How Do I Get My Child Assessed for ADHD?

If you’ve got a history of ADHD in your family or you’ve noticed signs of the condition in your child, getting them booked in for an assessment might be on your mind. 

But with NHS wait times getting longer, how do you get your child assessed for ADHD quickly and safely? While the process can feel confusing, it follows a clear set of steps. Knowing the steps can help it feel more manageable. 

In this blog, we’ll explore how to get your child assessed for ADHD in the UK, including a step-by-step guide, details on NHS Right to Choose and what to do if your GP says no. 

Signs Your Child Might Need an ADHD Assessment

Knowing the signs of ADHD in children is the best place to start when it comes to getting them an assessment. Hyperactive and impulsive signs of ADHD in children can include: 

• Having high levels of energy 
• Fidgeting or struggling to sit still
• Feeling restless
• Interrupting people when they’re talking 

A common misconception is that everyone with ADHD will exhibit hyperactivity, but this isn’t always the case. Inattentive ADHD signs can look like the following:

• Being easily distracted
• Finding listening difficult or struggling to follow what people are saying
• Forgetting everyday tasks (brushing their teeth or putting on their socks) 

A lot of this behaviour can be typical for children, so if you notice them in your child, it doesn’t necessarily mean they need an ADHD assessment. 

In most cases, symptoms like these will need to be present for at least six months, show up at home and school and have started before age 12 to be considered for assessment. 

For girls with ADHD, it’s more common to see the inattentive signs, which can be easier to overlook. 

However, keep in mind that ADHD is different for each person, meaning the traits one child displays may not be present for others. 

How Do I Get an ADHD Assessment for My Child? A Step-by-Step Guide

To get an ADHD assessment for your child, you’ll typically need to go through the following five steps: 

1. Keep a record of what you’re seeing
2. Speak to your child’s school or SENCO 
3. Book a GP appointment
4. Get referred to a specialist service
5. Attend the assessment and get the outcome 

Knowing how each step works can make the process feel that much easier for both you and your child. As such, we’ve broken down what to expect at each stage of the process below. 

Step 1: Keep a Record of What You’re Seeing

One of the first steps to getting your child assessed for ADHD is to keep a record of the traits you’re seeing. 

It can be useful to make notes in a journal or on your phone, so you have them to hand. Try to jot them down as and when you spot them, including the setting your child was in, as the environment can play a big role in their behaviour. 

Step 2: Speak to Your Child’s School or SENCO

Children with ADHD often act differently in school than they do at home. As such, speaking to their school about their behaviour is an important part of the process. 

Most schools have a Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO). If your child already gets support from them, it’s worth speaking to them too.

Request a note from the school detailing their concerns about your child’s behaviour, including any additional support your child is already receiving from them. 

Step 3: Book a GP Appointment

With all the information collected, the next step is to book your child in for an appointment with their GP. While a GP won’t be able to diagnose your child themselves, they can refer them to someone who can. 

Be sure to take along the notes you’ve made yourself, as well as any supporting information from the school or SENCO. 

It can be useful to ask for a longer appointment when you book, to be sure you have the time and space you need to discuss the matter properly. 

Step 4: Get Referred to a Specialist Service

In most cases, the GP will refer your child to either a community paediatrician or the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) for assessment. 

In England, the NHS Right to Choose lets you pick an alternative provider that holds an NHS contract, at no cost to you. This can include some private clinics, so you may be able to avoid long NHS waits without paying private fees.

Keep in mind, your child needs to be referred by the GP first; you usually can’t self-refer. Plus, the Right to Choose pathway is only available in England and not Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. 

If you’re considering the Right to Choose option, it’s a good idea to ask about how that works for you at this stage of the process. 

Step 5: Attend the Assessment and Get the Outcome

Once you’ve got your assessment appointment, all you need to do is attend with your child and await the outcome. Most practitioners will require background information before the actual assessment date, so make sure to get any details over in plenty of time. 

Local NHS, Right to Choose or Private: Which Is Best?

Getting your child assessed for ADHD in the UK includes three common pathways: local route, Right to Choose or going private. All three will lead to an assessment by a qualified clinician, but you may find one works better for your child than the others.

Local NHS Route

Often, going with the local NHS route is the simplest, as your GP will handle the referral for you. They’ll refer you to a nearby paediatrician or CAMHS. 

However, while this route means less work on your part, it can come with lengthy wait times. In fact, wait times can be as long as five years in the UK, according to ADHD UK. 

NHS Right to Choose

If you live in England, you can use the NHS Right to Choose pathway to get your child assessed for ADHD. 

Only their GP can make this referral, so you’ll need to ask them about the pathway by name. However, keep in mind that many providers will only assess children aged six or over. 

Just as wait times for the NHS local route vary by area, wait times for the Right to Choose will change depending on the provider and their availability, too. In some areas, wait times are even paused. It’s a good idea to check the provider’s wait times before settling on them. 

Private ADHD Assessment for a Child

Going private is usually the fastest route to an assessment, as waiting lists for a private clinic may only be a matter of weeks. 

You can self-refer to a private clinic, too, meaning you don’t need to wait for a GP’s approval to get the process started. However, you’ll need to pay for a private assessment yourself.

Make sure to do your research on private clinics first, looking at reviews, costs, wait times, as well as checking for CQC registration. 

What Happens During an ADHD Assessment for a Child?

Going into an ADHD assessment can be daunting, especially when it’s for your child. Knowing what to expect can help make the process a bit easier. 

Before you attend the appointment, you’ll be asked to fill in a questionnaire on your child’s behaviour. The clinic will likely ask your child’s teachers to fill one in, too. They may ask the school to send over any reports on your child at this stage as well. 

Next, both you and your child will have an interview. You’ll be asked to give details on their behaviour, health and medical history, while they’ll be asked age-appropriate questions on their likes, dislikes and everyday struggles. 

From here, the collected information will be used to determine whether your child meets the criteria for ADHD and, if so, what support or next steps would help. 

What Should I Do If My GP Says No to an Assessment?

In some cases, a GP may refuse a referral for a child ADHD assessment. For example, if they feel there’s a lack of evidence or they don’t meet the age criteria for local services, they may decline an assessment.

However, if your GP does say no, you can always get a second opinion from a different one. Book another appointment with new evidence and ask to speak to a different GP about your concerns. 

Going with a private clinic for ADHD assessment gives you options if your GP should refuse to refer your child for an assessment. A private clinic doesn’t require a referral from a GP (unless it’s through the Right to Choose pathway). As such, you can book an appointment for them, regardless of the outcome of the doctor’s appointment.

Get Fast, Accurate ADHD Assessments for Your Child with Neuroaffinity

Here at Neuroaffinity, we believe every child deserves accurate ADHD assessments without the lengthy wait. Our child ADHD assessments for those aged seven and over do exactly that.

With us, you can ensure you get the answers you need, and your child is able to access support to make the day-to-day easier. If you’re looking to get your child assessed for ADHD, reach out to us today. 

You can contact us on 07768 565162 or send an email to enquiries@neuroaffinity.co.uk. Alternatively, fill in our contact form, and we’ll get back in touch with you.