Looking for an ADHD test near St Albans? Our qEEG screening measures your brain's theta/beta ratio at four cortical sites, runs a Go/No-Go attention task, and compares everything against age-matched published norms. 30 minutes. Same-day results. No referral needed. See our guide to the ADHD brain to understand the science.
If you're a parent, teacher, or clinician in Hertfordshire looking for objective ADHD evidence for someone near St Albans, you've come to the right place. Standard ADHD assessment relies on behavioural observation and self-report — tools that are valuable but inherently subjective.
The theta/beta ratio we measure has been the subject of over 30 years of published research. Meta-analyses consistently show elevated TBR in ADHD populations. The FDA referenced this biomarker when clearing the NEBA System in 2013. Our normative database draws from six peer-reviewed sources covering 311+ subjects across 10 age groups from age 6 to 60+.
This isn't fringe science. It's well-established neurophysiology applied in a clinical screening context. The report we produce includes z-scores against age-matched norms, full frequency band analysis, Go/No-Go attention task metrics, and peer-reviewed citations for every claim. After screening, our ADHD support hub provides guides on understanding your results, next steps and ongoing support.
The science behind our screening isn't new or experimental — it's well-established neurophysiology applied in a practical clinical context. The P300 component of the EEG (a brain wave that peaks 300 milliseconds after a stimulus) is one of the most-studied event-related potentials in neuroscience. Its amplitude and latency are consistently altered in ADHD populations.
We also measure resting-state frequency band power: the relative proportions of theta (4–8 Hz) and beta (12–30 Hz) activity at each electrode site. This theta/beta ratio was first proposed as an ADHD biomarker in the 1990s and has since been replicated across hundreds of independent studies worldwide.
Every measurement in your report is backed by peer-reviewed citations. Every z-score references published normative data. This isn't proprietary technology with hidden methodology — it's transparent, replicable science that your clinician can verify independently.
Read the full breakdown of the research behind our screening on our ADHD brain science page.
We use a BrainBit Flex4 EEG cap — a research-grade 4-channel system with dry spring-loaded electrodes. No gel, no paste. The protocol captures three distinct brain states across 7 minutes. Eyes-open resting state shows your baseline cortical arousal. Eyes-closed reveals how your brain responds when input is reduced. The Go/No-Go task measures sustained attention, impulse control, and response consistency.
For children, we make it child-friendly. They can hold the cap first, see the electrodes. Parents stay in the room. The Go/No-Go phase feels like a game. If a recording phase is too noisy, we redo it free.
See the full step-by-step process on our how it works page, or visit our FAQ for common questions.
Everything about the appointment is designed to minimise stress. The room is quiet and private. There's no clinical atmosphere — no waiting room full of strangers, no fluorescent lighting, no medical gowns. You arrive, we explain, we record, and you leave with data.
The cap uses dry, spring-loaded electrodes that sit gently on the scalp through hair. No gel, no shaving, no preparation beyond washing your hair that morning. Electrode positions follow the international 10-20 system: Cz (central vertex — the FDA-standard ADHD measurement site), Fz (frontal midline), F3 (left frontal), and F4 (right frontal). Two earlobe clips provide the reference signal.
The 7-minute recording captures three distinct brain states. Eyes-open resting shows your baseline cortical arousal. Eyes-closed reveals how your brain responds when visual input is removed. The Go/No-Go task measures sustained attention, impulse control and response consistency — the executive functions most affected by ADHD. Learn more about the science on our ADHD brain guide.
Preparing for your ADHD brain screening is straightforward — there's very little you need to do differently. Wash your hair on the day of the appointment using normal shampoo, but avoid heavy styling products, gel, wax, or leave-in conditioners, as these can affect electrode contact. Dry hair is fine; the electrodes work through dry hair.
Get a normal night's sleep the night before. Sleep deprivation alters brain wave patterns and could affect your results. If you normally sleep poorly (which is common with ADHD), that's fine — we just need your 'normal' baseline, not an artificially good one.
Eat normally before the appointment. Low blood sugar affects brain function, so don't fast. Avoid excessive caffeine — one normal coffee is fine, but four espressos will artificially elevate your beta waves. If you take ADHD medication, discuss with us when booking whether to take it before the screening or skip it on test day (depending on whether we're measuring your unmedicated baseline or your medicated state). Our medication guide explains all UK options.
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 St Albans and across Hertfordshire. 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
Dyslexia, dyscalculia, and other specific learning difficulties can look like ADHD in a classroom setting. A child who can't decode text quickly appears inattentive. A teenager who struggles with maths looks like they're not trying. The behavioural presentation is similar, but the underlying cause is completely different.
ADHD affects attention regulation across all tasks. Specific learning difficulties affect performance in particular domains. A child with dyslexia who loses focus during reading but concentrates perfectly during art has a very different profile from a child with ADHD who struggles to sustain attention in any context.
Our qEEG screening measures cortical arousal patterns that are independent of reading ability, numeracy, or academic performance. An elevated TBR indicates ADHD-pattern hypoarousal whether or not a learning difficulty is also present. This helps schools and clinicians near St Albans understand exactly what they're dealing with — and provide the right support. Our parent's guide covers EHCP and exam access for children with overlapping needs.
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.
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 conduct screenings at selected private venues across the North West and Midlands — convenient for clients travelling from St Albans. Every venue is vetted for comfort, privacy, and accessibility. Free parking is standard. Your exact venue is confirmed at the time of booking.
For maximum convenience, book a home visit. We travel across Hertfordshire and nationally — a tester comes to your door with all equipment. The screening takes 30 minutes in any quiet room. Particularly popular with families screening multiple children using the family package (£1,095).
Our reports include peer-reviewed citations, z-scores against normative data, and clear clinical context. Many GPs across Hertfordshire have used our reports to support CAMHS referrals and Right to Choose applications.
Completely safe and painless. Electrodes passively listen to natural brain signals. No electricity enters the body. No needles, no radiation, no gel, no side effects. Same technology used safely in children's hospitals worldwide.
Yes. The clinical letter has been accepted by Access to Work assessors as supporting evidence. Clients from St Albans have used it to secure coaching, noise-cancelling headphones, and assistive technology.
Yes. We serve clients from St Albans and across Hertfordshire. We're based in Macclesfield, Cheshire, with good transport links. Same-week appointments typically available. Home visits also offered (travel fee may apply).
No. Book directly without any GP referral. Many clients from St Albans book the screening first, then take the results to their GP as evidence for a formal referral or Right to Choose application.
Anyone aged 6 and above — children, teenagers, and adults. Each person is compared against age-matched normative data from published research, ensuring the comparison is appropriate for their developmental stage.
Our reports include peer-reviewed citations, z-scores against normative data, and clear clinical context. Many GPs across Hertfordshire have used our reports to support CAMHS referrals and Right to Choose applications.
Completely safe and painless. Electrodes passively listen to natural brain signals. No electricity enters the body. No needles, no radiation, no gel, no side effects. Same technology used safely in children's hospitals worldwide.
Yes. We screen adults of all ages, from 18 to 60+. Adult ADHD is significantly underdiagnosed, particularly in women. Each adult is compared against age-matched normative data from published research. Many adults who come to us have suspected ADHD for years but never had objective evidence to act on. Our coping strategies guide offers techniques you can start immediately.
Standard EEG (used in hospitals) looks at raw brain wave patterns to detect epilepsy, seizures, and structural abnormalities. Quantitative EEG (qEEG) goes further — it analyses the frequency composition of brain activity using mathematical processing (Fast Fourier Transform), then compares the results against normative databases. For ADHD, qEEG reveals the theta/beta ratio imbalance that standard EEG isn't designed to assess.
A qEEG brain scan measures electrical brain activity patterns associated with ADHD — specifically the theta/beta ratio, which is the most-studied EEG biomarker for the condition. It doesn't 'detect' ADHD in the way an X-ray detects a fracture, but it provides objective neurological data that, when combined with clinical evaluation, significantly improves diagnostic accuracy (89–94%% according to the American Academy of Neurology). It's the closest thing to an objective ADHD test that exists. Our results explained guide shows exactly what your report will contain.
An elevated theta/beta ratio means your brain produces disproportionately more slow-wave theta activity (associated with unfocused, daydreaming states) relative to fast-wave beta activity (associated with focused concentration). This pattern indicates cortical hypoarousal — the attention networks of your brain are under-powered. It's the neurological signature most consistently associated with ADHD across published research.
When combined with clinical evaluation, EEG-based theta/beta ratio data improves ADHD diagnostic accuracy to 89–94%% (American Academy of Neurology). On its own, TBR has sensitivity around 78–90%% depending on the study and age group. It's significantly more objective than questionnaires alone, which rely on subjective behavioural report. This is especially important for women with inattentive ADHD who score normally on questionnaires despite genuine neurological differences.
Yes. We screen adults of all ages, from 18 to 60+. Adult ADHD is significantly underdiagnosed, particularly in women. Each adult is compared against age-matched normative data from published research. Many adults who come to us have suspected ADHD for years but never had objective evidence to act on. Our coping strategies guide offers techniques you can start immediately.
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.
