Private ADHD
Assessment

ADHD
Assessment

How can adhd assessment help?

For children or adults struggling with symptoms of ADHD , an assessment is the first step
towards getting help. ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) can cause a range of
difficulties in everyday life, including having a short attention span, problems with organisation,
being forgetful, being easily distractible, and difficulties sticking to one particular task. ADHD is
categorised into different types, such as predominantly inattentive, predominantly
hyperactive-impulsive, or combined type.

Symptoms of hyperactivity are not present in all cases, but where present, they cause additional
problems such as being unable to sit still, being impulsive, having a poor sense of danger,
excessive talking, and being unable to take turns. Problems associated with ADHD can have a
significant impact on everyday life, preventing individuals from reaching their full potential within
relationships, at school, or in the workplace.

Unfortunately, due to the stress and impact of living with the condition, ADHD can also lead to
other psychological difficulties such as anxiety and depression. Symptoms of ADHD are often
misunderstood, and people with ADHD can be incorrectly thought of as lacking in intellectual
ability or willingness to behave appropriately.

An ADHD assessment at the purple house clinic can be crucial for individuals struggling with
symptoms. Our assessments are carried out by specialist ADHD clinicians and involve ADHD
tests to diagnose ADHD of different types and their associated difficulties. Following the
assessment, the healthcare professional will analyse the results and discuss the findings with
you, writing a report to confirm the outcome and recommendations.

Our ADHD assessment pathway

Our ADHD Assessment Pathway

Part 1

Part 1 is an initial screening assessment to help establish whether it is appropriate for the individual to undergo a full diagnostic assessment. It is a general neurodevelopmental screen meaning that ASD as well as ADHD can be considered, as needed. Consideration will also be given to mental health conditions. The initial assessment usually comprises one appointment lasting up to 1.5 hours during which the clinician will explore the presenting issues and conduct a concise developmental history. Where required, questionnaire measures will also be administered.

As part of this assessment, the clinician will discuss with you — on our ADHD, ASD, or combined ADHD/ASD assessment care pathway. If so, you will then need to confirm whether you wish to proceed to the full specialist ADHD assessment (part 2).

Part 2

Part 2 is the diagnostic part of the assessment process. Our ADHD part 2 assessment usually comprises one clinic-based appointment where further assessment is carried out. Whether an adult ADHD or child ADHD assessment this usually includes some or all of the following:

Semi-structured interview designed to explore ADHD symptoms
Cognitive assessment (e.g., tests of attention or executive functioning)
Clinic or school-based observations
Review of reports/questionnaires from educational settings, the workplace, and/or parents

Occasionally, additional assessment components may be required. In this case, any additional costs will be discussed with you.

What Can I Expect Following An Assessment?

Following the necessary assessments, the specialist clinician will analyse the results and discuss the findings with you, writing a report to confirm the outcome and recommendations.

If ADHD medication is determined as a treatment option, it will usually be necessary for the client to be prescribed this privately, as NHS services do not usually agree to take over prescribing in the first instance following a private ADHD assessment. At some of our Purple House Clinics, we have specialist psychiatrists available who can offer this service (please enquire locally).

In order to issue prescriptions, a psychiatrist at Purple House (or another provider) will need to carry out medication review appointments to check the client’s progress (and to measure height, weight, and blood pressure). If there are no other issues, these appointments last no more than 30 minutes. The psychiatrist will “titrate” the dose (gradually increase it depending on how it is helping and any side effects). Medication review appointments are usually every 4 weeks.

Further to the cost of the appointments, you will need to pay for the cost of the medication at the chemist (approximately £25-30). You may also have to pay the chemist’s dispensing charges. If the client commences medication on a private prescription, the GP may agree to take over the prescribing under a shared care agreement once the client is stabilised (or agree to make a referral to an NHS psychiatry service). Shared care means that the GP would issue NHS prescriptions on repeat as long as the person continues to see a specialist psychiatric prescriber and is being monitored.

You may want to ask your GP about this possibility prior to commencing assessment/treatment with Purple House if you are concerned about the cost of private prescribing.

Other treatment options include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and psycho-education sessions, focusing on the management of symptoms. These may include advice about how to structure the home, school, or work environment and how to maintain good mental health. Treatment, in the form of psychological therapy, can also be offered for secondary mental health conditions including anxiety and depression. At some of our Purple House Clinics, we have psychiatrists available who may recommend medication (please enquire locally). Regardless of the type of treatment undertaken, one of the most positive outcomes of ADHD assessment for many people is to have gained a better understanding of their neurodiversity – for themselves and others around them.