Assessing a child for ADHD is not a shorter version of assessing an adult. It involves more people, more written evidence and more observation, and it usually takes longer to arrange.
Here is what the process actually looks like, and what to have ready before you start.
A child cannot give you their own developmental history. That is why a children's assessment gathers evidence from everyone around them.
What is different about assessing a child
An adult can describe their own childhood. A child cannot, so the assessment leans on the people who see them every day - parents, carers and school.
The other difference is that children change quickly. Behaviour that looks like ADHD at six can look very different at nine, which is why a good assessment looks at a pattern over time rather than a snapshot.
Who carries out the assessment
For children, assessment is usually led by a paediatrician, a child psychiatrist or an appropriately qualified clinician with specific training in child ADHD. Our clinical team sets out who would see your child.
What happens, step by step
- You complete a developmental and medical history before the appointment
- Standardised questionnaires go to you and, with your consent, to school
- A clinician interviews you, and sees your child
- School reports and any previous assessments are reviewed
- You receive a written report and, where appropriate, a letter to your GP
Our patient journey page sets out each stage in order.
Why school evidence matters so much
ADHD has to show up in more than one setting. A child who manages well at school and struggles only at home, or the reverse, needs a careful look at what else might explain it.
School input is not a formality. It is often the part of the evidence that decides the outcome, which is why we ask for it early rather than at the end.
What to gather before you book
- School reports, ideally covering more than one year
- Any SENCO notes, support plans or an EHCP
- Health visitor or developmental records if you still have them
- A note of what you have already tried at home and what happened
Is it done online or in person?
For adults, remote assessment works well. For children it is less straightforward, because observation matters more and a parent is usually central to the session.
We will tell you which format suits your child rather than defaulting to whichever is easier to book. Our child and teen ADHD service explains how we run it.
What about autism at the same time?
ADHD and autism overlap often, and in children the picture can be genuinely hard to separate. If both are a possibility it is usually better to look at both together than to assess twice.
Our guide to combined ADHD and autism assessment covers when that is the right call.
What it costs
A children's assessment costs more than an adult one, because it involves more people and more evidence to review. Current fees are on the child ADHD assessment page.
Before comparing clinics on price, check what is included: the written report, the letter to your GP, any follow-up appointment, and what happens to the fee if your child is not diagnosed.
How long does it take?
Privately, usually a few weeks from booking to report, with most of that time spent waiting for school paperwork to come back. NHS waits for children run to years in much of the country.
If the NHS route is open to you and you can wait, that is a legitimate choice and we will say so.
What happens after a diagnosis
A diagnosis is the start of the support, not the end of the process. It gives school a reason to put adjustments in place, and it opens the conversation about whether medication is appropriate.
Not every child who is diagnosed needs medication, and that decision is not made on the day.
Want to talk it through first?
You do not have to book anything to ask a question. Our team will tell you what is involved, what it costs and how soon your child could be seen.
See the detail on our child and teen ADHD page, or get in touch and we will answer honestly - including if we think you should wait for the NHS.
Conclusion
A children's ADHD assessment gathers evidence from home, from school and from the clinic, and the quality of that evidence is what makes the outcome reliable.
If you are not sure whether your child is ready to be assessed, or whether autism should be looked at too, ask us before booking.
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