What happens in an ADHD assessment?
For many, getting an ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) assessment can feel nerve-wracking. Waiting for long-overdue answers while not knowing what to expect often makes the process feel overwhelming.
At Xyla, our expert clinicians are here to make your assessment both supportive and clinically thorough. We know that being prepared can ease some of the nerves, which is why we want to walk you through exactly what happens during an ADHD assessment.
In this blog, we’ll explain the process step by step, share tips on how to prepare and answer common questions, so you can feel more informed and confident as you take this next step.
Table of contents
What to expect during an ADHD assessment
ADHD assessments are carried out by trained clinicians who specialise in ADHD and autism. At Xyla, all our assessors are neurodevelopmental experts and follow NICE guidelines to ensure every assessment is thorough, accurate and of the highest quality.
There are three parts to an ADHD assessment with Xyla once your referral has been made:
- Questionnaires – completed online at your own pace, giving your clinician valuable insight into your experiences.
- Clinical interview – a virtual appointment at a time that works best for you, where you’ll have the space to talk openly with a specialist.
- Feedback session – also held virtually, where your clinician will share the outcome, answer questions and guide you through next steps.
1. Pre-assessment questionnaires
The first step in your assessment is completing some questionnaires. These will be sent to you, as well as to any people you nominate to provide additional information, less than a week after you decide to move forward and book your online assessment. The questionnaires differ depending on whether the assessment is for a child, young person, or adult.
For children and young people: The Conner’s rating scale will be sent to multiple informants to fill out. This will be sent to the school they attend and their parents or guardian/caregiver. They will also receive a questionnaire curated by Xyla to fill out.
For adults: A questionnaire curated by Xyla will be sent for informants to fill out. This could be sent to a spouse, a friend or a parent, but preferably someone who has known the individual since the age of 12.
2. Clinical interview
The second part of the assessment is the clinical interview, which will be conducted remotely via a video platform. In this section of the assessment, you’ll be asked questions regarding:
- Physical health and family history : The clinician will ask you about any physical health issues you have experienced in the past and also ask about your family history and any medications you might be taking.
- Mental health history: Often, some symptoms associated with ADHD can also be associated with other mental health disorders. The clinician will use this information to rule out any potential causes of your symptoms connected with this, or any comorbidities that could be running alongside ADHD.
- Developmental history: It’s important for the clinician to understand more about your development in your younger years prior to the age of 12. This could include challenges you may have had as a child, such as delayed walking or speech.
- Symptoms: Your clinician will need a comprehensive understanding of the symptoms you’re experiencing in multiple areas of your life (i.e. work/educational institution (university/school), home, social settings), to determine a diagnostic outcome.
- General background
It’s important that you’re in a quiet space where you can talk freely for the duration of the clinical interview. The clinician will also ask that you keep your camera on during the call, as observation is an important element of the diagnosis.
If you’re uncomfortable with something at any time, please don’t hesitate to inform the clinician of this, as they will tailor the session as best they can to meet your needs. This appointment typically takes approximately three hours with a break where necessary, however, we can make reasonable adjustments to ensure a smooth and comfortable experience for those that need this.
3. Feedback session
After your clinical interview, the clinician will determine a diagnostic decision, collaborating with our expert multi-disciplinary team, and book you in for a feedback session.
In this session, your diagnostic outcome will be discussed and any next steps. If your clinician feels that further support would be suitable for you or your child/young person, this will also be discussed during the appointment. The session will typically take around one hour.
What kinds of questions will be asked during the assessment?
In your assessment, the clinician will need to gain an in depth understanding of your background but also your experience of life now to determine a diagnostic decision. A clinician will also ask you about your symptoms and how they impact your life. Some examples of questions asked include:
Developmental history:
- What were/are you like in school?
- Were there any major delays in things like walking?
Medical and family history:
- Do you have any history with substance misuse?
- Are you currently taking any medications?
- Does anyone in your family have a diagnosis of ADHD or another neurodevelopmental condition?
Social and occupational functioning:
- What would your employer/University lecturer/child/young person’s teacher say if they were to describe you/your child/young person?
- Are you often late for appointments?
- Are you impatient?
- Do you often forget/misplace things
The questions asked in an ADHD assessment can sometimes feel intrusive, depending on individual experiences. Our specialist clinicians are dedicated to providing a personalised and supportive environment throughout your assessment journey, so you can go through the process as smoothly as possible.
How will the information be assessed?
All of the information gathered throughout the assessment will be examined by both the specialist clinician and our expert multi-disciplinary team to ensure a comprehensive and reliable clinical decision is made.
Is every ADHD assessment the same?
ADHD assessments generally involve multiple stages and diagnostic tools to determine whether a diagnosis is appropriate. At Xyla, we follow the highest-quality standards (NICE guidelines), trusted by the NHS, to ensure your assessment is thorough, accurate and reliable.
While the core diagnostic elements are the same for everyone, our clinicians tailor each step of the process to your individual needs. This means any questions or concerns you have are addressed, and the assessment is conducted in a supportive, personalised way.
How does a combined (ADHD and autism) assessment differ?
If you/your child/young person are referred for a combined ADHD and autism assessment, the structure of the assessment will vary slightly and there will be some extra parts to the assessment, including the ADOS informed (online) (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule) assessment. This is a standardised tool used to help determine a diagnosis of autism.
How to prepare for an ADHD assessment
There is not much that you/your child/young person needs to do to prepare for an ADHD assessment. However, here are some steps you can take to feel more confident heading into your assessment:
- You/your child/young person will need to be able to answer questions about your/child/young person physical health history, your/child/YP mental health history, your/child/YP symptoms in work or school/university and your/child/YP background.
- The clinical assessor will also need to know what medications you (or your child/YP) are currently taking; if there are more than one, you might find it easier to write these down in a list to bring with you.
ADHD assessment FAQs
An ADHD assessment is a comprehensive evaluation of a person’s symptoms, behaviours and history that can determine if someone meets the criteria of an ADHD diagnosis.
There are many reasons why someone might want to get an ADHD assessment. You may have discovered patterns in relation to things like your concentration, restlessness or impulsivity. These patterns may be causing difficulty in multiple areas of your life and you’d like to find out why.
Predominantly, if you or your GP suspects that you or your child/YP are showing symptoms of ADHD, you may feel as if an ADHD assessment will give you the clarity you need.
ADHD can present itself in many ways, but there are three key symptoms that people may notice within themselves or a loved one:
- Inattention
- Hyperactivity
- Impulsivity
These symptoms are often displayed differently in adults than they are in children and young people.
Inattention
Inattention is when someone finds difficulty in paying attention to things. This could be shown through scenarios such as:
- Forgetting day-to-day tasks
- Getting distracted easily
- Difficulty focusing on what someone is saying
Hyperactivity
Hyperactivity is described as a person having high energy levels. Examples of this include situations such as:
- Fidgeting
- Restlessness in quiet or structured environments
- Excessive talking
Impulsivity
Impulsivity is when an individual has a tendency to act without thinking. You may show signs of impulsivity through:
- Having little or no sense of danger
- Interrupting conversations
- Finding it hard to wait
These symptom presentations can be split into three types of diagnoses:
- Predominately inattentive type (formerly known as attention deficit disorder or ADD)
- Predominately hyperactive/impulsive type
- Combined type (inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive)
While some people with ADHD will only show signs of one diagnosis type, some individuals will have symptoms of both the inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive type.
How to get an ADHD assessment
At Xyla, we strive to make getting an ADHD assessment an easy-to-follow process. We believe in empowering you to seek a diagnosis and celebrate your uniqueness.
You can book a free 15-minute consultation today to find out more about the assessment process, without the obligation to book anything afterwards.
Book a free consultation today
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