parenting? Or do you shout: “That’s me! I’ve got that!”

The truth is that many of us who think we have ADHD don’t, and many others remain undiagnosed and untreated – and the cost of failing to identify ADHD is high; behavioral and academic problems in childhood and failed relationships, career difficulties, and criminality in adulthood. Accurate diagnosis takes time and resources, both of which are in short supply in today’s NHS. So a new online test that can be used in schools and clinics is very welcome.

Psychiatrist and adult ADHD expert Dr. James Kustow explains that ADHD has three core aspects: hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention or distractibility. A key feature of ADHD is marked by variability and inconsistency in performance. This explains why some people with ADHD may seemingly function well, pass exams and get into university. “People with ADHD can be typically inattentive and unfocused but sometimes can be hyperfocused on a task,” he says. “The central issue is impaired regulation rather than a simple ‘deficit’ as the name suggests; it’s like the brakes in their brain don’t work smoothly.”

QbCheck is one of a number of neuropsychological tests known as continuous performance tests (CPTs). It was developed by a Swedish company and has just been granted approval by the US Food and Drug Administration. In the test, you respond to things happening on a screen by clicking on the mouse. Sustaining attention on a task means you can maintain focus; poor focus corresponds to impulsivity. Selective attention is where you can ignore competing stimuli, and poor scores can mean you are easily distractible.

The test also records head movements using a webcam – more head movements than normal may indicate hyperactivity. It generates data, which is then compared with age- and gender-adjusted norms and presented in a report.