Private ADHD Assessment for Adults
Until recently, people believed that ADHD only affected children, meaning many adults missed out on seeking an ADHD diagnosis. As awareness continues to grow, so does the demand for accurate ADHD assessments.
If you believe you have ADHD, a Private ADHD Assessment for Adults can provide a much-needed light at the end of the tunnel.
What does a Private ADHD Assessment for Adults Involve?
We will complete a comprehensive assessment from childhood to adulthood, using DIVA (Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults) and the DSM-5 criteria. You will be sent tailored pre-assessment questionnaires before the assessment, which will help the clinician make an informed diagnosis.


What Happens if I Receive an ADHD Diagnosis?
If the clinician has determined the appropriateness of an ADHD diagnosis as per DSM 5th edition, following your assessment they will:
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Discuss appropriate interventions
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Recommend further reading
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Offer expert advice on how to manage your symptoms
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Offer advice to your workplace, if required, on how they can support you post-diagnosis
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Write a detailed report summarising the assessment, a copy of which will be sent to you and your GP
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Develop a comprehensive treatment plan, including medication
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Over 15 years’ experience in the mental health field, specialising in complex neurodiverse conditions such as ADHD, Autism, Tics, and mood disorders including anxiety & depression
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Currently working in both private and public practice, within the NHS in the Children & Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
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Patient-centred and evidence-based approach
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Expert advice
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Thorough assessment based on the DSM-5, covering medical and mental health history, early childhood development, family and social history and any adverse childhood experiences
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Online and in-person assessments
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An understanding of ADHD in different genders and race
Why choose AG & Co Health for your ADHD Assessment?

An ADHD assessment consists of a diagnostic interview with the patient and a family member or someone who knows the patient well to identify potential ADHD symptoms and impairments. The assessment will look at your experiences from childhood and how your symptoms impact your day to day life now. The assessment is conducted using a diagnostic tool called DIVA (Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults), which is a structured interview based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5).
During the assessment the clinician will determine the extent to which the symptoms from DSM 5 currently apply to the adult and if they have been present in childhood. Symptoms can change over time, so adults may present differently from when they were children. A diagnosis is based on the number and severity of symptoms, the duration of symptoms and the degree to which the symptoms cause ‘functional impairment’ in the different areas of life, such as home, work, and social life.
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What does undiagnosed ADHD look like in adults?Undiagnosed ADHD can lead to an increased risk of mental health conditions such as low mood, anxiety and emotional dysregulation. Adults with undiagnosed ADHD are at increased risk of joblessness, often getting fired or moving from one role to another. Undiagnosed ADHD can impact self-esteem and self-confidence, and lead to a negative self-concept. The consequences of undiagnosed ADHD can also present in aspects of daily life, such as poor time-management, difficulty in maintaining finances, relationship difficulties, increased risk of dangerous driving, substance misuse and gambling. The impact of undiagnosed ADHD will vary from one adult to another, with the impact being felt according to the pressures that life present you with and how difficult it is for you to manage the demands of everyday life.
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How long is the wait for an ADHD Assessment for Adults UK?An ADHD assessment for adults within the UK can take from anywhere between 1-5 years depending on the area that you live in and how well the local NHS services are funded. A private assessment allows you to access an expedited appointment, bypassing the long NHS waitlists, which can be offered within 1-2 weeks
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How long does an ADHD Assessment for adults take?An ADHD assessment for adults can take up to 2 hours, however prior to the assessment with the clinician you will be asked to complete comprehensive ADHD pack which consists of validated rating scales for yourself and a family member or friend who knows you well.
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Is it worth getting an ADHD diagnosis?An ADHD diagnosis can offer an important and validated explanation of the many challenges that life can present with, but also ADHD diagnosis can also highlight the strengths of many individuals such as the creative impulsivity that ADHD offers. Getting a diagnosis of ADHD a new understanding of how your brain is wired and how to make adjustments in your life to ensure you feel fully supported by yourself and your family around you. It can allow you to understand how ADHD impacts the various areas of your life and learn skills to promote neuroplasticity, the ability of the brain to re-wire itself by learning new techniques and strategies to promote executive functioning skills.
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What are the three key symptoms of ADHD?The three key symptoms of ADHD are firstly, inattention, which leads to difficulty in focusing and maintaining your attention on a given task. This often leads to becoming easily distracted, either by your own thoughts or by what is happening around you. This can lead to individuals often starting and then not completing a given task as they have got distracted, it can impact your short-term memory and you may struggle to hold information in your mind. The second symptom is hyperactivity, this can lead to individuals often feeling restless and needing to stay busy and consequently struggling to relax, this can often make other family members feel increasingly tired and frustrated due to the excessive energy of such individuals. The hyperactivity is not always visible and can often lead to an inner state of restlessness, with ones thoughts often racing from one topic to another and the individual describes their brain is too active and is difficult to control ones thoughts. The third symptom of ADHD is impulsivity, which means making a decision without thinking through the consequences. Impulsivity can lead to many challenges with poor money management, spending money impulsively, starting relationships which subsequently break down very quickly, impulsivity can lead to people often saying something inappropriate and offending family, friends or work colleagues, engaging in reckless or risky behaviours such as dangerous driving, substance misuse and gambling.
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What are the signs of ADHD in a child?The signs of ADHD can be categorised into signs of inattention and hyperactivity and impulsivity. Signs of inattention are: having a short attention span and being easily distracted making careless mistakes – for example, in schoolwork appearing forgetful or losing things being unable to stick to tasks that are tedious or time-consuming appearing to be unable to listen to or carry out instructions constantly changing activity or task having difficulty organising tasks Signs of hyperactivity and impulsivity are: being unable to sit still, especially in calm or quiet surroundings constantly fidgeting being unable to concentrate on tasks excessive physical movement excessive talking being unable to wait their turn acting without thinking interrupting conversations little or no sense of danger
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What happens in an ADHD assessment UK child?In an ADHD assessment, the clinician will ask the young person and parents questions to determine the symptoms the child is experiencing and the impact of these symptoms at home, in school and in the childs relationships with family and friends.
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What is an ADHD assessment like for children?An ADHD assessment will consist of a holisitc neurodevelopmental assessment of your child with an experienced childrens and adolescent mental health clinician with extensive experience with the NHS CAMHS services. The assessment will consist of a 2-3 hour appointment which can be arranged face to face or virtual. Prior to the appointment you will be sent a comprehensive ADHD assessment pack, which consists of Conner-3 validated rating scales for the parent, teacher and where relevant the child to complete, a strengths and difficulties questionnaires, and where appropriate a childrens communication checklist. All the information is then put together including the clinical assessment with the clinician to determine the appropriateness of a ADHD diagnosis. This assessment is carried out in accordance with NICE guidance (NG87) and the DSM-5th edition international manual.
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How can I get an ADHD assessment for my child?An ADHD assessment can be provided by your local CAMHS provider, however if you feel the waiting time for an assessment with the NHS provider is too long you can access a private ADHD assessment with AG & Co Health.
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At what age should a child be tested for ADHD?An ADHD assessment is usually carried out after a child's 6th birthday, the reason for this is due to a complicated process which the brain carries out called 'synpatic pruning'. This determines how well the brain is being wired and which parts of the brain are being pruned due to cell death and decay. This process begins to slow down and stabilise in early childhood, after the age of 6. Therefore assessing a child after the 6th birthday is a relaible indicator of how well this process has taken place and the impact of inefficient synaptic pruning.