In the UK, the National Institute of Healthcare (NICE) guidelines state that an ADHD diagnosis should only be made by a licenced specialist psychiatrist, paediatrician, or another healthcare professional with specialist training in ADHD diagnosis. The ADHD specialist will assess whether the individual meets the diagnostic criteria for ADHD or ADD according to the DSM‑5 (The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition) or the ICD‑10 (International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision).

The ADHD diagnostic assessment usually takes approximately two hours and includes: 

• Clinical and psychological evaluation: this involves a thorough assessment of an individual's symptoms and overall functioning in the different domains of their life (such as at school, work, home, their relationships, and well-being. The specialist may use a variety of techniques to gather this information, such as interviews, questionnaires, and standardised tests.
• Medical and psychiatric history: assessing whether ADHD symptoms were present during childhood (also known as developmental history), and to rule out any underlying medical conditions that could be causing symptoms similar to those of ADHD
• Observer reports: teachers, parents, and other individuals who have regular contact with the individual being evaluated may be asked to provide observations and reports on their behaviour and functioning.

• A personalised treatment plan tailored to your needs and preferences.
• A letter detailing your clinical assessment, recommendations, and the next steps for your treatment.
• Letters to your GP or other medical professionals (at your request).
• Advice and guidance about medication or other medical questions are free of charge between appointments via emails or calls (limited to brief conversations with specific questions of 10 minutes or less).

Your ADHD specialist can also write a letter to your school or workplace with recommendations for special adjustments or support to help your performance (at your request). This may incur an additional fee depending on the time required to write the letter, but your specialist will always discuss any additional costs with you before proceeding.

You don’t need a referral to book a private ADHD assessment with a consultant psychiatrist. However, if you have a referral letter from your GP or other professional, you are welcome to share it with us.

While ADHD is becoming more accepted with many insurance providers, you may wish to check with your provider to make sure that ADHD assessments and treatment will be covered by your insurance policy. Most insurances view ADHD as a pre-existing condition, so if you are thinking of applying for a health insurance plan in the future, you may wish to do so before requesting a private ADHD assessment. 

We are covered by the following providers:

• BUPA Global
• Cigna
• WPA
• Aviva
• Allianz

Unfortunately, we are not currently covered by:

• AXA PPP
• BUPA UK
• Vitality health

If your insurance provider is not listed above, your assessment might still be covered. Let us know who your provider is, and we will work on the claim with you.

We offer face-to-face appointments with ADHD specialists at our clinic, located at 55 Harley Street, London, UK. We also offer remote video assessments for ADHD for patients anywhere in the UK, including Belfast, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Coventry, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, Sheffield, and Yorkshire.

Our ADHD specialists follow the NICE guidelines for treating ADHD integrated with the latest scientific research to ensure we provide each patient with personalised treatment suited to their individual symptoms, needs, and preferences. Treatment plans are always evidence-based and consider important additional factors such as your school or work environment, personality, relationships and what’s meaningful in your life. 

• Psychoeducation: support and information about ADHD to help you better understand and manage your symptoms.
• Psychotherapy: psychological talking therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), interpersonal, family or systemic, psychodynamic, psychoanalytic, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, or mentalisation-based therapy (MBT).
• Medication: different options will be offered with an explanation of the benefits and potential side effects according to your unique symptoms, lifestyle and personal preferences. Adjusting your schedule and meal times can also enhance how well your medication works.
• Lifestyle optimisation: integrating small changes into your lifestyle and developing a structured routine can help you stay organised and on track. 
• Diet and nutrition: evidence-based advice and guidance to promote a healthy and balanced diet, increase energy levels, minimise symptoms or medication side effects, and prevent nutrient and vitamin deficiencies. Supplements for ADHD backed by scientific evidence may also be recommended. 
• Physical activity: exercise and spending time in nature can improve physical and mental health, as well as enhance cognitive function and focus.
• Sleep therapy: improve sleep through targeted therapy such as cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I or CBTI), sleep hygiene, and circadian rhythm optimisation.
• Mindfulness: mind-body centre exercise to increase the relaxation response and help you become aware of your thoughts, feelings, and needs.
• Behavioural learning: tailored learning techniques and a behavioural learning approach developed in collaboration with teachers or the school when appropriate.‍
• Parenting strategies: empower parents through positive parenting techniques and provide additional resources for managing ADHD symptoms.

Stimulant medications are the most commonly prescribed medication treatment for ADHD and ADD. They work by increasing the levels of certain chemicals in the brain, such as dopamine, which improves focus, attention, motivation, and impulse control. ADHD stimulant drugs are prescribed in either immediate-release or extended-release formulations.

There are also some non-stimulant medications that can be used to treat ADHD and ADD. These medications work by affecting certain chemicals in the brain or by inhibiting the breakdown of certain neurotransmitters involved in attention and behaviour. Unlike fast-acting stimulants, ADHD non-stimulant medications can take several weeks to work, but they can be helpful for people who cannot take stimulants or do not respond well to them.

There are many types of assessment tools that clinicians might use to diagnose ADHD or ADD in children, teenagers, and adults. Different specialists will use different assessment tools because there isn’t one single test that is universally accepted for diagnosing ADHD, and each test has benefits and limitations. In the UK, the National Institute of Healthcare (NICE) guidelines state that although standardised tests and rating scales are valuable tools to identify ADHD symptoms, an ADHD diagnosis should not be made based solely on the results of assessment tools.

Some of the common standardised assessments used for ADHD or ADD are:

• Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults (DIVA)
• Conners’ Rating Scale for ADHD for children and adults
• Adult Self-Report Scale for ADHD
• Current Symptoms Rating Scale
• Copeland Symptom Checklist for Attention Deficit Disorders
• ​​Swanson, Nolan and Pelham Teacher and Parent Rating Scale (SNAP-IV)
• Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ)
• Mind Excessively Wandering Scale (MEWS)
• ADHD Rating Scale-IV (ADHD-RS)
• Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS)
• Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA)
• Continuous Performance Test (CPT)
• Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)