Using Creyos Cognitive Assessments to Identify ADHD and Its Subtypes

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By Dr. Douglas Cowan, Psy.D., Marriage and Family Therapist

ADHD isn’t a one-size-fits-all condition. It impacts individuals differently—some struggle to sit still, others drift off into daydreams, and some freeze when things don’t go as planned.

Creyos Cognitive Assessments provide a fast, objective way to evaluate attention, impulse control, working memory, and reasoning. When interpreted alongside behavioral observations and self-reports, Creyos results can reveal distinct ADHD subtypes—and guide targeted interventions.

🧪 What is the Creyos Cognitive Assessment?

Creyos evaluates 12 core brain functions through gamified cognitive tasks, grouped into:

  • Attention and response inhibition
  • Working and short-term memory
  • Reasoning and planning
  • Speed and flexibility

It gives percentile scores in each domain, allowing clinicians to compare an individual’s performance to age-matched norms.

⏱️ Why Timed Tasks Are Key in ADHD

ADHD often reveals itself under pressure.
Creyos includes several timed tasks that expose executive function issues, including:

  • Double Trouble – Tests response inhibition and focus
  • Feature Match – Measures sustained attention
  • Mental Rotation – Challenges visual processing speed
  • Reaction Time – Evaluates alertness and processing speed

Red flags for ADHD include:

  • Lower scores on timed tasks vs. untimed tasks
  • Poor performance on Double Trouble
  • Inconsistent reaction times
  • Above-average reasoning but weak attention or inhibition

📉 Subtests Most Commonly Affected in ADHD

  • Double Trouble (Inhibition) – Often the lowest score in ADHD profiles
  • Feature Match (Sustained Attention) – Can show distractibility or impulsivity
  • Token Search (Working Memory) – Difficulty tracking spatial info over time
  • Digit Span (Verbal STM) – Trouble holding auditory info in mind

🧠 ADHD Subtype Patterns on Creyos

Different ADHD subtypes can present differently on cognitive tasks:

🔹 Inattentive Type (Pooh)

  • Low: Feature Match, Token Search, Digit Span
  • May work slowly or lose track of goals
  • Timed tasks show delay or errors from distraction

🔸 Hyperactive/Impulsive Type (Tigger)

  • Low: Double Trouble, Reaction Time
  • Fast but error-prone, impulsive choices
  • Highly inconsistent scores

🔹 Over-Focused Type (Rabbit)

  • Low: Double Trouble, Spatial Planning
  • May get stuck on certain parts of tasks
  • Rigid or perfectionistic patterns

🔸 Anxious Type (Piglet)

  • Slightly slow on timed tasks
  • Hesitant and careful—may avoid errors but take too long
  • Average reasoning, but slower planning

🔹 Depressive Type (Eeyore)

  • Mildly depressed scores across memory and processing
  • Slow cognitive initiation
  • Poor planning and low motivation

🧾 Use with Self-Report Inventories

Pair Creyos with:

  • ASRS v1.1 (Adult ADHD Self-Report)
  • GAD-7 or PHQ-9 for anxiety/depression screening

When low inhibition scores (Double Trouble) align with ASRS indicators, ADHD is strongly indicated.

🧩 Clinical Takeaways

  • Compare timed vs. untimed scores—gaps can reveal executive dysfunction
  • Low Double Trouble + high ASRS = ADHD likelihood
  • Inconsistent task performance = red flag for impulsivity or distractibility
  • Overly cautious, slow results = possible anxiety overlay

🧠 What to Do Next

For clients with ADHD-like Creyos profiles:

✅ Recommend:

  • CES CalmBox – Enhances focus, reduces stress reactivity
  • Dual-N-Back training – Improves memory and attention control
  • LifeWave Patches
    • X39 for cellular repair and energy
    • Aeon to reduce inflammation and emotional reactivity
    • Carnosine for brain stamina and protection

🧠 Final Thoughts

Creyos doesn’t diagnose ADHD on its own—but it shines a spotlight on where cognitive functions are breaking down.
When paired with good clinical interviews and behavioral checklists, it becomes a powerful tool for guiding targeted, brain-based interventions.

We use Creyos Assessments as a part of our CalmWaves Brain Health and Performance Programs.

📝 Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and should not be used to diagnose ADHD without a full clinical evaluation.

 

cognitive assessments Creyos executive function
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