ADHD Assessment and Diagnosis
Our ADHD Assessments - First Steps - Full Assessment - Post Assessment
We provide assessment and diagnosis of ADHD in children and young people aged 6 – 19 years old. Our assessments are led by clinical psychology with support from our Assistant Psychologists. Our assessments follow good practice and clinical guidelines. Assessment involves gathering information from parents, carers, and school, alongside direct observation and assessment of your child.
Our comprehensive assessments aim to provide increased understanding of your child’s strengths and needs, and recommendations for support both in education and at home. As assessment is led by Clinical Psychologists, we do not prescribe medication for ADHD but offer psychological and behavioural interventions and post diagnostic support.
First Steps: Initial Assessment Appointment (Fee: £165)
Our assessment begins with an initial screening appointment either with Dr Kate Baldry or Dr Laura O’Halloran. This appointment is usually with parents or carers only, but with older children it may be appropriate and helpful for them to attend also. This can be discussed with you when making an initial enquiry. The initial screening lasts approximately 75 minutes.
Our initial screening appointment starts to gather information to better understand your child's strengths and needs and understand what has led you or others to query ADHD. During the appointment, we will ask about your child’s earlier development, your key concerns, and start to explore areas typically associated with ADHD.
This appointment is also an opportunity to think about whether and how diagnostic assessment could be helpful and answer any questions you have about the diagnostic assessment process. The initial screening helps ensure that the most appropriate assessment and support is offered for your child and to help you decide how you as a family would like to proceed. There is no commitment to move forward with any assessment or intervention if it does not feel the best fit for your child and family.
Next Steps – Full Diagnostic Assessment (£1600)
If you choose to move forward with a full diagnostic assessment, this is usually completed over 3 assessment appointments which take place at our clinic in Northampton, alongside observation of your child in school and/or liaison with school staff.
- Further discussion and interview with parents to explore ADHD traits in more detail. You will meet with the same Clinical Psychologist as you did at the initial assessment appointment.
- Cognitive assessment of your child to identify any cognitive strengths and needs. This is completed by one of our Assistant Psychologists.
- Assessment of your child's attention and concentration, which includes standardised assessment tools, and a play and/or discussion based assessment to gain your child’s views. This appointment is with one of our Clinical Psychologists and Assistant Psychologists
We may also ask you to complete some questionnaires and will review any relevant educational or health records available.
What Happens After The Assessment?
Once all assessment appointments are complete, all the information gathered wil be reviewed to decide whether a diagnosis is appropriate. Regardless of whether a diagnosis is made, we will think about how your child can best be supported in education and at home. We may recommend strategies to support your child, or support and intervention for your child or you as a family.
We will then share our findings and recommendations and explain how we have reached our conclusion with you in a feedback appointment. Feedback appointments are included in the cost of the diagnostic assessment.
A full written report is also included in the cost of the assessment. We aim to provide this report within 4 weeks following your feedback appointment.