ADHD assessments in South Yorkshire have years-long waiting lists. Our screening gives clients from Sheffield objective brain data this week — not an opinion, not a questionnaire score, but actual measured electrical brain activity compared against 311+ research subjects. Read our guide to understanding your results.
Adults near Sheffield searching for ADHD screening have usually been wondering for years — sometimes decades. The coping strategies that got you through school are crumbling under the weight of adult responsibilities: mortgages, deadlines, children, relationships. The mental load is crushing.
You've probably been told it's anxiety. Maybe depression. Maybe burnout. You've tried the planners, the apps, the CBT. Some of it helped a bit. None of it fixed the fundamental issue: your brain's reward system works differently, your executive function operates differently, and no amount of willpower can change that.
What can change is your understanding of it — and the support you receive. Our brain screening measures the theta/beta ratio in your cortex. If it's elevated, you have objective evidence that something neurological is going on. Evidence your GP can act on. Evidence for Right to Choose. Evidence that says: this isn't a character flaw. It's neurology.
Quantitative EEG (qEEG) has been used in clinical neuroscience for decades. Unlike a standard EEG that looks for epilepsy or structural abnormalities, qEEG analyses the frequency composition of brain waves — how much delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma activity your brain produces, and in what proportions.
For ADHD, the key finding across hundreds of studies is elevated theta power relative to beta power at central and frontal midline sites. This pattern reflects cortical hypoarousal: the attention networks of the brain are under-powered, which explains why stimulant medication (which increases cortical arousal) is effective for ADHD — it normalises the theta/beta balance.
Our screening captures this data across four electrode sites in just 7 minutes. The Go/No-Go attention task adds behavioural data: sustained attention, impulse control, and response consistency. Combined, they provide a comprehensive neurocognitive snapshot that questionnaires simply cannot match.
Read the full breakdown of the research behind our screening on our ADHD brain science page.
The screening takes about 30 minutes. We place a lightweight cap with four dry, spring-loaded electrodes on the scalp — at positions Cz (central midline, the FDA-standard site), Fz (frontal midline), F3 (left frontal), and F4 (right frontal). Two clips attach to the earlobes for reference. No gel, no paste, no needles, no discomfort.
The recording is 7 minutes: eyes open (2 min), eyes closed (2 min), and a Go/No-Go attention task (3 min) — press for green, don't press for red. Results are delivered the same day. The comprehensive package (£845) adds a consultation and clinical letter for your GP, school, or employer.
See the full step-by-step process on our how it works page, or visit our FAQ for common questions.
If you're screening two family members with our family package, we run each person's screening separately in the same session. The first person is screened, then the second — total time is about 50–60 minutes for both. Each person gets their own individual report with their own age-matched normative comparison.
This is most commonly used for siblings (where one or both may have ADHD), or for a parent and child who both suspect ADHD. It's particularly useful when a parent recognises their own childhood patterns in their child — which happens more often than you'd think. The screening measures each brain independently.
After screening, each family member receives their own same-day PDF report. Our parent's guide covers the school and EHCP process, while our next steps guide explains adult pathways including Right to Choose.
If you have anxiety about the screening — about the cap, the room, the results, or just the unknown — here's what might help: the entire process is 30 minutes. The brain recording is 7 minutes. The cap is a soft textile headband, not a medical device with wires everywhere. There are no needles, no injections, no discomfort of any kind. You sit in a comfortable chair in a quiet room. A screen shows your brain waves in real time. That's it.
Many clients tell us the anticipation was far worse than the reality. Children often say 'is that it?' when the cap comes off. Adults are usually fascinated by seeing their own brain activity on screen. The most common reaction is curiosity, not stress.
Prepare by: washing your hair (no heavy products), eating normally, sleeping normally, and bringing one question you'd like answered. After screening, our results explained guide helps you understand every number in your report, and our coping strategies guide gives you things to act on straight away.
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 Sheffield and across South Yorkshire. 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
Emotional dysregulation is a core feature of ADHD that's frequently misdiagnosed as borderline personality disorder (BPD), particularly in women. The symptoms overlap significantly: intense emotions, impulsive reactions, relationship instability, rejection sensitivity. Many women near Sheffield receive a BPD diagnosis when ADHD — or ADHD with emotional dysregulation — is a more accurate explanation.
The distinction matters enormously for treatment. BPD is typically treated with dialectical behaviour therapy. ADHD responds to stimulant medication and coaching. Getting the wrong label means years of therapy that addresses symptoms but not causes.
Our brain screening provides objective neurological data that isn't influenced by diagnostic bias. An elevated theta/beta ratio indicates ADHD-pattern cortical hypoarousal — a finding that invites your clinician to consider ADHD alongside or instead of personality-based explanations.
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.
Your screening report opens multiple pathways simultaneously — you don't have to pick just one. Most clients from Sheffield 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.
We're based in Macclesfield, Cheshire and conduct screenings at private venues across the region. From Sheffield, most clients drive or take the train. We confirm the exact venue location after booking — all venues have free parking and are chosen for privacy and comfort.
Can't travel? We also offer home visits across South Yorkshire and the wider region. A qualified tester comes to your home with all equipment — same screening, same report, just in your own environment. This is particularly popular for families with anxious children or clients who prefer privacy. Home visit travel fee applies depending on distance.
About 30 minutes from arrival to departure. The brain recording itself is 7 minutes. Setup takes about 5 minutes. Your report is delivered the same day by email.
Yes. SENCOs across South Yorkshire use our reports for EHCP panel submissions and JCQ exam access (extra time, rest breaks, separate room). The comprehensive clinical letter is designed for educational contexts.
We understand — difficulty sitting still is often why you're here. Recording is only 7 minutes with breaks available. If a phase is too noisy, we redo it free. If your child can't tolerate the cap, we offer a free retry.
Right to Choose lets you be assessed by a private provider at NHS expense. Your GP submits the referral. Our clinical letter provides objective evidence that helps GPs feel confident making that referral.
ADHD Brain Screening is £595 (scan + same-day PDF report). Comprehensive Assessment is £845 (scan + consultation + clinical letter). Family Package is £1,095 (two screenings). Medication Comparison Scan is £345.
No. This is an objective brain screening providing quantitative neurological data to support clinical evaluation. ADHD diagnosis requires a qualified clinician. Our report provides powerful supporting evidence.
About 30 minutes from arrival to departure. The brain recording itself is 7 minutes. Setup takes about 5 minutes. Your report is delivered the same day by email.
Yes. SENCOs across South Yorkshire use our reports for EHCP panel submissions and JCQ exam access (extra time, rest breaks, separate room). The comprehensive clinical letter is designed for educational contexts.
If you're currently waiting years on the NHS list with no support, paying £595–£845 for same-day objective data that can unlock GP referrals, school support, workplace accommodations, and Right to Choose applications is highly cost-effective. Many clients tell us the screening paid for itself within weeks through the support it unlocked.
Our reports include peer-reviewed citations, z-scores against published normative data, and formal clinical interpretation letters. Many GPs across the UK have used our reports to support CAMHS referrals, Right to Choose applications to Psychiatry-UK, and urgent assessment requests. The report is designed to be credible and actionable within the NHS system. Our GP appointment guide includes scripts for presenting your results.
No GP referral is needed. You can book directly online or by phone. Many clients book the screening first, then take the objective results to their GP as evidence to support a formal referral. Having brain data in hand often makes the GP conversation significantly more productive — our GP appointment guide shows you exactly what to say.
Yes. The theta/beta ratio has been studied for over 30 years, replicated across hundreds of independent studies, and was referenced in the FDA's 2013 clearance of the NEBA System for ADHD evaluation. The International Society for Neurofeedback and Research (ISNR) rates qEEG assessment as Level 1 (Best Practice) for ADHD. It's well-established science, not experimental. Our ADHD brain guide explains the neuroscience in plain English.
No. Screening provides objective data; diagnosis requires comprehensive clinical assessment by a qualified professional. Our screening gives you neurological evidence to support the diagnostic process — it doesn't replace it. Think of it as providing the brain data that questionnaires and interviews cannot capture, making the eventual diagnosis more accurate and evidence-based. Our next steps guide explains every pathway from screening to formal diagnosis.
If you're currently waiting years on the NHS list with no support, paying £595–£845 for same-day objective data that can unlock GP referrals, school support, workplace accommodations, and Right to Choose applications is highly cost-effective. Many clients tell us the screening paid for itself within weeks through the support it unlocked.
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.
