ADHD brain screening in Sale

You've taken every online ADHD quiz. You relate to every social media post. You're fairly certain you or your child has ADHD. But near Sale, as across the rest of Greater Manchester, turning that suspicion into action means navigating a system that wasn't built for speed — or for objectivity.

The NHS pathway is a conversation. Questionnaires. Rating scales. A clinical interview. All valuable — but all subjective. They measure reported behaviour, not brain function. And for anyone who masks their symptoms — which includes most women, most high-functioning adults, and many children who compensate through anxiety-driven effort — the questionnaire scores can look normal even when the underlying neurology is clearly not.

That's why our qEEG screening exists. We measure the brain directly. Four electrodes, 7 minutes of recording, and a comparison against 311+ research subjects. The result: a z-score showing exactly how many standard deviations your theta/beta ratio sits from the age-matched average. Objective. Quantified. Impossible to dismiss. Our next steps guide shows every pathway from screening to diagnosis.

The FDA cleared the NEBA System in 2013 specifically to assist in the evaluation of ADHD in patients aged 6–17. The clearance was based on the theta/beta ratio measured at Cz — the same measurement, at the same electrode site, that we use in our screening. The FDA's decision was supported by a multi-site clinical trial demonstrating that TBR data improved diagnostic accuracy when combined with standard clinical evaluation.

Since then, the evidence base has continued to grow. The International Society for Neurofeedback and Research (ISNR) and the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (AAPB) both recognise qEEG assessment as a Level 1 (Best Practice) standard for ADHD evaluation.

Our screening applies this evidence in a practical, accessible format: 30 minutes, same-day report, no referral needed. The science is established. We simply make it available to the people who need it.

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

The technology we use is a BrainBit Flex4 — a clinical-grade 4-channel EEG system with Web Bluetooth connectivity. Dry spring-loaded electrodes achieve research-quality signal without gel or preparation time. Channel mapping follows established neuroscience protocols for ADHD assessment.

Data processing uses Hanning-windowed Fast Fourier Transform. Band power is computed across every recording phase, then compared against our normative database from six peer-reviewed sources. The result is a precise, quantified measurement — not a subjective impression.

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

For women coming for screening, we understand the journey is often different. You may have been told for years that it's anxiety, or depression, or just 'being overwhelmed.' The standard questionnaires were designed around hyperactive boys and they've been missing you. Our screening measures the brain directly — the inattentive pattern common in women shows up clearly in theta/beta data even when questionnaires miss it.

The process takes about 30 minutes. A lightweight cap with four dry electrodes, 7 minutes of recording across three phases (eyes open, eyes closed, Go/No-Go attention task), and a same-day professional report. No clinical interview. No one asking if you fidget. Just your brain data compared against published age-matched norms.

Many women tell us the screening is the first time anyone has taken their concerns seriously with objective evidence. The data doesn't care about gender bias. It shows what your cortex is doing — and that's what matters.

For women coming for screening — many of whom have spent years being told their symptoms are 'just anxiety' — the preparation is the same as everyone else, but the reassurance is different. You do not need to have a dramatic presentation to warrant screening. You do not need to be visibly hyperactive. The inattentive ADHD pattern common in women shows up clearly in theta/beta data even when it's invisible to everyone around you.

Practical prep: clean hair (no heavy products), normal sleep, normal food, moderate caffeine. If you take any medication — ADHD, antidepressants, anxiety meds — let us know when booking so we can advise on timing.

The screening itself takes 30 minutes, is completely painless, and produces a same-day report with your brain data expressed as z-scores against published norms. No one asks you to rate how often you fidget. We just measure your brain.

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 Sale and across Greater Manchester. 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.

The screening report is designed to be actionable from day one. It's not a document that sits in a drawer — it's a key that opens specific doors. GP door: the clinical letter is formatted for medical professionals, with z-scores, methodology, and peer-reviewed citations. School door: the same letter addresses SENCO and EHCP requirements directly. Employer door: the letter provides the objective evidence required for Access to Work and reasonable adjustment requests.

We also provide guidance on what to say in each context. Our comprehensive package (£845) includes a 20-minute consultation where we walk you through the results AND advise on next steps specific to your situation — which pathway makes most sense, what to say to your GP, what to request from the school.

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 Sale, 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 Greater Manchester. 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.