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Fletcher and Associates Brings State-of-the-Art System to North Texas, Enabling Accurate, Objective ADHD Diagnosis

Posted on: Thursday, 7 February 2008, 18:00 CST

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects almost nine percent (6 million) of school-age children. Parents of children who are performing poorly in school due to issues with inattention, impulsivity and/or hyperactivity, are often faced with the need for mid-year evaluations with their child's teachers.

Parents then face the challenge of identifying a knowledgeable physician who is skilled in conducting individualized and accurate behavioral disorder assessments to diagnose the child. And, it is only after appropriate diagnosis, that a physician can properly inform the development of a customized treatment plan to help the child achieve desired levels of behavior and school-work performance.

The McLean Motion and Attention Test for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (MMAT/ADHD(TM) System) is the first FDA-cleared test(1) that measures a patient's inability to inhibit abnormal levels of motor activity, inattention and impulse control, which are the core observable symptoms of ADHD. Currently, Fletcher & Associates Psychological Services, P.A. is one of a select group of clinics that has been licensed early access to the MMAT/ADHD(TM) System, which is scheduled to be more widely available in the U.S. later this year and in 2009.

"Our son Ashton was exhibiting signs of ADHD," said Todd Harder. "When his first grade teacher wanted to hold him back in school because of poor performance due to a lack of attention and out of control conduct, we knew we had to do something. Dr. Fletcher was able to provide us with clear information about Ashton's condition and help us decide how to approach his treatment."

The normal neurological control processes are disrupted in patients with ADHD, which is manifested as the core observable symptoms of inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. The MMAT/ADHD(TM) System, a 15-minute, noninvasive test, provides a clinician with objective measures of these neurological control functions As a result, the MMAT/ADHD(TM) System helps clinicians systematically develop a prompt and accurate diagnosis in a way that is consistently reproducible, reliably valid and highly consistent with actual behavioral outcomes that may occur at home and in the classroom.

After a child takes the MMAT/ADHD(TM) System test, Dr. Fletcher provides the family with a comprehensive written report that includes information about the MMAT/ADHD(TM) System results, details about the diagnosis and recommendations for treatment options. The report can also be shared with the child's school to communicate a coordinated treatment plan that can be followed by parents, teachers and school nurses, as appropriate.

"So many children struggle unnecessarily because of improper diagnosis and subsequent improper treatment regimens for ADHD," said Dr. Fletcher. "It is well accepted that undiagnosed and untreated ADHD in children can lead to serious lifelong consequences for the child, their family and society. The MMAT/ADHD(TM) System provides me with the ability to objectively and accurately diagnosis ADHD within my office so that I can then begin to work with the child and their family to determine the right approach to treatment."

Added Calvin R. Sumner, M.D., chief medical officer and senior vice president of clinical development of BioBehavioral Diagnostics Company (BioBDx), "There is a pressing clinical need in psychiatry and behavioral medicine for new objective approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of prevalent conditions, such as ADHD. Often a behavioral diagnosis is complicated by multiple confounding behavioral conditions that make it challenging for even the best clinician to establish a definitive diagnosis and monitor an effective plan of treatment. BioBDx is in a position to positively impact a clinician's ability to promptly and accurately diagnose ADHD, which has the potential to significantly improve the level of care available to patients and their families."

The MMAT/ADHD(TM) System was co-developed by BioBDx and its inventor Martin Teicher, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, and Director, Developmental Biopsychiatry Research Program, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts.

MEDIA NOTE: High-resolution photos of the machine are available upon request, or through the MarketWire posting of this release. Media kit contents, including high-resolution photos and bio for Susan Fleeter, Ph.D., are available for download at www.smartzoneexpert.com/mediacenter.asp

About Susan Fletcher, Ph.D.

Susan Fletcher, Ph.D. is a practicing psychologist specializing in helping individuals, professionals and organizations apply strategies for immediate improvement. Fletcher uses her expertise and experience to teach people how to develop their own best practices to enhance focus, balance and perspective to successfully meet the challenges of today's home and work environments. A graduate of the University of Florida, Fletcher has worked with "Dr. Phil" McGraw, serving as a litigation specialist on high-profile cases. Fletcher's private practice, Fletcher & Associates Psychological Services, P.A., is based in Plano, Texas and serves a variety of patients from children to adults. For more information, please visit www.FletcherPhD.com or www.SmartZoneExpert.com.

(1) FDA clearance of this product does not in any way denote official approval of the device.

Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=685269

 CONTACT: Wendy B. Kula, APR (972) 991-5852 Email Contact

SOURCE: Fletcher and Associates

Source: MARKET WIRE

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