Ken - A "Q" fan....
Maybe the "Q" that is being identified, is express by some kind of mental telepathy signature. That is, when a "Q" is being spoken about, maybe the thought of a human is being gathered via electrical impulses transferred to that "Q" or the "Q" continuum (the receivers), and some how understood by a them the uniqueness of that process. Look up "Digital Signature".
Also maybe the "Q" is a single entity with many parts that have to work together to be functional. Kind of like an automobile. If one part or system is malfunctioning then this vehicle will stall, catch fire,... thrown into complete chaos.
Hope that came out right.
Ken - The A's on Q's
PS - One cannot back up facts on fiction, yet with the imagination of mankind fiction becomes fact. - Ken - Q fan