Thinking about an ADHD assessment can bring up a mixture of feelings. Some people feel relieved to finally explore difficulties they have experienced for years. Others are unsure what the assessment will involve or worry that they will not be able to explain themselves clearly.
A specialist ADHD assessment should be a detailed clinical conversation, not simply a questionnaire or checklist.
Why are you seeking an assessment?
The assessment usually begins by exploring what has led you to seek help. You may have noticed difficulties with concentration, organisation, procrastination, forgetfulness, time management, impulsivity, restlessness, work, study or relationships.
Some people start considering ADHD after a family member is diagnosed. Others recognise longstanding patterns after reading about adult ADHD, or when their usual coping strategies are no longer working.
Your current symptoms
Your clinician will explore how your symptoms affect your life now. This may include how you manage deadlines, appointments, household responsibilities, paperwork, relationships, finances and work.
The important question is not simply whether you sometimes get distracted. Everyone can experience distraction or forgetfulness. The assessment looks at whether there is a persistent pattern of difficulties that causes a meaningful impact on everyday functioning.
Childhood and developmental history
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition, so understanding childhood is an important part of the assessment.
You may be asked about concentration at school, homework, organisation, behaviour, friendships, losing belongings, comments from teachers and whether you needed significant support to stay organised.
You do not need to remember every detail of your childhood. Where appropriate, information from a parent, sibling or another person who knew you when you were younger may provide useful additional context.
Your wider mental and physical health
A careful ADHD assessment also considers other conditions that can affect attention and concentration. Your clinician may ask about anxiety, depression, sleep, trauma, autism, substance use, physical health and current medication.
This matters because some conditions can resemble ADHD, and ADHD can also exist alongside other mental health or neurodevelopmental conditions.
Will I definitely receive an ADHD diagnosis?
No. The purpose of the assessment is not to confirm a diagnosis that has already been assumed.
It is to understand your history and determine whether ADHD is the most appropriate explanation for your difficulties. Sometimes ADHD is diagnosed. Sometimes another explanation is more appropriate. Occasionally several factors are contributing at the same time.
What happens after the assessment?
Your clinician should explain the outcome clearly and discuss appropriate next steps.
Where ADHD is diagnosed, options may include medication, practical strategies, psychological support and adjustments to work or study. The best treatment plan depends on the individual. You can read more in our guide to what happens after an ADHD diagnosis.
Common questions
Important: this article is for general information and is not a substitute for an individual medical assessment. Symptoms such as poor concentration, forgetfulness or restlessness can have several causes.
