ADHD assessment

Before the assessment

Before the appointment, parts of the assessment will have already been done. This includes some or all of the following:

• School observation – this will take place in your child’s school. You and your child will not be informed of the date or time.
• Qb test – this is a computerised test which would be performed at Ryegate.
• Questionnaires – these will have been collected from school and parents.

How long will it be?

The appointment will be quite long, around 1 and a half hours to 2 hours.

You may need to wait in a waiting room before being seen. If your child will struggle with this, please let the receptionist know.

You will also have to answer some questions. If your child will struggle while you do this, please bring someone else with you who can take your child out if needed.

Does my child have to come?

Yes, your child will need to be present for the appointment.

Please contact us if you think your child may need some adjustments or support to be able to attend and participate in the assessment.

Do we need to bring anything?

You can bring ear defenders if they will help your child. It will be helpful to bring something to entertain your child, such as toys or a tablet. Your child will be able to use these during their appointment if they need to.

If your child is likely to want a drink or snack, please bring this with you. Your child will be allowed to eat and drink during the appointment.

It can be helpful to bring a list of questions you wish to ask. Think about specific concerns you have and bring examples to share from throughout your child’s life. Ask family and friends for examples they have seen.

Please bring any reports from previous assessments which your child might have had.

What if we cannot attend?

Please contact us if you think it is not possible for your child to attend, for example they are unable to leave the house, there is a restraining order in place or if they have already had a private assessment.

How can I prepare my child?

Prepare your child for the assessment by letting them know what to expect. Let them know it’s a chance for us to get to know them. There are no right or wrong answers.

Encourage your older child or teenager to understand why they are coming for an assessment and to think about any questions they may want to ask.

During the assessment

There will usually be 1 clinician doing the assessment.

At the beginning of the assessment your child will have their weight, height, BP and pulse recorded before the appointment starts. During the assessment they may have a physical examination such as listening to their chest, feeling their abdomen, and checking their skin.

What questions will you ask me?

The assessment will involve asking you questions covering information from before your child was born to the present day.

• We will want to know about your child’s health, their development and how they play.
• We will ask about yours and your family members health.
• We will ask lots of questions about how your child interacts with others, how they communicate with you and others, their friendships and interests.
• You will have the chance to tell us any concerns you have around specific behaviours, sleep, eating, anxiety, problems in nursery or school and any other worries you have.

When will we find out?

At the end of the assessment, you will be told if your child has been diagnosed with ADHD and given a written confirmation of it to take away with you and share with school and so on.

If your child is diagnosed with ADHD, you will be able to discuss the possibility of medication.

If your child does not receive a diagnosis a further assessment may be required, or you will be advised of next steps and additional support that may be helpful.

The clinician may suggest further assessment for other conditions such as autism, developmental impairment, learning disability or specific language disorders.

You will be given an information sheet with a list of support resources whether you receive a diagnosis or not.

After the assessment

 Your child will be put on the waiting list for an appointment in the ADHD nurse led clinic to discuss medication options if you wish to trial it.