Understand more about ADHD in children and young people, and find out how we can help.
ADHD assessments
An ADHD assessment helps us understand how your child or teen’s attention, activity level, impulsivity, and emotional regulation show up in everyday life. It explores patterns across different settings, such as home and school, and helps determine whether your child’s needs are consistent with ADHD or whether something else may better explain what you are seeing.
Our assessments are led by specialist clinicians with experience in ADHD and other neurodevelopmental differences. They will work with you and your child to understand their strengths and challenges, how these have affected daily life over time, and what support may help. Information from education and other settings is an important part of the assessment, so we gather this where possible.
As part of the assessment process, clinicians consider recognised diagnostic criteria for ADHD, which include patterns linked to:
Inattention such as difficulty sustaining focus, losing track of tasks, forgetfulness, or disorganisation.
Hyperactivity and impulsivity such as restlessness, fidgeting, finding it hard to wait, interrupting, acting quickly, or struggling to pause and think before responding.
Our clinicians explore these areas through detailed discussion and structured clinical questions, alongside information from questionnaires and reports. The goal is to provide clarity, explain what is driving your child’s difficulties, and offer practical recommendations and next steps.
Why might I want an assessment for my child?
Families consider ADHD assessments for many reasons. You might be thinking about an assessment if your child:
is struggling to focus in class or finish tasks, even when they are trying
needs frequent reminders and support to stay organised
forgets instructions, loses belongings, or misses key details
finds waiting, turn taking, or managing impulses difficult
feels emotionally overwhelmed quickly, with big reactions that take time to settle
is finding school routines, homework, or friendships harder as demands increase
is losing confidence, feeling “different”, or being told they are not trying when you can see they are
An assessment can help you make sense of what is happening, reduce self-blame, and access the right support and adjustments at home and in education.
ADHD medication support
For some children and young people, medication can be helpful as part of an ADHD management plan. It may support attention, reduce restlessness, and make it easier for your child to use practical strategies at school and at home. The decision to consider medication is always individual and is discussed carefully with a clinician, taking your child’s health and circumstances into account.
If medication is clinically appropriate, support usually starts with an initial medication appointment followed by a series of follow up appointments over a number of months to find the right medication and dose. After this, ongoing reviews help check the medication remains safe, effective, and the right fit as your child grows and their needs change.
Talking therapies
Many children and young people with ADHD find talking therapies helpful, particularly when it is adapted to how they process information, manage emotions, and cope with day to day demands. For some families, parent or carer support alongside therapy can also help create consistent routines and strategies at home.
Therapy is not about changing who your child is. It is a supportive space to build confidence, reduce stress, and develop practical tools that make daily life easier.