended use is in-clinic only. QbCheck, on the other hand, is our newer, equivalent assessment platform that offers the same clinical utility as QbTest, but with increased flexibility and no hardware dependency. QbCheck can be administered both in-clinic and remotely.
Along with its telehealth functionality, another benefit of QbCheck is that it includes the dedicated admin portal QbClinic and the patient portal QbPath.
“There are no grey areas. We can be more assertive and understanding of each individual. For example, seeing a patient’s QbCheck score drop from 98 to 3 after taking treatment is immensely gratifying. It’s proof of progress.
“If we didn’t have QbCheck, somebody scored 4 out of 6 on the ASRS and there was more complexity to the case, I’d have to discuss with another consultant. We’d have to revisit all the patient data and would still be left with uncertainty. This could take any number of weeks to conclude.”
Carl Ellis
Clinical Team Manager, ADHD 360
How clinicians are using QbCheck in real clinical workflows
Clinicians across the US, UK, and Europe are adopting QbCheck and QbTest into ADHD diagnostic workflows to enhance assessment consistency and clarity.
Real-world clinical applications of Qb testing include:
- Providing high-quality, consistent care: Used alongside subjective measures like developmental history and rating scales to support diagnostic accuracy
- Accelerating and monitoring treatment: Repeat testing shows how measures of attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity change after starting treatment
- Making ADHD care more accessible: Objective tests enable evidence-based assessment virtually, even when patients cannot attend clinics in person
- Clarifying borderline cases: When rating scales are inconclusive, or symptoms are masked, objective data can help complete the picture
QbCheck is used by private practices, NHS services, pediatricians, psychologists, nurse practitioners, virtual care networks, and more, all seeking a structured way to assess ADHD symptoms alongside clinical judgment.
Why use QbCheck in your ADHD assessments?
QbCheck offers a flexible, accessible solution for ADHD evaluations in both, in-clinic and telehealth or hybrid settings. There is minimal setup required and no need for specialist equipment. Implementing a QbCheck-supported digital ADHD workflow helps clinics deliver standardized, high-quality care across multiple locations.
Clinician resources that help ADHD care delivery
Information on objective testing –
- More info on QbCheck
- Remote use of QbCheck
- Understanding our normative database
- Using objective testing for ADHD treatment management
Downloadable resources and handouts for ADHD professionals –
FAQs about interpreting Qb testing
QbCheck objectively measures hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity using a computer-based task and webcam tracking to analyze performance and physical movement during the test.
Yes. QbCheck is designed for use both in-clinic and remotely, making it ideal for telehealth services or clinics working across multiple locations.
QbCheck is not a diagnostic tool on its own, but it provides objective data that supports clinical decision-making. It measures key symptoms – hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity, and compares the results to normative data, helping you identify patterns consistent with ADHD.
QbCheck is designed for patients aged 6 to 60. It is commonly used for children, adolescents, and adults, and can be adapted to suit in-clinic or remote testing workflows.
Yes. QbCheck is frequently used to track changes in symptoms over time, especially in response to medication or behavioral therapy. Repeat testing allows clinicians to assess improvements in attention and activity levels objectively.