Assessment Process

An ADHD assessment involves gathering a range of different information. Some of this information will be collected from speaking to you about your experiences and completing tasks with you. We will also try to gather information about your childhood development.

What to expect:

Following receipt of the referral and appropriate questionnaires, they will be reviewed by our multidisciplinary team who will be able to forward the referral to the most appropriate service or follow up with a telephone call to the referrer
On acceptance of the referral, you will receive a letter informing you which team will be completing the assessment
At the assessment, you will be asked some questions. Depending on the information provided you may be asked to complete further assessments to help establish a full understanding of your needs
Once we have the necessary information, the initial service you see will be able to provide you with information to indicate whether you meet the criteria of diagnosis. However, sometimes, we will need to meet with other members of the multidisciplinary team to discuss the assessment findings and agree on an outcome
Following the assessment, individual support is provided such as medication or a particular type of therapy

After an ADHD Assessment

There are different possible outcomes from an assessment:

be diagnosed with ADHD
need further assessment for other conditions, a further assessment may show that you have other conditions alongside ADHD and you may be referred to another service for a different diagnosis that better suits your needs
have a pattern of difficulties that do not fit neatly under an ADHD diagnosis and you may be signposted to alternative services for additional help and support

What happens if you receive a diagnosis?

Once the ADHD assessment has been completed, a letter will be sent to you and your GP to summarise the assessment and confirm the diagnosis. There are many strategies that can minimise the impact of ADHD symptoms

Non-medication strategies

Good sleep hygiene
providing daily structure
help with memory, organisation and planning support
working towards a balanced diet and exercise where possible

All of these supporting factories have a very positive influence on how you can cope with ADHD and should be used alongside ADHD medication

Medication

ADHD is a medically treatable condition. If you are offered medication, the different options will be discussed ar your appointment. These may include:

stimulant medications
non-stimulant medications

For further information on medication, please refer to the NHS Website.

What happens if you do not receive a diagnosis?

You may not be given a diagnosis of ADHD at the assessment. This can be for a number of different reasons, which will be explained in detail to you at the assessment.

Not being given a diagnosis of ADHD does not always mean we are saying that you do not have significant difficulties or needs in other areas, and you may still need help and support with these.

After the assessment, if you are not given a diagnosis of ADHD, you will:

Be referred to any relevant services for further assessment and investigation if this is identified as needed during the assessment
Be directed to information sites and support services to help you