1. QbTest and QbCheck
The QbTest is an objective testing system that simultaneously measures attention, impulsivity and motor activity, key indicators in helping formulate a diagnosis of ADHD. It uses a special camera and infrared marker to capture movements. The results obtained by the test may be used to help form a better understanding of any cognitive and behavioural difficulties, cutting through ambiguous information and stripping away human error. The QbTest is not a diagnosis, it is a sophisticated screening tool which is used to support a diagnosis. Only a doctor can diagnose. The QbTest is very accurate, is recognised by health professionals, and is used to give consultants greater confidence when diagnosing.
The QbCheck is very similar to the QbTest but is carried out online, identifying an adult client’s likelihood of having ADHD-like symptoms. QbCheck is an FDA cleared and CE marked test that supports early identification, assessment, and treatment of ADHD. It is a computer-based test that objectively measures the core signs of ADHD: Hyperactivity, Impulsivity and Inattention. During the test, a spacebar is used to respond to targets and motor activity is registered by a web camera. No images are captured during the test.
No, the camera can only see the movement of the infrared marker. It captures how much the marker moves during the test.
Depending on age it can take 15 or 20 minutes.
During the test symbols will be shown on the screen. The task is to click whenever certain symbols appear.
No, neither of these will impact on the test.
No, there is no link between video game experiences and test results.
Yes. Before the test, the clinical advisor will show the client an instructional video. The client will then have an opportunity to complete 1-minute practice tests and ask any questions. The clinical advisor will only start the test once they are confident that the client understands the instructions and is able to complete the task.
In rare cases, some people cannot do the test, or the test is not possible. If this happens, do not worry! This can be incredibly useful to help us understand what is impacting a person's cognitive abilities. In most cases, if a test is not possible, this is indicative of other conditions such as Autism, Anxiety, or Irlen Syndrome.
As outlined on the consent form, in order to access the QbCheck you must meet all of the criteria. Failure to do so may result in false results, invalid results, or additional charges. If you do not meet the criteria outlined in the consent form, and the QbCheck is therefore not able to proceed, then you will have 2 options: 1. Pay a £100 re-booking fee to have the QbTest face to face assessment. This is non-refundable. 2. Leave the QbCheck from the assessment. The results will be marked as “not possible” in the report. In certain circumstances we appreciate that tests may not be possible due to factors out of your control, such as power cuts or sudden illness. In these special unforeseen circumstances, the re-booking fee can be wavered. However, this needs to be reviewed and approved by our business director. It can take between 3-5 working days to make a decision.
It is quite common for clinicians, both NHS or private, to refer their patients to our service to access just the QbTest, or for families to only want to access this part. If you only want to access the QbTest due to any of the above reasons please mark this option on the referral form. Accessing the QbTest alone is much faster than the full assessments we offer and we are able to send the results to a client’s clinician within days of the appointment.
2. ADHD Diagnosis
At the ADHD foundation we offer a full ADHD screen for 6- to 60-year-olds. This is not a diagnosis, but a comprehensive screen used to support a diagnosis, comprising of the QbTest OR QbCheck, ADHD rating scales, a clinical interview, and full history. This screen creates a body of evidence that a diagnosing clinician can use to make a diagnosis. Once our screen is complete, we can refer the client to a Private Psychiatrist, who will be able to diagnose them with ADHD. We work closely with several private psychiatrists who can use evidence from the assessment to continue the diagnosis.
To complete an adult diagnosis, we can refer clients to psychiatrists who can use our assessment to make a diagnosis. The cost of a psychiatrist is can vary, with added costs for any follow-up appointments. If a client wishes to access medication, the psychiatrists charge for each titration appointment and medication review. There are usually three of these appointments.
After the pre-diagnostic screen, we can refer children to a specialist paediatrician. Please get in touch for more info.
After the screening appointment we can send your results to your consultant.
If you are not on any ADHD pathway we can write to your G.P. requesting that you should be referred onto the NHS ADHD pathway based on the evidence from your assessment with us.
In some cases, yes. However, a shared care agreement must be made with your GP. If requested, we will help in this matter and write to your GP requesting the transition but it is not always possible and can take time. We recommend that you discuss private assessments with your GP first.
3. ADHD Screening Bookings and Referrals
ADHD Foundation 2nd Floor 54 St James Street Liverpool Merseyside L1 0AB.
Simply complete and return our ADHD referral form (6-15 or 18-60) to nd.clinic.admin@adhdfoundation.org.uk. We accept self-referrals and referrals from practitioners. When completing the referral form, please ensure that all the information is correct. Failure to disclose information, such as medication or other conditions diagnosed may result in invalid/unusable test results. In some cases we may not be able to release the QbTest results. Please ensure you have ticked if you want a QbTest OR QbCheck. If you choose the QbCheck you will need to return the consent document too.
If you are a parent/carer/friend/spouse/employer referring someone to access the assessment who is 18 or older we will need the client’s consent to proceed. For GDPR reasons, we cannot accept referrals without the client’s consent. If you are a parent/carer/friend/spouse/ employer referring or paying for the appointment, we will not be able to discuss any aspects of the appointment with you unless the client has given us their express consent. This includes details on the status of their assessment, appointment dates, and any results outcomes. We will not share any results unless requested by the client. If the client was 17 at the point of referral and has turned 18 while accessing our service, the same policy will apply, and we will not disclose any information about their assessment without their consent.
You may cancel your appointment, but all bookings are non-refundable.
If you contact us to re-book the appointment more than 5 working days before the appointment is due, there is no additional charge. If you contact us to re-book the appointment less than 5 working days before the appointment is due then there is an £100 re-booking fee. If you do not attend your appointment and then call to re-book, there is an £100 fee for the new appointment. The new appointment will not be booked until the payment is made.
If you wish to re-book the appointment you will be subject to the £100 re-booking fee. The new appointment will not be booked until the payment is made.
If the client is less than 15 minutes late to the appointment, we will be able to proceed with the appointment as we will still have sufficient time. If they are more than 15 minutes late, we will not have time to complete the appointment and the appointment would need to be re-booked. This will be subject to the £100 re-booking fee which must be paid before we can re-book. In special circumstances the re-booking fee can be wavered, but this needs to be approved by the business director. It can take between 3-5 business days to make a decision.
If the client is unable to attend the appointment due to the Coronavirus, then they will be able to re-book their appointment without incurring any charges. Please be advised that we will not be able to re-fund the appointment, we will only be able to re-arrange it for a new date that suits the client. In some cases, we will need to see a copy of the Covid-19 test results. If the Psychologist is concerned that the client is showing symptoms of Coronavirus, they will be asked to vacate the premises immediately and the appointment will be re-booked. This will not be subject to any re-booking fees, but the ADHD Foundation will not reimburse any travel fees incurred.
1. Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a learning difference that interferes especially with the learning of reading and spelling. It may also be difficult to remember multiplication tables, and sequences such as months of the year, telephone numbers or postcodes. Dyslexic children make most progress when the condition is detected early. At this stage (4-7 years) they confuse and reverse letters and numbers, make speech errors, and begin to feel a sense of inadequacy at school. However, at this point, skilled specialist teaching can lay the necessary foundations through so-called multi-sensory teaching. This can help prevent later loss of self-esteem and the need to relearn certain literacy skills.
The main area of inefficiency in learning is phonological processing – the ability to hear, store, reproduce and manipulate the sounds of speech, such as the sequence of syllables in car park or barbecue (rather than par cark and cubeybar). There are also associated differences in terms of processing speed and character recognition. Older individuals may find that they feel embarrassed by an inability to remember lists, common facts such as addresses and names, or to organise aspects of daily life involving time or instructions; tasks which involve mental lists. Sequences of all kinds can be difficult for dyslexics to control.
Dyslexia is not something that can, or should be ‘cured’. It is not a disease, but a developmental condition; that is, it manifests itself gradually as an individual matures, attends school and is expected to attain in areas like reading, numbers and spelling. Adults may continue to struggle with obstacles caused by dyslexia throughout their lives, but proper support, especially at an early stage, can improve alphabetic skills by means of individual specialist tuition using structured, multi-sensory, cumulative methods.
The Dyslexia Screener is an initial assessment to see how far a test-taker’s profile of abilities and skills match those of people who have been found to have dyslexia. Further diagnostic assessments then focus on skills such as spelling and the processing of speech sounds, to build up a detailed profile and identify the most appropriate form of specialised tuition for that person.
Individuals with dyslexic tendencies often have a range of difficulties. It would be wise to ensure that a comprehensive assessment is made of any person found to have dyslexic tendencies, including the use of any other appropriate screening devices. Research suggests that some 60% of people with dyslexia also have difficulties in dealing with numbers, so the dyscalculia screener would certainly be appropriate.
The Screener is intended for people who speak English as a first language or have had their entire education in English-medium schools. If an individual has limited understanding of both written and spoken English, their results will not be a true reflection of their abilities or barriers to their learning. They could therefore appear to have dyslexic tendencies even if they don't.
2. Dyscalculia
Dyscalculia is a specific and persistent difficulty in understanding numbers which can lead to a diverse range of difficulties in mathematics. Mathematics difficulties are best thought of as a continuum, not a distinct category, and they have many causal factors. Dyscalculia falls at one end of the spectrum and will be distinguishable from other maths issues due to the severity of difficulties with number sense, including subitising, symbolic and non-symbolic magnitude comparison, and ordering. It can occur singly but often co-occurs with other specific learning difficulties, mathematics anxiety and medical conditions. (BDA Definition)
Difficulty understanding quantities or concepts like biggest vs. smallest Understanding that the numeral 5 is the same as the word five, and that these both mean five items Remembering number facts in school, like times tables Counting money or making change Estimating time Judging speed or distance Understanding the logic behind math Holding numbers in their head while solving problems
Dyscalculia is believed to affect around 5-10% of the population.
3. Irlen Syndrome®
Irlen Syndrome®; also called Meares-Irlen Syndrome, Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome or Visual Stress is a perceptual processing disorder. It is not an optical problem. It is a problem with the brain’s ability to process visual information. This problem tends to run in families and is not currently identified by other standardised educational or medical tests. The symptoms vary widely and affect people differently.
The Irlen® Method is non-invasive technology that uses coloured overlays and filters to improve the brain’s ability to process visual information. It is the only method scientifically proven to correct successfully the processing problems associated with Irlen Syndrome. The cornerstone of the Irlen® Method is its precision-tinted coloured overlays and filters. Advanced colour spectrometer technology is used to ensure that overlays and coloured glasses meet strict standards of colour balancing designed to produce the most effective colour-correction tool.
There are a wide range of potential Irlen® symptoms and different people may be affected in different ways. These may include: Light Sensitivity Reading Problems Headaches and Migraines Attention and Concentration Problems Strain and Fatigue Problems with Depth Perception Print or Environmental Distortions