ADHD Testing & Treatment (Qbtech)

ADHD testing is a structured evaluation that combines clinical interview, validated rating scales, and — when appropriate — objective computer-based testing to diagnose Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. The goal is a clear, defensible diagnosis: ruling ADHD in when it's present, ruling it out when symptoms come from something else, and identifying the right subtype.

ADHD has three presentations:

• Predominantly inattentive (often missed in adults and in girls)
• Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive (more visible in young children)
• Combined presentation

We evaluate children, teens, and adults. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates ADHD affects about 6% of U.S. Children and roughly 4% of adults — meaningfully under-diagnosed in adults, particularly women.

Qbtech (QbTest) is a CE-marked, FDA-cleared computer-based test that objectively measures three core dimensions of ADHD:

• Attention — sustained focus over the testing period
• Impulsivity — response control under varying conditions
• Activity — motion tracking via an infrared marker, useful for the hyperactivity dimension

The patient sits at a computer for 15 to 20 minutes responding to a continuous performance task. Results are compared against age- and sex-normed reference groups. The output is a clinician-readable report that adds objective data to the diagnostic picture.

Why this matters. Symptom checklists alone — even well-validated ones like Vanderbilt or Conners — rely on observer recall and judgment. They can miss inattentive ADHD in adults who've spent decades developing compensation strategies, and they can over-diagnose hyperactivity in young children with normal developmental energy. Adding objective measurement gives us something to compare against population norms and against the patient's own follow-up testing after treatment starts.

Qbtest is one input in the diagnosis, not the entire diagnosis. The DSM-5 criteria still drive the formal call — Qbtest helps us make that call with more confidence.

Here's the structure of a Good Health NC ADHD evaluation:

1. Pre-visit intake — symptom history, school or work performance, family history, prior evaluations, and current medications. For pediatric patients we collect parent and teacher rating scales.
2. Clinical interview — 45 to 60 minutes covering childhood history (even for adult patients — ADHD symptoms must have been present before age 12), current functioning, and ruling out conditions that overlap with ADHD: anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, thyroid issues, and substance use.
3. Validated rating scales — Vanderbilt (children), Conners or ASRS (adults), depending on the case
4. Qbtest — 15 to 20 minutes of computer-based testing, scored against age- and sex-normed reference groups
5. Lab and screening review when indicated — TSH, CBC, vitamin D, sleep screening, anxiety and depression screening
6. Diagnosis discussion and treatment plan — diagnosis, subtype, and a clear plan for what comes next, including medication options if appropriate and behavioral or skills-based recommendations

Most evaluations are completed in one or two visits — not three to six months of paperwork shuffling.

Once an ADHD diagnosis is confirmed, treatment is highly effective for most patients. Stimulant medications — methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta, Focalin) and amphetamine (Adderall, Vyvanse) families. First-line for most ADHD presentations with excellent response rates. Non-stimulant medications — atomoxetine (Strattera), guanfacine (Intuniv), clonidine, and viloxazine (Qelbree). Useful when stimulants aren't tolerated, when there's a substance use history, or when anxiety co-occurs significantly. Medication titration — we start at the lowest effective dose and titrate based on response and side effects. Follow-up visits every 4 to 6 weeks during titration, then every 3 to 6 months once stable. Follow-up Qbtest — for patients who want objective data on whether their medication is actually working, we can repeat Qbtest on medication and compare against the baseline result.

• Coordination of care — for school accommodations, IEPs, and 504 plans (pediatric patients) and workplace accommodations (adults), we provide the clinical documentation
• Co-occurring conditions — ADHD frequently overlaps with anxiety and depression. We treat all three in-house — see our anxiety treatment and depression treatment pages.

For patients whose attention problems turn out to be driven by anxiety, sleep disorders, or thyroid issues rather than ADHD, we redirect to the right treatment — that's the value of an evaluation done right. The American Academy of Pediatrics ADHD clinical practice guideline and CDC ADHD resource provide additional background.

Consider an evaluation if any of these are true:

• A child is struggling with attention, organization, or behavior at school, and teacher reports are flagging concerns
• An adult has long-standing difficulty with focus, time management, follow-through, or impulse control that's affecting work, school, or relationships
• A previous "ADHD" diagnosis was made without structured testing, and you want clarity
• You're a woman who suspects undiagnosed inattentive ADHD — this is one of the most under-recognized presentations
• ADHD medications haven't worked or have produced side effects, and you want to revisit the diagnosis and treatment plan
• You want objective follow-up testing to see whether your current medication is actually helping

For children with severe behavioral concerns, learning disabilities, or complex psychiatric presentations, comprehensive neuropsychological testing may be a better fit than a focused ADHD evaluation — we'll tell you straight when that's the right call.

ADHD evaluations and ongoing care work best when the team has time to listen, the diagnostic tools to be confident, and the medical background to rule out conditions that look like ADHD but aren't.

• 22 years of clinical experience under our practice lead — including pediatric, adult, and emergency care
• Qbtech objective testing — we don't rely on symptom checklists alone
• Same-week evaluations — most new patients are seen within days, not months
• Whole-person care — we screen for and treat anxiety, depression, thyroid issues, and sleep problems that frequently co-occur with ADHD
• Ongoing follow-up under one roof — same team for evaluation, medication management, and titration
• A team that knows your community — serving Knightdale, Wendell, Zebulon, Rolesville, Wake Forest, Garner, and East Raleigh

If you or your child has been waiting months for an ADHD answer, let's get you on the schedule.