ADHD could be diagnosed by just looking into patient's eyes

Researchers have developed a diagnostic tool that involves tracking of involuntary eye movements in order to diagnose Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) correctly.

The research by Tel Aviv University (TAU) used an eye-tracking system to monitor the involuntary eye movements and found that it accurately reflected the presence of ADHD, as well as the benefits of medical stimulants that are used to treat the disorder.

Dr. Moshe Fried, of TAU's Sackler Faculty of Medicine, said that they had two objectives going into this research the first was to provide a new diagnostic tool for ADHD, and the second was to test whether ADHD medication really works and they found that it does.

He further explained that this test would be affordable and accessible, rendering it a practical and foolproof tool for medical professionals.

The researchers found a direct correlation between ADHD and the inability to suppress eye movement in the anticipation of visual stimuli. The research also reflected improved performance by people who took methylphenidate, which normalized the suppression of involuntary eye movements to the average level of the control group.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ADHD has been the most commonly diagnosed and misdiagnosed behavioral disorder in children in America. There are currently no reliable physiological markers to diagnose ADHD. Doctors generally diagnose the disorder by recording a medical and social history of the patient and the family, discussing possible symptoms and observing the patient's behavior.

The research is published in Vision Research.