READY TO ARRANGE IT?

How to book an ADHD assessment.

If you have done your research, here or elsewhere, and decided to seek an assessment, this page covers the practical part: who to contact and how to make the booking.

Still deciding? Visit “I’m choosing an assessment”

01 · FIRST CONTACT

Who to contact first.

Once you have established the kind of assessment you want to book, choose a first point of contact. If you are still not sure what to ask or what might be asked of you, take a look at our I’m choosing an assessment section.

FOR AN ADULT

Start with a GP or contact a private provider.

For a local NHS assessment, or an NHS-funded Right to Choose assessment in England, arrange a GP appointment and explain the recurring difficulties and their effect on work, study, relationships or everyday life. Use our guides to help you establish this first. The GP may ask some initial questions, use a brief screening form or refer you directly to an ADHD specialist service.

For a self-funded private assessment, providers may accept self-referrals, but check the clinician, assessment, report and post-diagnosis arrangements before completing forms or paying anything.

FREE GUIDEI’m choosing an assessment

FOR A CHILD OR YOUNG PERSON

Start with a GP, school or chosen provider.

For an NHS-funded assessment, speak to a teacher or SENCO and consider making a GP appointment. The local booking route may begin with either, and information from more than one setting is commonly important.

For a private assessment, confirm that the service accepts self-referrals, assesses the child’s age group and uses appropriately qualified child specialists before completing forms or paying.

FREE GUIDEChildren and young people

02 · BOOKING OPTIONS

In more detail: your available booking options.

The booking mechanism differs according to the route. Here is what to establish, ask for and record when you make contact.

NHS PATHWAY

Local NHS

Find the local starting point.For adults this will commonly be a GP. For a child it may involve a GP, school or local children’s service.
Describe the pattern and its impact.Bring a few ordinary examples, including what happens in different settings and any relevant childhood history.
Ask where the referral is going.Record the service, date and how you will know it has been received. Ask what support is available while waiting.

There is no assessment fee, but eligibility, referral arrangements and waiting information vary locally.

NHS PATIENT CHOICE · ENGLAND

Right to Choose

Check that the choice applies.If a GP considers a referral clinically appropriate, NHS choice rights may allow an eligible person in England to choose a qualifying service. Exceptions apply.
Choose the precise service.Confirm the provider accepts the relevant age group and referral, and check whether assessment, medication, titration and continuing care are included.
Take the current referral instructions to the GP.Ask how the request will be sent, retain any reference or copy, and confirm that the chosen service has received it.

Right to Choose is NHS-funded care. An independent organisation is not automatically an eligible provider for every ADHD referral.

SELF-FUNDED

Private assessment

Shortlist the service, then examine the assessment.Check who will assess, their ADHD training and expertise, what information is gathered, and whether the process follows recognised guidance.
Obtain the complete cost in writing.Include the assessment, report, follow-up, medication titration, prescriptions and ongoing reviews—not only the headline assessment fee.
Book only after checking what follows.Understand cancellation terms, report times, treatment arrangements and what happens if a GP does not accept Shared Care.

A private diagnosis does not guarantee NHS prescriptions, GP Shared Care or acceptance by another service.

An even deeper dive into the three assessment routes

03 · BEFORE YOU COMMIT

A booking is the moment to ask—not assume.

This is a concise summary of the checks in our ADHD assessment comparison checklist. A short written exchange before referral or payment can prevent much larger problems afterwards.

Open the comparison checklist

01
Who will conduct and sign off the assessment? Check their profession, registration where applicable, and ADHD expertise.
02
What does the assessment include? It should be more than a questionnaire or computer test alone.
03
Is a written diagnostic report included? Ask when it is supplied and what happens if ADHD is not diagnosed.
04
What is the complete first-year cost? Include every likely fee after the assessment.
05
If medication is considered, who handles titration? Establish the likely start time, price and prescribing route.
06
What happens if Shared Care is declined? Ask whether specialist prescribing and reviews can continue, and at what cost.
07
What information will you need? Ask about school history, someone who knew you earlier, and information from another setting.
08
Can adjustments be made? Explain communication, sensory, mobility or appointment needs before booking.

04 · AFTER THE REQUEST

Confirm it. Record it. Then prepare.

Do not assume that sending a form or discussing a referral means you are on a waiting list. Ask the receiving service to confirm what it has received and what happens next.

Use our ADHD assessment comparison checklist

1Keep the date

Record when the referral or booking was made and by whom.

2Confirm receipt

Ask whether anything is missing and when you should chase if you hear nothing.

3Check the next stage

Find out whether questionnaires, school information or an informant are required.

4Prepare without rehearsing

Collect real examples and practical questions rather than trying to produce a particular answer.

ADULT ASSESSMENTMy appointment is booked CHILD ASSESSMENTA child’s appointment is booked

THE INDEPENDENT NEXT STEP

Compare the service—not the sales page.

ADHD Junction is developing its provider comparison from the same questions used in our checklist: qualifications, assessment process, report, complete costs and what happens afterwards. Providers cannot pay for a higher position.

Sources and limits

Pathways, provider arrangements and patient-choice rules can change. Check the current position with the relevant GP, NHS service or provider before acting.

Information checked: September 2026.