ADHD assessment: what to expect
I provide diagnostic assessment for suspected ADHD for children and young people in Bristol, Bath and the surrounding area, following practice guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). I have considerable experience in ADHD assessment and can assign a formal diagnosis where it is appropriate to do so.
A note on medication
I am a Clinical Psychologist, not a medical doctor, and I cannot prescribe medication. Where ADHD is diagnosed and you wish to consider a referral will be required to a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist or Consultant Paediatrician, either privately or through the NHS. Where it would be helpful I can give you details of practitioners who are able to prescribe, so that you can approach them directly. I have no financial interest in any such arrangement and receive no fee or other benefit for providing these details.
Arrangements for ongoing NHS prescribing are a separate matter agreed between the prescribing clinician and your GP and subject to local policy.
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 £1275. 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. The neuropsychological assessment often includes the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fifth Edition (WISC-V) or the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV), to understand your child's verbal and non-verbal reasoning, processing speed and working memory. We will also complete the Test of Everyday Attention for Children (Second Edition) or the QbCheck, to assess different aspects of the ADHD profile. 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. For children and young people up to the age of 18 this will include the Conners Rating Scale – 4th Edition. This is a standardised questionnaire assessing symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in children and young people
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. A teacher who sees your child regularly in the classroom will be asked to complete a Conners Rating Scale- 4th Edition.
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
Following assessment you will receive a written report setting out the findings, the diagnostic conclusions and recommendations. The report is written for clinical purposes and is yours to share with your GP, other health professionals, and your child's school or nursery as you see fit. My reports are not written as expert evidence for court or tribunal proceedings. I do not undertake medico-legal work and I do not act as an expert witness.
Combined assessment for suspected Autism Spectrum Disorder and suspected Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Autism and ADHD often occur together, and it is common for parents to recognise features of both in their child. Where that is the case, a combined assessment looks at both in one integrated process rather than two separate ones.
A combined assessment includes every element of the Autism assessment and every element of the ADHD assessment, carried out together and written up as a single report. That means one set of appointments, one feedback session and one coherent picture of your child, rather than two assessments that each look at half of it.
A combined assessment for Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder can be arranged as appropriate. Fee for combined assessment is £2950.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a private ADHD diagnosis be accepted by the NHS?
Assessment is carried out in line with NICE guidance and the diagnostic outcome is a valid clinical diagnosis. In my experience NHS services accept these outcomes without difficulty. Arrangements for ongoing NHS prescribing are a separate matter, agreed between the prescribing clinician and your GP, and subject to local policy. If you have any concerns, do check with your local service before proceeding — I am happy to talk it through.
Can I get medication through you?
No. I am a Clinical Psychologist and cannot prescribe. Where you wish to consider medicationI will explain the options and the routes to a prescriber, and can give you details of practitioners who prescribe so that you can approach them directly.
Will my child's school have to act on the report?
Schools and local authorities are required to consider a report as evidence, but are not bound to act on its recommendations. A diagnosis does not in itself secure an Education, Health and Care Plan or any particular support.
What happens if my child does not receive a diagnosis?
An assessment may conclude that criteria for a diagnosis are not met. This is a valid and useful outcome, and the fee is the same. You will receive a full explanation of the findings and recommendations in every case.
How long does the whole process take?
This varies with appointment availability. I make every endeavour to ensure that these take place in a timely manner. You will be offered a feedback appointment within two weeks of the final assessment session, and the written report usually follows within four weeks after that.