ADHD brain screening in Shrewsbury

For families near Shrewsbury, 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 Shrewsbury and across Shropshire. 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 Shrewsbury 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.

Your screening report opens multiple pathways simultaneously — you don't have to pick just one. Most clients from Shrewsbury 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 Shrewsbury, 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 Shropshire 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.