Skip the Derbyshire NHS waiting list. Our qEEG brain screening provides objective ADHD data for clients from Buxton — the same theta/beta ratio biomarker used in the FDA-cleared NEBA System. From £595 with a same-day professional report. Explore our medication guide and coping strategies.
For families near Buxton, the ADHD journey often starts with a school report that says "easily distracted" and ends with a CAMHS waiting list number. Between those two points: years of frustration, self-doubt, and a child who is slowly internalising the message that they're not good enough.
The tragedy is that ADHD is one of the most treatable neurodevelopmental conditions. When properly identified and supported, children with ADHD thrive. Adults with ADHD build successful careers. The treatment works — but it requires identification first. And the identification system is broken.
We offer a way through. A 30-minute brain screening that provides objective neurological evidence — not a diagnosis, but the data that unlocks the diagnostic pathway. Evidence for your GP to refer urgently. Data for Right to Choose applications. Evidence for EHCP panels. One screening, multiple doors opened.
Our normative database is built from six peer-reviewed research sources: Monastra et al. (1999, 2001), Arns et al. (2013), Clarke et al. (2001), Snyder et al. (2015), and Liechti et al. (2013). These studies collectively measured 311+ participants across age groups from 6–7 through to 60+, establishing the healthy baseline theta/beta ratios against which we compare your results.
When we say a TBR is 'elevated,' we mean it's statistically higher than the published norm for that age group. A 7-year-old naturally has a higher TBR than a 40-year-old — the brain matures over time. Our age-matched comparison ensures you're measured against people of your own developmental stage, not a one-size-fits-all average.
Research from the American Academy of Neurology found that combining TBR data with clinical evaluation improves ADHD diagnostic accuracy to 89–94%. We provide the brain data half of that equation. Your clinician provides the interview. Together, the accuracy is significantly higher than either approach alone.
Read the full breakdown of the research behind our screening on our ADHD brain science page.
For teenagers who are reluctant, our screening has an advantage: it feels like science, not therapy. No clinical interview. No one asking how they feel about school. Just a cap, a screen showing their brain waves, and a 3-minute game. Most teens find it genuinely interesting.
For adults, particularly women who've been told their symptoms are "just anxiety" for years, the screening provides something profoundly validating: objective proof that their brain works differently.
For children aged 6+, we make everything child-friendly. Parents stay in the room. The Go/No-Go phase is a game. If your child needs breaks, we take them. Comfort always comes first.
See the full step-by-step process on our how it works page, or visit our FAQ for common questions.
If you're coming back for a medication comparison scan, the process is identical to your first visit — same cap, same electrodes, same 7-minute protocol. This consistency is essential because it means any changes in the data are attributable to the medication, not differences in the recording.
Take your medication as normal before the appointment. We want to capture your brain activity under typical medicated conditions. During the session, we record the same three phases: eyes open, eyes closed, and Go/No-Go task. After recording, we overlay your new data directly against your baseline scan — you can see the comparison on screen immediately.
Your report shows before-and-after theta/beta ratios, percentage changes, Go/No-Go performance comparison, and z-score shifts. This is the data your psychiatrist needs for medication reviews. Our follow-up scan guide explains exactly what to expect from the comparison and how to use it at your next medication review.
Already been screened by us and coming back for a medication comparison scan? The preparation is slightly different. Take your ADHD medication at its normal time — we want to capture your medicated brain, not your unmedicated one. Otherwise, the same rules apply: clean hair, normal sleep, normal food, moderate caffeine.
The screening protocol is identical to your first visit: same cap, same electrode sites, same 7-minute recording (eyes open, eyes closed, Go/No-Go). This consistency is essential for a valid comparison. Any changes in the data can then be attributed to the medication, not differences in recording conditions.
After your scan, we overlay your new data against your baseline and generate a comparison report showing percentage changes in TBR, band power shifts, and Go/No-Go performance differences. Our medication guide explains what to discuss at your next prescriber review.
For more detail on the full process from booking to report, see how it works.
We screen children aged 6 and above, teenagers, and adults of all ages from Buxton and across Derbyshire. Each person is compared against age-matched normative data from published research — because a 7-year-old's brain is neurologically very different from a 40-year-old's.
For children, the most common scenario is parents who've been told their child "just needs to try harder." For teenagers, it's GCSE or A-level pressure exposing hidden attention difficulties. For adults, it's often a lifetime of wondering — sometimes triggered by a child's diagnosis.
Women and girls are particularly underserved by standard assessment. The inattentive presentation — quiet, dreamy, internally restless — is systematically missed by questionnaires designed around hyperactive boys. Our brain screening measures neurology directly, bypassing the behavioural bias.
Learn more: children 6+ · teenagers · adults · women & girls
View packages: standard screening (£595) · comprehensive (£845) · family package (£1,095) · all pricing
After your screening: ADHD support hub · results explained · what to do next · GP appointment guide · parent's guide
Post-traumatic stress and ADHD share more symptoms than most people realise — hypervigilance mimics hyperactivity, dissociation mimics inattention, emotional dysregulation appears in both. For adults near Buxton with a trauma history, untangling which symptoms belong to which condition is nearly impossible through conversation alone.
The comorbidity rate is high: research suggests 12–37%% of people with ADHD also have PTSD. They aren't mutually exclusive — you can have both. But the treatment pathways differ significantly, and getting the wrong diagnosis means getting the wrong treatment.
Our brain screening provides an objective data point in this complexity. The theta/beta ratio pattern associated with ADHD is distinct from the alpha and beta patterns typically seen in trauma responses. It doesn't replace a full clinical assessment, but it gives your therapist or psychiatrist neurological evidence to work with alongside their clinical judgment. Our next steps guide explains the full diagnostic pathway.
Every screening produces a detailed same-day report with theta/beta ratios, z-scores, frequency band analysis, and Go/No-Go attention task results — all compared against published age-matched norms.
This is the standard report included with our ADHD Brain Screening (£595). The Comprehensive Assessment (£845) adds a clinical interpretation letter addressed to your GP, school, or employer.
Objective brain data with z-scores gives your GP the evidence to write a stronger referral or submit a Right to Choose application.
SENCOs use our reports for EHCP applications, SEN register placements, and JCQ exam access (extra time, rest breaks).
Adults use the clinical letter for Access to Work applications — government-funded coaching, headphones, assistive technology.
Brain data gives a private psychiatrist an objective data point they wouldn't otherwise have, making assessment more focused.
Already on medication? A follow-up medication comparison scan (£345) shows objective before-and-after changes.
Still on the NHS waiting list? Our report gives you actionable evidence for school, work, and GP support right now.
During your screening, you'll see your own brain waves updating in real time on screen. Here's what the testing dashboard looks like during each phase of the 7-minute recording.
Want to understand what each screen means? Our science page explains every frequency band and what elevated theta looks like in real data.
After your screening, you have a same-day report in your hands. Here's the recommended action plan: Week 1 — book a GP appointment (request a double appointment, 20 minutes). Bring the clinical letter and report. Ask for a Right to Choose referral to Psychiatry-UK or an urgent CAMHS referral. Week 1–2 — email the report to your child's school SENCO. Request a meeting to discuss SEN register, exam access, and EHCP evidence. Week 2–4 — if you're an adult in work, start an Access to Work application online. Attach the clinical letter as supporting evidence.
While you wait for formal assessment (3–6 months via Right to Choose, 2–5 years via NHS): use the report for any immediate support needs — workplace adjustments, school accommodations, private therapy, or family understanding. The report doesn't expire. It's your evidence for as long as you need it.
We always recommend staying on the NHS waiting list while pursuing our screening. The NHS pathway leads to fully-funded ongoing care. Our screening gives you evidence and support in the meantime — and data that strengthens your case when the NHS appointment finally arrives.
We serve clients from Buxton and across Derbyshire at private screening venues throughout the region. Every venue is chosen for accessibility, parking, and a calm atmosphere — no waiting rooms, no hospital corridors. You'll receive the venue address and directions when your booking is confirmed.
Can't make it to a venue? Our mobile screening service means we come to you. A tester travels to your home anywhere in Derbyshire with the full BrainBit Flex4 setup. The screening is identical — 7-minute recording, same-day report. Book online or call us to discuss home visit options.
Yes. We serve clients from Buxton and across Derbyshire. We're based in Macclesfield, Cheshire, with good transport links. Same-week appointments typically available. Home visits also offered (travel fee may apply).
No. Book directly without any GP referral. Many clients from Buxton book the screening first, then take the results to their GP as evidence for a formal referral or Right to Choose application.
Anyone aged 6 and above — children, teenagers, and adults. Each person is compared against age-matched normative data from published research, ensuring the comparison is appropriate for their developmental stage.
Our reports include peer-reviewed citations, z-scores against normative data, and clear clinical context. Many GPs across Derbyshire have used our reports to support CAMHS referrals and Right to Choose applications.
Completely safe and painless. Electrodes passively listen to natural brain signals. No electricity enters the body. No needles, no radiation, no gel, no side effects. Same technology used safely in children's hospitals worldwide.
Yes. The clinical letter has been accepted by Access to Work assessors as supporting evidence. Clients from Buxton have used it to secure coaching, noise-cancelling headphones, and assistive technology.
Yes. We serve clients from Buxton and across Derbyshire. We're based in Macclesfield, Cheshire, with good transport links. Same-week appointments typically available. Home visits also offered (travel fee may apply).
No. Book directly without any GP referral. Many clients from Buxton book the screening first, then take the results to their GP as evidence for a formal referral or Right to Choose application.
When combined with clinical evaluation, EEG-based theta/beta ratio data improves ADHD diagnostic accuracy to 89–94%% (American Academy of Neurology). On its own, TBR has sensitivity around 78–90%% depending on the study and age group. It's significantly more objective than questionnaires alone, which rely on subjective behavioural report. This is especially important for women with inattentive ADHD who score normally on questionnaires despite genuine neurological differences.
Yes. We screen adults of all ages, from 18 to 60+. Adult ADHD is significantly underdiagnosed, particularly in women. Each adult is compared against age-matched normative data from published research. Many adults who come to us have suspected ADHD for years but never had objective evidence to act on. Our coping strategies guide offers techniques you can start immediately.
Standard EEG (used in hospitals) looks at raw brain wave patterns to detect epilepsy, seizures, and structural abnormalities. Quantitative EEG (qEEG) goes further — it analyses the frequency composition of brain activity using mathematical processing (Fast Fourier Transform), then compares the results against normative databases. For ADHD, qEEG reveals the theta/beta ratio imbalance that standard EEG isn't designed to assess.
A qEEG brain scan measures electrical brain activity patterns associated with ADHD — specifically the theta/beta ratio, which is the most-studied EEG biomarker for the condition. It doesn't 'detect' ADHD in the way an X-ray detects a fracture, but it provides objective neurological data that, when combined with clinical evaluation, significantly improves diagnostic accuracy (89–94%% according to the American Academy of Neurology). It's the closest thing to an objective ADHD test that exists. Our results explained guide shows exactly what your report will contain.
An elevated theta/beta ratio means your brain produces disproportionately more slow-wave theta activity (associated with unfocused, daydreaming states) relative to fast-wave beta activity (associated with focused concentration). This pattern indicates cortical hypoarousal — the attention networks of your brain are under-powered. It's the neurological signature most consistently associated with ADHD across published research.
When combined with clinical evaluation, EEG-based theta/beta ratio data improves ADHD diagnostic accuracy to 89–94%% (American Academy of Neurology). On its own, TBR has sensitivity around 78–90%% depending on the study and age group. It's significantly more objective than questionnaires alone, which rely on subjective behavioural report. This is especially important for women with inattentive ADHD who score normally on questionnaires despite genuine neurological differences.
Signs, age norms, school evidence, what parents need to know
Decades of masking, late diagnosis, workplace impact
Inattentive type, misdiagnosis as anxiety, hormonal triggers
GCSE/A-level pressure, exam access, university prep
NHS-funded private assessment in months, not years
4 things you can do while you wait
What to say, what to bring, how to get referred
School applications, exam access, SENCO guidance
Free coaching, tech, and adjustments for employed adults
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A 60-second look at the ADHD brain screening experience.
Same-day report. Evidence your GP will take seriously. From £595.
