Adult ADHD assessment
The process starts with a free telephone consultation where we decide whether proceeding with a full assessment is appropriate.
If we do decide to proceed, I will send you a questionnaire to fill out before we meet for your full assessment. For additional information, I will also ask someone who knows you well to complete a questionnaire, if this possible.
A full assessment is usually conducted via video link on MS Teams, although other arrangements can be made. The full assessment usually takes around 1.5 hours. We will discuss your abilities and difficulties functioning in daily life, as well as your childhood.
You are welcome to have someone with you during your assessment. Often, a companion who knows you well can provide useful insight during the assessment process. If you become upset or overwhelmed, we can take a break or reschedule.
After I have all the information I need, I will generate a comprehensive report including recommendations of the support that should be provided to you and guidance on strategies for managing your condition.
Please note, that Benefits Agencies or Local Authorities may not recognise a private diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Please check beforehand if a private assessment is acceptable for the purposes required.
For further information, including how I meet guidance set out by The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), please contact me directly.
What to expect from a ADHD assessment
Signs of possible ADHD in adults
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Difficulties concentrating on all but the most interesting or motivating things
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Constantly losing or forgetting things
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Inability to maintain employment or relationships
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Difficulty organizing self without support
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Problems following instructions and listening
Statement in response to harmful rhetoric around ADHD in the media
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ADHD is a real and clinically recognised neurodevelopmental disorder that can have a significant impact on people's lives. Public discourse that aims to invalidate its legitimacy or dismiss its effects contributes to stigma and can discourage people from seeking support and treatment.
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The rise in ADHD diagnoses should be seen, in part, as a result of greater awareness and improved recognition, particularly among women and girls who have historically been underdiagnosed. Increased understanding helps people access the support they need and anything that contributes to closing the gender gap in medicine is a step in the right direction.
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It is also harmful to judge whether someone has ADHD based on a snapshot of their achievements or outward ability to function. Many people, especially those diagnosed later in life, have spent years developing and managing extensive coping strategies at considerable cost to their mental and physical wellbeing. A diagnosis of ADHD is not something that is taken lightly by clinicians. This involves a thorough assessment of an individual's symptoms, history and the impacts across different aspects of their life using established diagnostic criteria.
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On a personal note, I have been working with people with neurodiverse conditions since 1994. I remember similarly unhelpful rhetoric surrounding dyslexia, which is now far better recognised and supported than it was in the past. While ADHD and dyslexia are distinct conditions, I hope public understanding of ADHD continues to move in the same direction, towards greater awareness, acceptance and evidence-based support.
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I agree with the statement put out by the Royal College of Psychiatrists and more information about ADHD in adults can be found on their website. I also support the statement that claiming that ADHD is a myth is pseudoscientific and dangerous (New Scientist article).