ADHD brain screening in Cambridge

The reality for anyone near Cambridge seeking an ADHD assessment is bleak. NHS waiting times across Cambridgeshire are measured in years, not months. Private psychiatric assessments are expensive and still based entirely on conversation — no brain measurement, no objective data.

For parents, this gap is devastating. Your child's teacher says they can't focus. The school suggests assessment. Your GP puts you on a CAMHS list that stretches past your child's GCSEs. Meanwhile, your child falls further behind, starts believing they're "just stupid," and develops anxiety on top of the undiagnosed ADHD. Our parent's guide covers school support, EHCP and exam access you can pursue right now.

For adults near Cambridge, the picture is equally frustrating. You've suspected ADHD for years. The coping strategies that got you through school are crumbling under adult responsibilities. You've been prescribed SSRIs for "anxiety" that never fully resolved. And the NHS adult ADHD pathway has a 3–5 year wait.

Z-scores are the language of clinical neuroscience. A z-score tells you how many standard deviations a measurement sits from the average for a reference population. A z-score of 0 means you're exactly average. A z-score of 1.5 means you're 1.5 standard deviations above average. A z-score of 2.0 or above is generally considered clinically significant.

In our reports, every TBR measurement is expressed as a z-score against the age-matched mean from published research. This means your GP doesn't need to know what a 'normal' TBR is — they just need to see whether your z-score is elevated. It's the same statistical framework used in blood tests, IQ scores, and every other clinical measurement.

This precision is what separates our screening from questionnaires. A questionnaire gives you a score on an arbitrary scale with arbitrary cutoffs. Our z-scores reference published, peer-reviewed normative data with known statistical properties. That's why GPs take them seriously.

Read the full breakdown of the research behind our screening on our ADHD brain science page.

The process is designed to be quick, comfortable, and anxiety-free. No medical gowns. No clinical waiting rooms. You arrive, we explain the process, place the cap, record for 7 minutes, and you're done.

During recording, the screen shows a live visualisation of your brain waves — most people find this fascinating. You can see theta activity rise when your mind wanders and beta activity increase when you concentrate. It makes the abstract concept of "brain differences" immediately tangible.

Standard screening reports (£595) are emailed the same day. The comprehensive package (£845) includes a consultation plus a clinical letter for your GP.

See the full step-by-step process on our how it works page, or visit our FAQ for common questions.

When you arrive for your screening, we'll welcome you into a comfortable, quiet room — no clinical waiting areas, no hospital atmosphere. We'll explain every step before we begin, answer any questions, and make sure you or your child feels completely at ease before the cap goes on.

The cap is a lightweight textile headband with four small, dry, spring-loaded electrodes. It sits on the head like a beanie — no gel, no paste, no needles. Two small clip electrodes attach to the earlobes for reference. Most people forget the cap is there after 60 seconds. Children can hold it first and see the electrodes before we put it on.

During the 7-minute recording, you'll sit in a comfortable chair facing a screen. Phase 1 (2 min): look at a fixation cross with eyes open. Phase 2 (2 min): close your eyes and relax. Phase 3 (3 min): the Go/No-Go task appears on screen — press for green circles, don't press for red squares. You can see your own brain waves updating in real time throughout.

After recording, we remove the cap (takes 10 seconds), process the data, and generate your report. Standard screening (£595): same-day PDF by email. Comprehensive (£845): 20-minute face-to-face consultation explaining every finding, plus a formal clinical letter. Our results explained guide walks you through every metric in your report.

Preparation checklist: wash hair day-of (no gel/wax/heavy products), sleep normally, eat normally, moderate caffeine, arrive 5 minutes early. That's it. If screening a child, explain the 'brain listening hat' in positive terms and bring a favourite small toy or book for the waiting period.

Wear something comfortable — you'll be sitting in a chair for about 30 minutes. The cap sits on the forehead and crown, so avoid bulky headbands or hair clips that would interfere with electrode placement.

There are no medications to stop, no blood tests to fast for, no preparations that take days. One of the reasons our screening is so accessible is that it requires almost nothing from you except showing up. After your screening, our ADHD support hub guides you through every next step.

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 Cambridge and across Cambridgeshire. 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

Gifted children present a particular diagnostic challenge. High intelligence can mask ADHD symptoms for years — the child compensates through sheer cognitive ability until the demands of secondary school outstrip their coping strategies. The result: a bright child who suddenly 'falls apart' at GCSE level, seemingly out of nowhere.

Conversely, some children are labelled as having ADHD when they're actually gifted and bored. The behavioural presentation — fidgeting, inattention, disruptive behaviour — can look identical. Brain data helps: gifted-but-bored children typically show normal theta/beta ratios, while gifted-with-ADHD children show the characteristic elevation.

This is another reason objective data matters. Behaviour can mislead. Questionnaire responses depend on the observer's interpretation. Brain electrical activity doesn't lie, doesn't mask, and doesn't compensate. It simply shows what the cortex is doing. Our parent's guide explains how to use screening data for school support and EHCP applications.

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 don't operate from a hospital or a GP surgery — our screenings take place at carefully selected private venues across the region. They're quiet, comfortable, and designed to put you at ease. From Cambridge, we'll confirm the most convenient venue when you book.

For clients who prefer screening at home, we offer a full home visit service across Cambridgeshire. A qualified tester arrives with all equipment, sets up in any quiet room, and delivers the same professional screening and same-day report. No clinical environment needed — just a chair, a table, and 30 minutes.