See the whole picture
Comprehensive Assessments for ADHD
Understanding ADHD begins with thorough assessments. Our approach ensures every aspect of your experience is considered.
Beyond the Checklist
A Comprehensive Psychiatric Assessment
It’s crucial to understand that there’s no such thing as a standalone “ADHD assessment.” What we offer is a comprehensive psychiatric assessment with a dedicated ADHD component. This approach aligns fully with the NICE guidelines and the standards set by the UK Adult ADHD Network (UKAAN).
Our comprehensive two-hour assessment is designed to delve deeply into your history and current presentation. We go beyond simply identifying ADHD symptoms to:
The Assessment Process
A Multi-faceted Approach
Whenever possible, a face-to-face assessment offers the richest understanding and allows for a more nuanced interaction. To ensure a comprehensive evaluation, our process typically incorporates several key components:
Understanding the Outcome
Assessment vs. Diagnosis
It’s important to be clear: you are paying for a comprehensive assessment, not a guaranteed ADHD diagnosis. The outcome of the assessment will depend on the information gathered and the clinical judgment made based on established diagnostic criteria.
Our commitment is to provide you with a thorough and professional evaluation. Whether the assessment leads to a diagnosis of ADHD or identifies another explanation for your challenges, you will receive clear feedback and, where appropriate, recommendations for next steps and support.
Having been on the receiving end of a diagnostic process myself, I am deeply committed to ensuring that your assessment experience at theadhdspecialist.com is one of understanding, respect, and thoroughness. We look forward to connecting with you.
The process
What your assessment involves
We have designed the process to be thorough without being overwhelming. Here is what to expect from start to finish.
Initial Enquiry & Eligibility
Get in touch and tell us a little about what has brought you here. We see children, adolescents, and adults, and we will discuss whether an ADHD assessment is appropriate for you.
No referral needed
All ages
Self-referral or parent/guardian referral
Pre-assessment questionnaires
Before your appointment, we send you detailed questionnaires to complete at home.
Self-Report: Completed directly by you (the patient).
Informant Report: Completed by someone who knows you well (e.g., a partner, family member, or close friend).
For Children: The informant questionnaire is typically completed by a SENCO or a teacher who knows the child well.
Doing these at your own pace helps us focus your appointment on what matters most to you.
Completed at home
Informant option available
At your own pace
The assessment appointment
Your assessment is a structured clinical conversation — not an interrogation or a test you can pass or fail. We explore your current life, history, and experiences across education, relationships, work, sensory world, and social communication. We also screen for common co-occurring conditions like anxiety, depression, OCD, and sleep difficulties.
Approx. 2–3 hours
Can split across sessions
In-person or remote
Clinical & Psychosocial Evaluation
During the evaluation, our clinicians look closely at several key areas:
- Clinical and Psychosocial Evaluation: A thorough discussion covering everyday behaviour and functioning across multiple life domains.
- Developmental and Psychiatric History: A deep dive into childhood development, medical background, and family history of neurodevelopmental or mental health conditions.
- Mental State Examination: Evaluating current emotional well-being to ensure symptoms are not better explained by anxiety, mood disorders, or trauma.
- Observer Reports: Reviewing third-party perspectives (such as partner accounts or school reports) to understand childhood and current symptoms.
Standardised Criteria: Mapped against recognised frameworks like the DSM-5 or ICD-10.
Rating Scales: Used to quantify symptoms, keeping in mind that clinical guidelines mandate a diagnosis is never made from a questionnaire alone.
DSM-5 & ICD-11 criteria
Feedback & diagnosis
We share the outcome with you clearly and compassionately. We explain the clinical reasoning, what we found, what it means for you personally, and what comes next. We always celebrate your strengths alongside any challenges identified.
Clear verbal feedback
Strengths acknowledged
Written report provided
Written report & onward support
You will receive a comprehensive written diagnostic report. We also discuss onward support options — such as workplace or educational adjustments, medication titration, therapy, or signposting to ADHD-specific communities. A titration letter and diagnosis letter will also be sent to your GP.
Please note: once you are ready for shared care, this typically takes approximately 6 months in total — around 3 months for titration, followed by a further 3 months to become stabilised on the right dose. Before this stage, it’s important to check with your GP whether they accept shared care from private providers, as this is not an automatic service and is at each GP practice’s discretion.
Remember: Your diagnostic assessment is a beginning, not an end.