ADHD Qb Screening
Chiswick, West London
If you have concerns that your child has difficulties with attention and hyperactivity but are unsure if you want to pursue a full assessment, our initial ‘ADHD Screening Service’ can be very helpful.
We use formal rating scales and a computerised test known as a QbCheck (the Qb tools are commonly used in the NHS and recommended by NICE guidance) which can support families in considering any next steps that they may want to take.
The ADHD Screening service is suitable for those aged 6-19 years
What happens during the ADHD Screening service
We will ask parents to fill in some paperwork and a formal ADHD rating scale ahead of the first appointment.
On the day of their appointment your child will come to the clinic and will complete the QbCheck with our trained Clinician.
The QbCheck is a computer-based test lasting around 15-20 minutes, that objectively measures the core signs of ADHD: hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention. Your child will sit at a desk and complete this in a separate room, and you will be asked to stay in the waiting area during this time. Your child will be reassured that there are no right or wrong answers, meaning they are under no pressure to perform.
After test completion, a report is produced and the test result is compared with individuals of the same age and gender, who have ADHD and those who do not. Together with other clinically relevant information, the comparison to the age and gender matched groups and the observations analysed of your child during the in-clinic QbCheck, a summary report will be written determining the likelihood of your child having ADHD and potential next steps.
The clinician will need time to analyse all the results so you will not be told anything immediately. The summary report will be sent to you within 5 days of your appointment.
Fees and availability
The cost for ADHD Screening, including all paperwork, the in-clinic test itself and the summary report is £325.
We offer regular screening days throughout the month.
Please note, the appointments do get very booked up so we recommend booking in advance.
Pros and Cons of Screening ahead of a full ADHD Assessment
- A full ADHD assessment can be costly and time consuming and an important decision as to whether or not to pursue. Some families like to consider ADHD screening in advance, to help them make this decision. Families can take their time to process the screening results; there is no set timeframe between screening and the full assessment that needs to be followed.
- ADHD Screening can be useful for siblings, if you have one child with a diagnosis and are unsure whether you want their sibling to be assessed as well.
- If you are unable to afford to pay for a full private ADHD Assessment and are on an NHS waiting list, ADHD screening can be useful in the interim. Depending on the results, it can encourage your child’s school to put in place strategies whilst you await a formal NHS assessment.
- ADHD screening results can be helpful to take to your GP if you are wanting them to make an NHS referral for a full assessment.
- ADHD screening may financially work out as cost effective for some families who may decide that they do not need pursue the full assessment after.
- ADHD screening may financially work out as more expensive for some families, as you would be paying for screening, plus if you decide to go ahead, for the full assessment fee on top of this. Please note, that even if you have ADHD Screening, the ADHD assessment cost remains the same, as the full assessment still needs to take place to meet NICE guidance.
How can ADHD Screening benefit a child who is too young for a formal ADHD Assessment?
We only offer formal ADHD assessments for children aged 8 and over. Although the NHS may sometimes offer these for slightly younger children, our team (all very experienced within the NHS) do strongly support the viewpoint that it is very important to wait until a child is slightly older before formally assessing/diagnosis ADHD. It is fundamental to consider that some behaviours that present like ADHD are also behaviours that may fit in line with natural child development and immaturity in the younger years, and this is why assessing a child when they are too young, could result in an incorrect diagnosis.
Nonetheless, we appreciate that many families have concerns about their child having ADHD who are younger than 8 years and a QbCheck is registered for children aged 6 and over.
ADHD Screening of this kind may therefore be very beneficial for younger children below the age of assessment guidance.
If your child is aged 6 and over, this screening may be very useful. Depending on the screening outcome, families can then put in place strategies at home and at school whilst they wait for their child to reach an age for a formal assessment and diagnosis.
