Private ADHD assessment UK

NHS waiting lists can be long. If your child struggles now, a private ADHD assessment UK may give faster answers and a clear plan. This guide shows what a private assessment includes, typical UK costs, how to prepare, and how follow-up links to your local ADHD service.

Is a private assessment right for us?

• You need a fixed date and cannot wait through the NHS waiting time.
• You want evening or online appointments.
• You prefer a clinic with strong experience in children and young people.

If you are unsure, complete a short screener — an ADHD test free. A screener does not diagnose ADHD, but it helps you decide whether to book.

Who carries out a private assessment?

ADHD specialists complete the assessment: consultant psychiatrists, child doctors (paediatricians), and clinical psychologists. Ask the clinic how many child assessments they complete each month and how they work with schools after a child is diagnosed with ADHD.

What happens in a good private assessment

• Pre-forms. Sleep, routines, learning, and recent examples from home and school.
• Interviews. Parents or carers, and your child or teen.
• Teacher input. Questionnaires so the clinician can compare home and school (standard in ADHD diagnosis children pathways).
• History and strengths. Development, friendships, mood, anxiety, and learning differences.
• Feedback. Whether your child meets criteria for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and what it means day to day.
• Report. A plain-English summary for school with first treatment options.

Clinicians use recognised criteria for deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD and explain them in plain English in the report. Private and NHS teams follow the same rules. The main difference is scheduling and flexibility.

Costs and value

Families often ask, “how much is a private ADHD assessment UK?” Fees vary by region and what is included. Low prices can tempt, but real value depends on the report quality, the number of follow-ups, and whether the clinic liaises with school. A cheap ADHD assessment UK can look attractive; check what you receive.

• Does the package include the full report and a school letter?
• Are follow-ups bundled or charged per visit?
• Will the clinic contact school if needed?
• Do they support your GP with shared care after diagnosis?
• Who sees your child — consultant psychiatrists or psychologists?

After diagnosis: what changes

A diagnosis removes guesswork. The clinician explains the symptoms of ADHD that fit your child and the best diagnosis and treatment plan. Most plans combine behaviour strategies at home, classroom adjustments, and — if helpful — medicine.

• Home. One-step prompts (“shoes on”, then “coat on”), visual checklists, short planned movement breaks.
• School. Clear task start, short steps, visual schedule, planned transitions (“Two minutes left, then pack books”).
• Medicine (if used). Start low, review often, and watch for side effects. Reviews adjust dose or timing.

Your GP may continue prescriptions under a shared-care pathway while the specialist provides the plan and reviews. Ask the clinic which documents your GP needs.

Online or in-person?

Both work. Online suits busy families or those far from a city. In-person can help younger children who focus better face to face. The content is the same: history, questionnaires, and a careful review of examples from home and school.

What to prepare (UK child)

• Short notes from teachers and recent school reports.
• Two or three examples that show patterns starting or finishing tasks.
• A brief timeline: sleep, routines, strengths, worries, and big changes.
• Any results from an ADHD assessment UK child checklist or screener.
• Two priorities that matter most to your family.

Brief notes from the last six months help the clinician see how attention, organisation, and impulse control shape everyday life for children with ADHD.

Private vs NHS: what stays the same

A private diagnosis of ADHD follows the same clinical standards used in NHS pathways. Schools, universities, and employers accept a well-evidenced private report. Your GP can continue care under shared-care once the specialist provides a clear plan and review schedule. For families, the main benefits of private care are set appointment dates and flexible formats (evenings or online); the clinical method does not change.

To keep things smooth, check that your report includes: a plain statement of diagnosis, criteria referenced in everyday language, teacher and parent questionnaires, current treatment options, and practical steps for home and class. Ask the clinic to add a brief school letter that summarises key adjustments. This helps the SENCo act quickly while long-term plans are arranged.

Quick answers parents search for

A child’s private diagnosis — often searched as ADHD private diagnosis child or ADHD diagnosis children — should always include teacher questionnaires. Clinics that perform private ADHD assessments for children and young people use the same diagnostic criteria as NHS teams.

Please note: the report must clearly state the diagnosis of ADHD (or explain why criteria are not met) and list practical treatment options your local ADHD service can support. Consultant psychiatrists or clinical psychologists who specialise in ADHD in children usually write the reports. Many clinics also assess adult ADHD.

Many people with ADHD choose a simple, structured pathway: provide short examples of the difficulty, discuss side effects the same day if medicine is considered, and book reviews that fit family life.

Questions to ask any private provider

• How many child assessments do you complete each month?
• Who will see my child — psychiatrist, child doctor, or psychologist?
• What is included in the fee (report, feedback, school liaison, first review)?
• Will you support my GP with shared care after we are diagnosed with ADHD?
• How quickly will we receive the report and the school letter?

Search notes (to match popular terms)

• Private ADHD assessment UK — faster booking; same diagnostic criteria.
• How much is a private ADHD assessment UK — the price depends on what the package includes.
• ADHD assessment UK child — child-focused pathway with teacher input.
• Cheap ADHD assessment UK — check value, not just cost.
• Private diagnosis of ADHD — accepted when the report is clear, evidenced, and signed by a qualified specialist.
• ADHD private diagnosis child / ADHD diagnosis children — common labels for child assessments.
• Waiting time and waiting lists — common reasons families choose private.