ADHD testing in Norwich — qEEG brain screening

In Norwich and the wider Norfolk area, NHS ADHD assessments for both adults and children are managed through Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT), which has faced well-documented capacity pressures for several years. Adults awaiting an ADHD assessment through NSFT are currently facing multi-year waits, and the situation for CAMHS referrals is similarly stretched, leaving many families and individuals in prolonged uncertainty. Some Norfolk residents have exercised their Right to Choose, which allows GP referrals to be directed to an alternative NHS-commissioned provider, though uptake varies and eligibility criteria mean it is not a straightforward route for everyone; GPs across Norwich tend to refer initially through standard NSFT pathways, often leaving patients unaware of alternative options. The emotional and practical toll of waiting without a formal diagnosis or support is real and significant. For those navigating this difficult period, a qEEG brain activity screening can provide objective, clinically grounded evidence of attentional and regulatory differences, helping individuals better understand their presentation while they await their NHS appointment.

Whether you're an adult near Norwich who's suspected ADHD for years, or a parent in Norfolk watching your child fall behind while the NHS list doesn't move, the situation is the same: you need objective evidence, and you need it now. Not in 3–5 years.

The standard ADHD pathway relies entirely on subjective assessment. Questionnaires that ask "do you fidget?" and "do you lose things?" These tools were designed in the 1970s based on studies of hyperactive boys. They systematically miss women with inattentive ADHD, adults who've learned to mask, and children who compensate through sheer effort.

Our approach is different. We measure the brain directly. The theta/beta ratio is the most-studied EEG biomarker for ADHD, supported by decades of published research and referenced in the FDA's clearance of the NEBA System. It doesn't matter how well you mask. Your brain can't fake a TBR.

Stimulant medications work for ADHD because they increase cortical arousal — they boost beta activity and reduce excess theta. This is why our baseline screening data becomes invaluable if you're later diagnosed and prescribed medication. A follow-up scan can objectively measure whether the medication has normalised your TBR.

This is the principle behind our medication comparison scan (£345): before-and-after brain data showing whether treatment is having the intended neurological effect. It's evidence-based medication management — not just 'do you feel better?' but 'has your theta/beta ratio moved towards the normative range?'

No questionnaire can provide this. Only direct brain measurement shows whether the underlying neurophysiology has changed. That's the fundamental advantage of objective data over subjective report.

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

For children, the experience is designed to be reassuring and even fun. Parents stay in the room at all times. We explain the cap as a 'special hat that listens to your brain' and let children hold it, look at the electrodes, and understand there's nothing to be scared of.

The recording phases are kept simple: 'look at the cross,' 'close your eyes and think of something nice,' then 'play the game' (Go/No-Go). Most children aged 7+ manage the full protocol without difficulty. For younger children (6–7), we allow extra time and offer breaks between phases.

If a recording phase is too noisy due to movement or fidgeting — which is common and completely understandable given why they're here — we simply redo that phase at no extra cost. We never force a child to continue if they're uncomfortable. We offer a free return visit if the session can't be completed on the day. After screening, our parent's guide covers school support, EHCP applications and exam access arrangements.

We measure five frequency bands across four cortical sites simultaneously: delta (1–4 Hz, deep processing), theta (4–8 Hz — the key ADHD band, associated with unfocused states), alpha (8–12 Hz, relaxed awareness), beta (12–30 Hz, active focus), and gamma (30–45 Hz, higher processing).

The theta/beta ratio is the critical metric. In ADHD, the brain produces too much theta relative to beta. This pattern has been replicated across hundreds of studies worldwide. Our normative data covers age groups from 6–7 through to 60+, because the ratio naturally changes as the brain matures.

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

For adults, preparation is minimal: clean hair, normal sleep, normal food, moderate caffeine, arrive 5 minutes early. The appointment takes about 30 minutes and you can go straight back to work or normal activities afterwards — there's no recovery time, no drowsiness, no side effects.

Many adults coming for ADHD screening are nervous — not about the scan itself, but about what they might find. Will the data confirm decades of suspicion? What if it doesn't? Both outcomes are useful. Elevated TBR gives you objective evidence to pursue diagnosis. Normal TBR, combined with persistent symptoms, points your clinician toward other explanations worth investigating.

Either way, you leave with data rather than uncertainty. That's the point. Our next steps guide covers every pathway after screening — NHS, Right to Choose, and private assessment — so you'll know exactly what to do with your results.

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 Norwich and across Norfolk. 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 Norwich 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.

Your screening report opens multiple pathways simultaneously — you don't have to pick just one. Most clients from Norwich use the results in two or three ways at once. Immediately: book a GP appointment, bring the clinical letter, and request either an urgent CAMHS referral or a Right to Choose referral to Psychiatry-UK (NHS-funded, typically 3–6 months vs 2–5 years).

At the same time: send the report to your child's school SENCO for SEN register placement, EHCP evidence, or JCQ exam access arrangements (extra time, rest breaks). If you're an adult: begin an Access to Work application for government-funded coaching, assistive technology, and reasonable adjustments.

If the NHS pathway feels too slow even with Right to Choose, you can use the report alongside a private psychiatric assessment (£700–£1,500). The psychiatrist will have objective brain data before they even meet you — making the assessment more focused and potentially faster.

And if you're diagnosed and prescribed medication, your baseline brain data becomes invaluable. A follow-up medication comparison scan (£345) shows objective before-and-after changes in TBR and attention task performance — real evidence that treatment is working.

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.

Travelling from Norwich to our Handforth clinic is very manageable once you know the route. By rail, the most straightforward option is to head to London Liverpool Street, cross to Euston, and take a train towards Manchester Piccadilly, then hop on a local service to Handforth station — the clinic is roughly a five-minute walk from there, making it a genuinely easy final stretch. Door to door, allow around four to five hours each way. If you prefer to drive, the A11 will bring you onto the M25, then the M6 and M56 lead you directly towards Handforth, with the whole journey typically taking three and a half to four hours depending on traffic around Birmingham. Our clinic has free on-site parking, so there is no need to worry about meters or charges. One practical tip: pack snacks and a drink for the journey, as long travel days and ADHD assessments can be mentally tiring. Once your assessment is complete, you simply make the journey home — your detailed report is sent electronically to your GP and school, so there is nothing more to collect.

We serve clients from Norwich and across Norfolk 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 Norfolk 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.