Booking an ADHD assessment is often the hardest part. Not because of the assessment itself, but because nobody has told you what actually happens once you’re there.
Our team has put together what your clinician will want to understand about you, and why. That includes how things are for you now, what you were like growing up, and the ways you’ve learned to manage. We also explain what the appointment itself is like: a structured conversation with an experienced clinician, not a test you pass or fail.
If you’re considering an adult ADHD assessment with us, here’s what to expect, step by step.
- Before your appointment
We’ll send you some screening questionnaires to complete beforehand. They help your clinician build a fuller picture of your strengths and the things you find difficult, so your appointment can focus on you.
- We start with you
An assessment is a conversation, not a test. Your clinician will want to understand what’s brought you to this point, what you’ve been finding difficult, and what you hope to gain from an assessment. Appointments usually last around 90 minutes.
- We explore how ADHD traits show up in your life
That can include attention, organisation, memory, time management, impulsivity, restlessness and how you plan and get things done day to day.
It isn’t only about difficulties. We’re interested in you as a person, including your strengths, interests and the strategies you’ve developed over time.
- We talk about childhood
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition, so part of the assessment looks at whether relevant traits were present when you were younger.
Where possible, this might include information from someone who knew you as a child, or old school reports. We recognise that not everyone has access to these.
- We look beyond the stereotypes
ADHD doesn’t look one particular way.
You might have done well academically. You might have a successful career. You might appear very organised. You may have spent years masking, overcompensating or building systems that help you keep everything together.
Your clinician will be interested in what it takes for you to manage, not simply how things look from the outside.
- We consider the bigger picture
An assessment also explores whether other factors could be contributing to your experiences, and whether there are other neurodevelopmental or mental health needs to consider.
- We talk through the outcome together
You’ll have the chance to hear your clinician’s conclusions, ask questions and discuss what comes next. Sometimes your clinician may ask for more information, for example from family, friends or your workplace, before reaching a final outcome.
For many people, an assessment is about understanding themselves more clearly and finding support that fits them.
Ready to talk it through? தொடர்பு கொள்ளுங்கள் with our team to ask a question, or book a private ADHD assessment.
