Brain Mapping and P300: Clinical Neurophysiology applications for the diagnosis of ADHD

The Electroencephalogram (EEG), the Brain Cartography (EEGq), the Cognitive Evoked Potentials (P300) and the Psychophysiological Tests make it possible to diagnose ADHD and thus guide the therapy of children with this disorder.

Clinical Neurophysiology offers techniques that support clinical diagnosis and offer a quantification and gradation of ADHD. Also, these techniques collaborate in the orientation and therapeutic management of these patients, since they allow a follow up of the response to the different therapeutic strategies used in these patients.

Neurophysiological tests for the diagnosis of ADHDExperts in Clinical Neurophysiology have been working in recent years on various diagnostic methods of Attention Deficit Disorder with or without Hyperactivity (ADHD). These neurophysiological tests group 4 different methods:

1) Electroencephalogram (EEG)

The EEG consists of a register of brain bioelectrical activity through electrodes placed on the surface of the scalp or with a cap. We obtain a series of frequencies that allow us to know the maturative state of the brain and the presence or absence of abnormalities. Although the EEG of the patient with ADHD is not specific, we do observe characteristic features.

The EEG is a very useful technique because it allows:a) differentiate the presence of epilepsy or other type of neurological disordersb) discard the presence of epileptiform activity that could contraindicate the use of psychoactive drugs.

2) Quantitative electroencephalogram (EEGq) and cerebral mapping

The cerebral cartography provides a graphic presentation of the values ​​obtained in the EEG, which allows an accurate, quantitative and reproducible estimation of the characteristics of the EEG. It is performed in a similar way to EEG, although the signal processing is different, obtaining a series of different parameters, such as: absolute power, relative power, average frequency and coherence, all represented with both numerical values ​​and a representative visual image .

- Auditory evoked potentials will allow us to know the existence of hearing loss that is manifested as false inattention or difficulty in the area of ​​language.