Considering an ADHD Assessment?

​Parents often contact us because their child or young person is experiencing difficulties with attention, concentration, organisation, impulsivity or emotional regulation, or because concerns have been raised at school. In other young people, particularly those who have developed ways of compensating or masking their difficulties, ADHD may be less immediately apparent.

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An initial consultation provides an opportunity to understand your concerns, consider your child's wider development and emotional wellbeing, and think together about whether an ADHD assessment would be helpful.

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A Comprehensive ADHD Assessment​

Our ADHD assessments are comprehensive and follow NICE guidance. Assessment is undertaken by experienced clinicians with backgrounds in NHS child and adolescent mental health and neurodevelopmental services.

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We take a detailed developmental and clinical history with parents or carers and gather information about the young person's functioning across different settings, including school. We use recognised, standardised ADHD assessment measures alongside clinical assessment and, where appropriate, objective measures of attention and activity.

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Importantly, a diagnosis is never based upon a single questionnaire or test. We consider the young person's developmental history, current presentation and the impact of any difficulties on their everyday life.

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Looking beyond ADHD

​Children and young people are complex, and difficulties with attention, concentration, organisation or emotional regulation do not always have a single explanation. As Clinical Psychologists and experienced mental health clinicians, we consider emotional wellbeing and mental health alongside neurodevelopmental differences, including anxiety, low mood and other difficulties which may overlap with, or contribute to, a young person's presentation.

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We also consider whether there may be features of other neurodevelopmental differences, including autism, and will discuss this with families where appropriate.​

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Understanding your child

​Following assessment, the information gathered is considered carefully by the multidisciplinary team. Families are offered a feedback appointment with an experienced clinician, providing time to discuss the assessment findings, formulation and, where appropriate, diagnosis, and to consider what these mean for their child or young person. ​Families also receive a comprehensive, strengths-led report which brings together the young person's developmental history, assessment findings, emotional wellbeing and individual profile.

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​Recommendations are developed specifically for each child or young person, rather than providing a generic list based upon diagnosis. Our aim is for families to leave the assessment with a clearer understanding of their child, their strengths and their needs, together with practical recommendations for home, school and future support.

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