An ADHD assessment is a structured process that looks at attention, impulsivity, working memory, planning, organisation and day to day functioning. The goal is to find out whether ADHD is the best explanation for what you are experiencing, and what supports will actually help you. It is not just about a label. It is about clarity.

People usually come to assessment because they have always felt distracted, overwhelmed, forgetful or "all over the place" even when they care and are genuinely trying. Parents often seek assessment for a child who is bright but disorganised, impulsive, or struggling to keep up with school expectations. Note that I assess children, adolescents and adults.

There are four main parts.

1. Clinical interview
   
   We talk through your history, strengths, challenges, school or work experiences and current concerns. For younger clients I also speak with a parent or caregiver.

2. Standardised questionnaires
   
   You complete evidence-based questionnaires. When appropriate we also gather input from a parent, teacher or partner. This helps compare your presentation to what is typically seen in ADHD.

3. Cognitive profile
   
   We complete a cognitive assessment. This measures things such as working memory and processing speed, among many other cognitive domains. This helps us understand how your brain processes information and whether concerns are due to ADHD, learning difficulties, anxiety or something else.

4. Report writing

   Over the next few weeks, all the information is then summarised into a detailed and comprehensive report.

5. Feedback
   
   We then have a final session wherein we go through the report together in detail, discuss whether diagnostic criteria was met, discuss recommendations to help you thrive (regardless of diagnoses), and identify next steps.

In most cases yes (but note that psychologists cannot prescribe medication themselves).

For adults, a high quality psychological assessment can be used to speak with your GP or psychiatrist about possible medication options. For school-aged clients, reports are often accepted by schools, learning support teams and university disability services to request adjustments such as extra time, reduced distraction environments or help with organisation. For adults in the workplace, many people use the assessment to request reasonable adjustments, for example written instructions, clearer task breakdowns or flexibility around deadlines.

If you need the report to meet a specific requirement, for example university disability services, workplace adjustment forms or functional wording for NDIS style applications, this can be discussed and written clearly in plain English.

No. Attention and motivation can be affected by many things, including anxiety, burnout, sleep issues, trauma, depression, autism and learning differences. A responsible assessment in Australia needs to consider the broader picture so that you receive the right type of support, not just a label.

We get it. Most people are worried about being judged and this can be a strange and new process to go through. However, the assessment is not a pass or fail situation. You can ask for breaks. You can ask for questions to be repeated. You can say "I am not sure how to answer that". You can move, stim or fidget. That is not a problem and we try to make any testing as relaxed and comfortable as possible.

You receive a written report that clearly states whether you meet criteria for ADHD and the presentation type (inattentive, hyperactive or combined). You also receive a summary of how this shows up in your daily life, and practical recommendations you can actually use. You are not left to interpret it alone. We go through the findings together in a feedback session and you can ask questions.

People often say that getting assessed helped them let go of guilt. Instead of "I am lazy", they start to understand executive functioning limits and sensory load. Once you understand your brain, you can ask for support without feeling like you are making excuses. It also gives language you can share with teachers, employers, family and your GP.

After you receive your results, we talk through next steps. This can include therapy or coaching for ADHD strategies, environmental supports, school or workplace accommodations, referral to a GP or psychiatrist to discuss medication, or guidance for accessing supports and funding pathways within Australia.

You can get in touch to request an ADHD assessment using the email form on this page (or our homepage). That’s a great chance to ask any burning questions as well. From there, we can then book the initial interview at a time and date that works for you.