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Getting assessed

This section is for adults who wonder whether they have ADHD, and for anyone preparing for an assessment. An ADHD assessment is a structured conversation with a specialist. They look at your history from childhood, your current difficulties in daily life and other possible explanations, such as anxiety, depression or sleep problems. NICE guideline NG87 says a diagnosis should be made by a suitably qualified specialist, and not on a rating scale or questionnaire alone.

The guides here explain what happens in an adult assessment and how to prepare, why ADHD is so often missed until adulthood, and how it can look different in women and girls. They apply across the UK, though what comes next on the NHS, such as waiting times and shared care, differs between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Those differences are covered in our NHS and shared care guides.

If you’re ready to book, read about our adult ADHD assessment, or see how we diagnose ADHD for the method behind it. We assess people living anywhere in the UK, by secure video. If you’re still unsure, start with the first guide below, which walks through an assessment from the first questionnaire to the report.

Start here

  1. What happens in an adult ADHD assessment (and how to prepare)What happens in an adult ADHD assessment: the steps, the questions, how long it takes, what the report includes and a checklist to help you prepare.
  2. Late ADHD diagnosis: why ADHD is often missed until adulthoodWhy ADHD is often missed until adulthood, including masking, coping strategies and misdiagnosis, and what a late ADHD diagnosis can and can't change.
  3. ADHD in women and girlsWhy ADHD is often missed in girls and women, how it can show up differently, and what a good assessment looks for.

All guides in this topic