TLDR

• QbTest is an FDA-cleared computerized test that gives clinicians objective measurements of attention, impulse control, and activity level during an ADHD evaluation [2]
  
• QbTest is not a standalone diagnostic tool; FDA documents state its results are meant to aid clinical assessment and be interpreted by a qualified clinician [2]
  
• No single test diagnoses ADHD; diagnosis follows DSM-5 criteria, including symptoms in two or more settings and several symptoms present before age 12 [3]
  
• An estimated 6.0 percent of U.S. adults, about 15.5 million people, had a current ADHD diagnosis in 2023 [4]
  
• About 11.4 percent of U.S. children ages 3 to 17, roughly 7 million children, have ever been diagnosed with ADHD [5]

What is QbTest?

QbTest is an FDA-cleared computerized test that objectively measures the three core areas involved in ADHD: attention, impulse control, and activity level. A person completes a short task on a computer screen while a motion-tracking camera records movement, giving the clinician measured data to use alongside a clinical evaluation.

The test was developed by Qbtech, a Swedish company that builds ADHD testing technology, and the current version received FDA 510(k) clearance in 2014 [1]. In FDA filings, its purpose is stated plainly: QbTest “provides clinicians with objective measurements of hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention to aid in the clinical assessment of ADHD” [2]. The key phrase is “to aid.” QbTest supports a clinician’s evaluation. It does not replace one, and it was never cleared to diagnose ADHD on its own [2].

That distinction matters more than it might seem. ADHD is diagnosed through a clinical process, not a single score. What QbTest adds is something most evaluations have lacked: numbers. Instead of relying only on how a person describes their focus, or how a parent remembers a teen’s behavior, the clinician can see performance measured against normative data drawn from more than 1,300 individuals ages 6 to 60 [2].

For adults and families in Cooper City and across South Florida weighing an ADHD evaluation, that added layer of objectivity can be a helpful part of deciding where to be evaluated.

Why objective measurement strengthens an ADHD evaluation

Objective measurement strengthens an ADHD evaluation by adding a recorded result to tools that otherwise rely on impressions. Rating scales, symptom checklists, and interviews are valuable, and they remain the backbone of any evaluation, but they depend on self-report and memory. Two honest people can describe the same level of distraction very differently.

Adults feel this problem acutely. Many adults who suspect they have ADHD have spent years asking themselves whether they are imagining it, or whether everyone struggles this much to finish tasks, meet deadlines, and stay organized. A test that measures attention and impulse control directly gives that question something concrete to rest on, in either direction. A result that looks typical is useful information too, since it points the evaluation toward other explanations.

Parents of teens carry a different worry. Some fear a label their child will carry for years; others fear a real problem going unrecognized. Concerns about both over-diagnosis and under-diagnosis are reasonable, and objective measurement speaks to both. The test result is indifferent to expectations. It shows how a specific teen performed on a standardized task compared against the test’s normative reference data [2].

The CDC is direct on this point: there is no single test to diagnose ADHD [3]. QbTest does not change that. What it changes is the quality of the information a clinician works with. When the measured data, the clinical interview, and the rating scales all point the same way, everyone involved can have more confidence in the conclusion. When they disagree, that disagreement is useful in itself, prompting a closer look at sleep, mood, anxiety, or life stress.

What happens during a QbTest

A QbTest session takes about 20 minutes and asks the person to respond to symbols on a computer screen. There are no needles, no scans, and no long questionnaires during the test itself. The person sits in front of a screen, watches shapes appear one at a time, and presses a responder button according to a simple rule, such as pressing whenever the same shape and color repeat in sequence.

While the task runs, a motion-tracking camera records even very small movements. That is how the test captures activity level, which is hard to gauge from rating scales alone. Fidgeting, shifting, and restlessness during a repetitive task become recorded data rather than a rough recollection.

By the end, the system has measured three things:

• Attention: how consistently the person notices and responds to targets over time
• Impulse control: how often the person responds when they should not have
• Activity: how much the person moved during the task

The results are compared with normative data drawn from a reference group of 1,307 individuals ages 6 to 60 [2]. The report shows where a person’s performance falls relative to that group.

The task is plain on purpose. A repetitive, low-stimulation task gives attention and activity patterns room to show up in measurable form, which is what makes the result useful for the clinician who reviews it with you afterward.

How QbTest results are used in the full evaluation

QbTest results are interpreted by a qualified clinician as one part of a complete ADHD evaluation, never as the diagnosis itself [2]. The diagnosis follows the criteria in the DSM-5, the diagnostic manual used across the United States [3].

Those criteria set a deliberately high bar. Children up to age 16 need six or more symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity; adolescents 17 and older and adults need five or more [3]. Several symptoms must have been present before age 12, which is why an adult evaluation includes questions about childhood [6]. Symptoms must show up in two or more settings, such as home, school, or work, and there must be clear evidence that they interfere with social, school, or work functioning [3].

One more requirement shapes the whole process: the symptoms must not be better explained by another condition [3]. Difficulty concentrating is one of the least specific symptoms in mental health. Depression blunts focus. Anxiety scatters it. Poor sleep erodes it. Part of a careful ADHD evaluation is weighing these possibilities, and this is where a clinician’s judgment does work no computer test can do.

In practice, the pieces fit together like this. The clinical interview gathers history, current symptoms, and context. Rating scales capture how symptoms show up day to day, sometimes from more than one perspective, such as a parent and a teacher. QbTest contributes standardized, measured data on attention, impulse control, and activity. The clinician weighs all of it against DSM-5 criteria and reaches a conclusion, which is sometimes ADHD, sometimes a different condition, and sometimes both.

Who ADHD testing is for

ADHD testing makes sense for adults and teens whose focus, impulsivity, or restlessness keeps interfering with work, school, or relationships, and who want a clear answer rather than a guess. ADHD is far more common in adults than many people assume. CDC data from 2023 found that an estimated 6.0 percent of U.S. adults had a current ADHD diagnosis, about one in 16, or roughly 15.5 million people [4]. Many were never evaluated as children and are recognizing the pattern for the first time in adulthood.

For children and adolescents, the numbers run higher still. An estimated 7 million U.S. children ages 3 to 17, about 11.4 percent, have ever been diagnosed with ADHD, with boys diagnosed at roughly twice the rate of girls [5]. That gap raises a fair question for parents of daughters, since girls whose symptoms lean toward inattention rather than hyperactivity can be easier to miss.

Testing is worth considering if:

• An adult has a long history of missed deadlines, unfinished projects, or disorganization that effort alone has not fixed
• A teen’s report cards or teacher notes keep flagging focus, and homework has become a nightly struggle
• A previous evaluation felt rushed or left lingering doubts
• Another condition, like anxiety or depression, is being treated, yet focus problems remain

Access has improved as well. Roughly half of U.S. adults with ADHD have used telehealth for ADHD services [4], and a hybrid approach, interview by video plus in-person testing, fits most schedules.

Getting started with ADHD testing in Cooper City

QbTest is available in person at Twelve Oaks Psychiatry, a psychiatric practice at 10400 Griffin Rd, Suite 201, Cooper City, FL 33328. The practice is led by Michael Hernandez, APRN, PMHNP-BC, a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner who provides ADHD testing and treatment for adults and adolescents.

An evaluation at Twelve Oaks brings together the pieces described above: a clinical interview, rating scales where appropriate, and QbTest. The QbTest itself is administered at the Cooper City office, since it requires the motion-tracking equipment on site. The clinical interview portion of an evaluation can be completed through HIPAA-compliant telehealth statewide across Florida, which helps patients who live outside Broward County or who have packed schedules. If the evaluation points toward ADHD and treatment is appropriate, Michael provides ongoing medication management, so care continues with the same clinician who did the testing.

Same-day appointments are available, which matters when someone has finally decided to stop wondering and get evaluated. The practice accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Patients are encouraged to confirm in-network status with their plan.

To schedule, call (954) 947-1130, or contact us through the website to request an appointment. Old report cards, past evaluations, or notes about specific struggles can give the evaluation a head start, though none of that is required. Come as you are, with your questions. Getting an accurate picture is the whole point, and it starts with a conversation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does QbTest alone diagnose ADHD?

No. QbTest is cleared by the FDA to aid clinical assessment, not to serve as a standalone diagnostic tool [2]. There is no single test that diagnoses ADHD [3]. A diagnosis requires a clinical evaluation against DSM-5 criteria, including symptom history, symptoms in two or more settings, and consideration of other explanations [3].

How long does QbTest take?

The test itself takes about 20 minutes. Plan for a longer visit overall, since a full evaluation includes a clinical interview and a review of your history. Your clinician will go over the results with you and explain what they mean in your situation.

Is QbTest covered by insurance?

Coverage varies by plan, so check before your visit. Some plans cover objective ADHD testing as part of a psychiatric evaluation; others handle it differently. Twelve Oaks Psychiatry accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Patients are encouraged to confirm in-network status with their plan and to ask how ADHD testing is handled.

Can children and teens take QbTest?

Yes, within its validated age range. QbTest was validated using normative data from individuals ages 6 to 60 [2]. Twelve Oaks Psychiatry provides psychiatric care for adults and adolescents, and parents of younger children can call the office to talk through the right option for their child’s age.

Do I need QbTest if I was already diagnosed with ADHD?

Not necessarily. A prior diagnosis from a careful evaluation does not expire. Some people pursue testing anyway: adults diagnosed long ago who want current data, people whose earlier evaluation felt incomplete, or patients whose response to treatment has been puzzling. Ask your clinician whether new testing would add anything useful in your case.

Can I take QbTest from home through telehealth?

No. QbTest is administered in person at the Cooper City office, where the motion-tracking equipment is set up. The clinical interview portion of an ADHD evaluation can be done through telehealth anywhere in Florida, so many patients complete the interview by video and visit the office once for the test.

What if my symptoms feel urgent or I am in crisis?

Call 9-1-1 right away if you are in immediate danger or feel you might harm yourself or someone else. For crisis support, you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. In many Florida communities, dialing 2-1-1 connects you with crisis information and local referrals. Testing can wait until you are safe. Your safety comes first.

HIPAA and Medical Disclaimer

This blog is general education, not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Reading this does not create a clinician-patient relationship.

If you feel you might harm yourself or someone else, or you are in immediate danger, call 9-1-1 right away.

For crisis support, you can call or text 988. Florida lists 2-1-1 as a resource for crisis information and referrals in many communities.

Privacy note: Do not share sensitive personal health information through public comments, unsecured email, or social media. For care questions, use a secure patient portal or call an office line so your information can be handled privately, consistent with HIPAA expectations for health information privacy.

Citations

[1] FDA 510(k) Premarket Notification Database, QB TEST (K133382)

[2] FDA 510(k) Summary, QbTest (K122149)

[3] CDC, Diagnosing ADHD

[4] CDC MMWR, ADHD Diagnosis Among Adults (2023 data)

[5] CDC, Data on ADHD

[6] NIMH, ADHD: What You Need to Know