The Centre was established by Dr Geoff Kewley in 1993, largely out of concern at the extreme lack of appropriate service provision for the assessment and management of individuals with complex neurodevelopmental difficulties.

Over the past 18 years more than 6,000 people with these conditions have been assessed at the Centre. Up to 240 new patients from all over the country and overseas are assessed annually. There are approximately 1,600 patients on our active long-term clinical management list.

The Centre has, over the years, developed a local, and also a national reputation, for its ability to assess children, adolescents and adults with suspected neurodevelopmental difficulties in an experienced and comprehensive way. It is the only such clinic in the UK in the independent sector. Whilst it sees people with the more straightforward problems, it also has a great deal of expertise in the assessment and management of people with complex difficulties.

The clinic staff have developed invaluable experience in doing experienced and comprehensive assessments over the past 18 years, assessing children, adolescents and adults with a wide range of neurodevelopmental difficulties, particularly ADHD and coexisting difficulties. The initial emphasis is on assessing whether or not the individual has ADHD, and then, whether or not there are associated and compounding difficulties. A great deal of time is spent on the assessment, on collating information from various sources, including schools, and in subsequently giving advice as to the most appropriate way of helping the child or adult.

The Centre prides itself on having a user-friendly and informative team approach, where time is taken by its staff prior to arranging a consultation in discussing with parents/patient/carer the comprehension of the service provided, advising on the appropriateness of assessment and to answer related questions

School liaison is an essential part of a child’s clinical management at the Centre. Information is requested, with consent from parents, from schools via our teacher feedback form prior to the assessment, together with as much other information as possible from previous school reports and assessments. Once the assessment has been undertaken, it is the Centre’s aim to work with schools, both to help with the most appropriate educational strategies and in monitoring the child’s progress via our follow-up teacher feedback forms. If medication is used as part of the child’s management, educational and other relevant supports will be put in place in any case. The symptoms of ADHD and related conditions mean that life can be very difficult for a child with these problems in the classroom and putting in place appropriate supports to facilitate a fuller understanding of the child’s difficulties, as well as having good liaison with the child’s teachers, is an essential part of management.

In addition to educational, behavioural management and medication support where appropriate, neurofeedback therapy is also available as an additional option for management. Neurofeedback is a brain-training programme for which there is a strong evidence base. Evidence shows that in a significant number of children with ADHD, improvements can be made either with neurofeedback and medication or as an alternative to medication, depending on the outcome of an assessment and specialist advice. In conjunction with PeakMind, the LANC also provides neurofeedback within its umbrella as part of the range of strategies available in the management of people with ADHD.

The LANC has always taken a lifespan approach to the management of people with ADHD, recognising for many years that not only children, but also adolescents and adults can have significant problems with the condition and that it is not just a condition of childhood. This has more recently been recognised in the NICE report – the report of National Institute of Clinical Excellence.

Whilst many people do outgrow their ADHD and outgrow the need for medication where it is used, many have ongoing significant issues that can affect them in a wide range of ways.

We have a range of professionals, including our clinical psychologist, physician, specialist prescribing nurse and an adult psychiatrist, enabling the LANC to additionally provide a seamless and comprehensive service for late adolescents and adults. The range of difficulties encountered by adults with ADHD can be quite varied. In some extreme cases, some people with ADHD have entered the youth justice system, particularly when they have associated learning difficulties and the early onset of conduct problems. However, in our experience, the majority of people with untreated ADHD have underachieved to their ability either academically, socially, or in life generally. Frequently, we find that they are very bright, and are extremely frustrated by their underachievement which has often affected their job prospects, their relationships, their self-esteem and particularly their organisational, time and money management abilities. There is usually an effective means of helping them – whatever their age.

In addition to our longstanding Centre at Horsham, the LANC’s London base became operational in October 2010, with consulting rooms in Upper Harley Street, close to Regent’s Park Underground Station and within easy access to most over ground British rail stations, making assessment more accessible to individuals based in London or to the north.

Testimonials

“We came to the Learning Assessment and Neurocare Centre for its excellence and that’s what we have had. The Best! Without you, we would have 3 children probably in prison or something as bad, or we would both be mad by now. We love you. With many thanks for your continuing support.”

“Thank goodness we came to you. What a difference you’ve made to our child and to our family.” “If only we had known of you before!”

“We have trekked around from Paediatrician to Occupation Therapists to Neurologists to Speech and Language Therapists to Educational Psychologists to Psychologists…the list goes on….for many years to no avail. Finally we got to the Learning Assessment and Neurocare Centre and it turned our lives around. We have never looked back since.”

“Thank you for your professionalism, advice and support. Life has been so much better all round since you unravelled what is happening in our life and put it back on the rails. Thank you for your commitment and dedication.”

“After years of misunderstanding and misdiagnosis, it was wonderful to find someone who, not only understood the education, social, emotional problems caused by ADHD but was able to recognise it for what it was. I always knew my children were not “naughty.” It was good to find someone who had the experience to advise us appropriately, and who also recognised the positive side of the condition.”