ADHD assessment: what to expect
As a Psychologist with considerable skills and experience in assessment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder I am able to assign a formal diagnosis if appropriate to do so. I am not able to prescribe medication for ADHD. Should you want your child to be prescribed medication, you will need to seek consultation with a Paediatrician or a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist following assessment. Assessment procedures for suspected Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder comply with best practice guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
Assessment typically involves:
Assessment of emotional well being with child and parents – approximately one hour (usually online with parents and face to face with child/young person)
Neuropsychological assessment with child/young person - approximately 2.5 hours face to face
Developmental history
Conners questionnaires completed by home and school
Standardised questionnaires assessing emotional well being
School liaison call with someone who knows your child well at school
On occasion school observation is also required and is charged separately according to my hourly rate. A feedback session (usually online) and an assessment report with recommendations are included in the assessment fee. Fee for diagnostic assessment for ADHD is £1150. A non refundable 20% deposit is payable upon booking an assessment with the outstanding balance payable prior to the start of the assessment.
How is the Assessment Conducted?
An assessment for possible Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder involves a number of steps which are set out below.
Neuropsychological Assessment
Your child will be invited to attend a Neuropsychological assessment at my consulting rooms. During this assessment I will have a conversation with your child about home life, school life and their wellbeing. We will complete a cognitive assessment to gain an understanding of their verbal and non-verbal reasoning skills, capacity for processing speed and working memory. We will also complete tests of attention and concentration. Some of these tasks are computer based.
Questionnaires
I will send you questionnaires about your child’s development and wellbeing, which you will need to complete and return to me via email.
Information on File
You will need to send me copies of previous assessments or therapeutic input carried out with your child so that I can review these as part of the assessment process. If your child has an Education Health and Care Plan I will need a copy of this.
School Liaison
You will need to provide contact details for a staff member who knows your child well. I will schedule a call with them to discuss your child’s social, emotional and academic functioning at school. Usually, a parent does not need to attend this.
Developmental History and Assessment of Emotional Wellbeing
You will be invited to a video call of around an hour in length during which we will gather a developmental history of your child’s self-regulation difficulties and their emotional and behavioural wellbeing. Ideally both parents would attend this appointment, but one parent is sufficient. Your child does not need to attend this appointment.
What Happens After the Assessment?
Feedback Appointment
You will be offered a feedback appointment via video call within two weeks of the completion of your child’s assessment.
Assessment Reports
Assessment reports are usually sent out within four weeks of the feedback appointment, although this can vary. You will receive a summary report which includes diagnostic conclusions and recommendations.
Combined assessment for suspected Autism Spectrum Disorder and suspected Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
A combined assessment for Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder can be arranged as appropriate and includes all aspects of assessment for both disorders outlined above. Fee for combined assessment is £3100.