Questions and answers about ADHD assessment and support
This is a long article. You can read it all, or use the list below to jump to the question you need.
- What is ADHD?
- What are common signs of ADHD in children, young people and adults?
- Can ADHD look different in women and girls?
- How do I ask for an ADHD assessment?
- What happens during an ADHD assessment?
- How long might I have to wait?
- What is Right to Choose and how is it different from a private assessment?
- What support can I get while I wait?
- What happens after diagnosis?
- Can medication help with ADHD?
1. What is ADHD?
ADHD stands for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It is a neurodevelopmental condition, which means it affects how the brain develops and works.
ADHD can affect:
- attention and concentration
- organisation and planning
- activity levels
- impulse control
- emotional regulation
- day-to-day routines
ADHD can affect children, young people and adults. Some people are diagnosed in childhood. Others are not diagnosed until later in life.
ADHD is not about being lazy, careless or difficult. Many people with ADHD work hard to manage things that other people may not notice.
2. What are common signs of ADHD in children, young people and adults?
Not everyone with ADHD is visibly hyperactive. Some people may seem quiet or withdrawn, while still finding it difficult to focus, organise tasks or manage everyday demands.
In children and young people, ADHD may show up as:
- finding it hard to listen or follow instructions
- being easily distracted
- forgetting everyday tasks
- losing/forgetting things needed for school or activities
- finding it hard to sit still when expected to
- fidgeting or moving around a lot
- talking a lot or interrupting
- finding it hard to wait their turn
- acting quickly without thinking through what might happen next
In adults, ADHD may look different. Signs can include:
- losing track of time and missing deadlines or appointments
- finding it hard to start or finish tasks
- forgetting everyday things
- struggling to organise work, money, home life or routines
- feeling restless, even if this is not obvious to other people
- interrupting conversations or speaking before thinking
- feeling overwhelmed by daily responsibilities
- making quick decisions and regretting them later
- finding it hard to relax
The NHS says ADHD symptoms usually start before the age of 12, although some people are not diagnosed until much later. You can read more about ADHD in children and young people and ADHD in adults.
Lots of children, young people and adults experience some of these things sometimes. ADHD is more likely to be considered when these difficulties are long-standing, happen in more than one setting, and affect daily life, school, work, relationships or home life.
3. Can ADHD look different in women and girls?
Yes. ADHD can be missed in women and girls, especially when the signs are less visible to other people.
Research on ADHD in women and girls has found that inattentive symptoms can be more noticeable, while hyperactivity and impulsivity may be less obvious to others.
For girls and women, ADHD may be less visible if they are:
- quiet or withdrawn at school
- working very hard to keep up
- masking difficulties so other people do not notice
- seen as anxious, disorganised or “daydreamy”
- doing well academically, but only with a lot of stress and extra effort
- struggling more as responsibilities increase in adulthood
In girls, ADHD may be noticed through difficulties with concentration, schoolwork, friendships, emotional overwhelm or remembering what they need to do.
In women, ADHD may show up through difficulties with time management, household tasks, work, relationships, appointments, finances or caring responsibilities.
This does not mean ADHD always looks the same in women and girls. It also does not mean men and boys cannot have less visible symptoms. But it does mean ADHD can be missed when people do not fit the stereotype of being visibly and typically hyperactive.
4. How do I ask for an ADHD assessment?
If you think ADHD may be affecting you or your child, it can help to prepare before asking for an assessment.
Try to write down clear examples of what is happening day to day. This is more useful than only saying that you think it might be ADHD.
Your GP may ask about your current difficulties, whether you had similar difficulties as a child, and whether anything else could be affecting your concentration, mood or day-to-day life. ADHD UK has an overview of adult ADHD diagnosis pathways if you want to understand the different routes before speaking to your GP.
For children and young people, it is usually helpful to speak to the school as well as the GP. The school’s special educational needs co-ordinator, often called a SENCO, may be able to help gather information about what is happening in class, what support has already been tried, and whether a referral should be considered.
You do not need to prove everything in one appointment. The main thing is to explain how the difficulties affect everyday life, how long they have been happening, and why you think an assessment may be needed.
5. What happens during an ADHD assessment?
An ADHD assessment is not usually one short conversation or a single test. It should look at how ADHD may be affecting everyday life, and whether something else could be causing or adding to the difficulties.
Assessment routes vary, but they usually include questions about:
- current symptoms
- when the difficulties started
- school, college, university or work
- home life and relationships
- mental health
- physical health
- family history
- support already tried
For children and young people, the assessment may also include information from parents, carers and school. The specialist may ask about learning, behaviour, friendships, routines, sleep and how things are going at home and in education.
For adults, the assessment may include questions about childhood, even if you were not assessed when you were younger. The specialist may ask about school reports, family memories, work history, relationships, organisation, time management and how symptoms affect daily life now.
NICE guidance says an ADHD diagnosis should include a full clinical and psychosocial assessment. This means looking at symptoms, daily impact, development, mental health, physical health and the person’s circumstances, not just ticking off a symptom list.
Some services may use questionnaires or computer-based tasks as part of the assessment. These can help gather information, but they do not replace a full specialist assessment.
After the assessment, the specialist should explain whether you or your child meets the criteria for ADHD. They should also explain what happens next, including support, treatment options or other recommendations.
6. How long might I have to wait?
Waiting times for ADHD assessment vary depending on the service, your age, the referral route and local demand. Some people wait months. Others can wait years. This can be difficult if ADHD is already affecting school, work, family life, relationships or mental health. The Right to Choose path is often the quickest way to get a diagnosis.
If you are waiting for an assessment, it is worth checking:
- which service you or your child has been referred to
- whether the referral has been accepted
- whether the service can give an estimated waiting time
- whether there are any forms you still need to complete
- whether there are local support options available while you wait
- whether there are other referral options you can discuss with your GP
We have not included a specific Islington waiting time because waiting lists can change. If you are unsure what has happened with a referral, contact your GP surgery or the service you were referred to.
7. What is Right to Choose and how is it different from a private assessment?
In England, you usually have a legal right to choose where you are referred for NHS care when your GP refers you for a physical or mental health condition. Right to Choose may let you ask your GP to refer you or your child to an NHS-approved ADHD assessment provider outside your local area. This can be useful when local waiting times are long.
You can pay for a private ADHD assessment, but a private diagnosis does not mean your GP will take over your care or prescribe ADHD medication. ADHD UK’s guidance on private diagnosis explains that GP acceptance of private assessments can vary.
Right to Choose is not the same as booking a private assessment yourself. It is still an NHS referral. If you are assessed through a provider offering services to the NHS, the assessment should be provided as an NHS service. ADHD UK’s Right to Choose learning page also says some local NHS areas have introduced restrictions, so it is worth checking the current position before choosing a provider.
If you want to ask about Right to Choose, it can help to:
- check which providers currently offer ADHD assessments through the NHS
- check whether they assess children, adults or both
- follow the provider’s referral instructions
- complete any forms they ask for
- take the forms to your GP appointment
- ask your GP whether a referral through Right to Choose is appropriate
| Right to Choose | Private assessment | |
|---|---|---|
| Route |
NHS referral through your GP
|
You book directly with a private provider
|
| Cost |
Paid for by the NHS if accepted
|
You pay for assessment and follow-up
|
| Waiting time |
Usually, quicker than local NHS waiting list
|
May be quicker, depending on provider availability
|
| Medication |
Specialist starts and monitors treatment. GP may later take over through shared care
|
You may keep paying privately unless your GP agrees to shared care
|
8. What support can I get while I wait?
You do not have to wait for a diagnosis before looking for support. If ADHD is affecting daily life, small practical changes can still help while you are waiting for an assessment.
It may help to speak to school or work about what is happening and what support can be put in place now.
| For children and young people | For adults |
|---|---|
|
|
- Parents and carers in Islington may also find the ADHD Islington parent support group useful. It is a parent-run group for parents and carers of children and young people with ADHD. It is free and does not need a referral.
- The Brandon Centre ADHD Parent Programme is open to Camden and Islington parents and carers of children aged 5 to 12 with a confirmed ADHD diagnosis or who are waiting for assessment. Brandon Centre says the programme is free and currently runs online.
- The London Waiting Room ADHD Islington page and London Waiting Room autism and ADHD support page may also be useful places to check for local information while you wait.
9. What happens after diagnosis?
You might have to wait a few months for the formal diagnosis. If you or your child is diagnosed with ADHD, the specialist should explain what the diagnosis means and what support or treatment options are available.
You should usually receive a written report. This may include:
- the outcome of the assessment
- how ADHD affects daily life
- recommendations for support
- whether medication could be considered
- what follow-up is needed
- who to contact if you have questions
For children and young people: The report may help parents, carers and schools understand what support may be needed. This could include changes to routines, classroom support, help with organisation, movement breaks or other reasonable adjustments in education.
For adults: Support may include practical changes at home, work or study. This could include written instructions, planning tools, quieter workspaces, flexible ways of managing tasks, or support with routines and deadlines.
Some people are offered medication. Others may be offered non-medication support, or a mix of both. NICE guidance on ADHD treatment and support says care should be based on the person’s needs, symptoms, goals and wider circumstances.
A diagnosis can bring mixed feelings. Some people feel relieved. Others feel frustrated, upset or unsure what to do next. There is no right way to feel. What matters is that you understand your options and know who to contact for follow-up support.
10. Can medication help with ADHD?
Yes, medication can help some people manage ADHD symptoms. It is not right for everyone, and it should be discussed with an ADHD specialist.
NICE guidance on ADHD medication says medication should be offered when ADHD symptoms are still causing significant difficulties after environmental changes have been made and reviewed. For children under five, NICE says parent-training support should be offered first, and medication should not be offered without advice from a specialist ADHD service.
ADHD medication must be started and monitored by a specialist. This is because the specialist needs to check whether it is suitable, explain possible side effects, and monitor how well it is working.
If medication works well and the dose is stable, your GP may later agree to take over prescribing through shared care. Shared care means the specialist and GP agree how prescribing and monitoring will be managed.
