Expert: Norm Bishop - 2/26/2009

Question
How valuable is QEEG/SPECT analysis in diagnosing ADD/ADHD?
My 16 year old son was diagnosed with ADD in 4th grade but could never tolerate stimulants.  He is having terrible problems in school with reading, comprehension and math. I am thinking of getting him evaluated using QEEG. Please advice before I spend money, if it will be worth. Thanks.

Answer
I am not familiar with this instrument.  Rather than the actual test I would be more concerned with the qualifications of the examiner.  You need someone who is very familiar with the process of teaching reading and math, understands how to teach it and all the dynamics that surround it.  If the person testing is only a school psychologist with no teaching experience I would suspect you will get scores, but very little valuable feedback.  When I had my diagnostic center opened, I hired only very qualified master teachers, then I trained them in how to diagnose and prescribe.  

Some educators believe that at 16 you should stop trying to teach a 16 year old better reading, writing and math skills.  Research counters that, showing many examples of adults who became academically proficient...my advise is to not believe the, let's give up theory.  

I wish you luck in finding out if your evaluator can actually help you or not.  Ask specific questions about their teaching and testing experience, results that they have obtained, number of 16 year olds who greatly improved as a result of tier assessment, and other such questions.

Norm