How an ADHD Assessment for Children Is Conducted: A Step-by-Step Guide for Parents
If you’re concerned your child may have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), understanding how an assessment works can make the process feel less overwhelming and give you confidence as you seek the right support.
At Matter of Health, we use a comprehensive, compassionate, and evidence-based approach to ADHD assessments for children. Our process ensures we understand your child’s unique experiences, strengths, and challenges so we can offer accurate diagnoses and practical recommendations.
Here’s exactly what you can expect from an ADHD assessment for children at Matter of Health:
1️⃣ Initial Enquiry
Your journey begins when you reach out to our team to express your concerns or ask questions. You can contact us via phone, email, or our website. We know taking the first step isn’t always easy, so we aim to make it as straightforward and welcoming as possible.
2️⃣ Consultation Call with a Mental Health Practitioner
After your enquiry, we’ll arrange a free consultation call with one of our experienced mental health practitioners. During this 15–30 minute call, you can share your concerns, discuss your child’s behaviours, and ask questions about the process. Our practitioner will listen carefully and explain what to expect, helping you decide if an assessment is the right next step for your family.
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3️⃣ Questionnaires and EF Sim Test
Once you choose to proceed, we’ll send you standardised questionnaires, including the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and ADHD Rating Scales. These tools are designed for parents and teachers to complete, helping us gather important information about your child’s behaviour, emotional wellbeing, and attention-related challenges across different settings.
The SDQ looks beyond ADHD symptoms to assess your child’s strengths as well as difficulties with emotions, conduct, relationships, and hyperactivity, giving a broader understanding of their needs.
The ADHD Rating Scales focus specifically on inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity, helping quantify symptom severity and frequency.
We’ll also send details to complete EF Sim — an engaging, computer-based game that assesses your child’s executive functioning skills, including working memory, planning, and impulse control. EF Sim provides valuable insights into your child’s ability to manage tasks and organise their thoughts, which are often areas of difficulty in ADHD.
Together, the SDQ, ADHD Rating Scales, and EF Sim allow us to gather objective, comprehensive information about your child’s symptoms and how they affect their daily life.
4️⃣ Assessment with a Consultant Psychiatrist
The heart of the process is a comprehensive assessment with one of our consultant psychiatrists, who specialises in child and adolescent mental health. During this appointment (usually lasting around 90 minutes), your psychiatrist will:
Review the information from the questionnaires and EF Sim
Discuss your child’s developmental history, behaviour patterns, strengths, and challenges
Explore any concerns raised by parents, caregivers, or teachers
Conduct a clinical interview with you (and your child, if age-appropriate) to gather detailed insights
Our assessments follow NICE guidelines, ensuring our approach is thorough, evidence-based, and aligned with best practice standards.
5️⃣ Feedback Session
Following the assessment, you’ll attend a feedback session, either on the same day or scheduled shortly afterward. During this session, your psychiatrist will:
Share their diagnostic impression, including whether your child meets criteria for ADHD or if another explanation better fits their experiences
Explain the reasoning behind their impression in clear, jargon-free language
Answer your questions and provide guidance on next steps
This conversation helps you feel empowered with knowledge about your child’s needs and how best to support them moving forward.
6️⃣ Discussion of Treatment Options
We know a diagnosis is just the start — that’s why we provide comprehensive recommendations to support your child’s wellbeing. During the feedback session, we’ll discuss tailored treatment options, which may include:
Parent coaching to develop practical strategies for home routines and behaviour management
Therapy, such as CBT or behavioural interventions, to help your child build coping skills
Medication, if appropriate, to help manage core ADHD symptoms
Nutrition support to promote brain and body health
Fitness training to channel energy positively and support focus
Support with school strategies, including adjustments in the classroom
This whole-health approach ensures your child receives support that addresses both symptoms and underlying factors.
7️⃣ Assessment Letter
After the assessment is complete, you’ll receive a detailed assessment letter, also known as a diagnostic report. This letter includes:
A clear summary of the assessment findings
A diagnosis (if appropriate)
Recommendations for treatment, school accommodations, and strategies to support your child
Guidance on next steps, including referrals or additional resources as needed
You can share this assessment letter with your child’s school, GP, or other professionals involved in their care. It can be an invaluable tool for securing educational support, creating an effective individual learning plan (ILP), or accessing further services.
Final Thoughts
A thorough ADHD assessment for children provides clarity, helps you understand your child’s behaviour, and opens doors to the right support. At Matter of Health, our step-by-step process — from your initial enquiry through to the assessment letter — ensures you and your child feel supported every step of the way.
