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When it comes to ADHD, many people struggle with the symptoms for years before trying to explore the underlying cause. However, you don’t have to wait until adulthood to get an assessment or try to find out if your symptoms are consistent with ADHD.
At My Solution Wellbeing, we offer private ADHD assessment and diagnosis in Cheltenham that help you overcome the challenges associated with NHS assessment and ensure you get the results sooner.
Do You Need an ADHD Assessment?
Many of the symptoms associated with ADHD are also connected with other conditions, and in some cases, are also common even in normal operations. However, if you consistently struggle with these symptoms and have had them for a long time, you may want to consider assessment.
You Have Inattention
Inattention can make it difficult to stay focused, follow instructions, finish tasks or keep track of everyday responsibilities. In some people, it also presents as forgetting appointments, missing details or feeling as though their mind drifts even when they are trying hard to concentrate.
Impulsivity
Impulsivity presents in different ways, including acting or speaking before thinking through the consequences. Some people also interrupt conversations, become impatient, make quick decisions, take risks or respond strongly in the moment.
Sleep Challenges
Sleep challenges are quite common for people with ADHD. They could present as struggles settling at night, feeling mentally alert when you want to rest, waking frequently or finding it hard to maintain a consistent sleep routine. The greatest challenge with sleep is that the lack of adequate sleep often aggravates other symptoms of ADHD.
Problems with Socialisation
ADHD can sometimes affect socialisation and relationships, with most people with ADHD struggling with missing social cues, changing topics quickly or struggling to maintain friendships.
Emotional Regulation Difficulties
ADHD can affect emotional regulation, making feelings feel intense, sudden or hard to manage. Frustration may set in quickly, even with small setbacks, and people with ADHD may also react strongly to criticism and find it difficult to calm down after being upset.
Overactivity
Overactivity is often easier to notice in children, who may fidget, move around, talk excessively or find it hard to sit still. In adults, overactivity is more subtle but disruptive. It can present as an inability to relax and a feeling that your thoughts are always racing, which can affect your ability to sleep or switch.
How the Assessment and Diagnosis Process Works
We have designed the ADHD assessment process to be easy and straightforward, but also tailored to meet your needs and requirements. Our process follows three main steps:
Medical Screening and History
The first stage is Medical History and Screening. During this phase, we gather family, medical and neurodevelopmental history through standardised questionnaires to help us understand your current symptoms and challenges.
This session is followed by a 60-minute face-to-face or online consultation to discuss the findings and collect more information. We try to be as thorough as possible about your symptoms, going as far back as your childhood.
DIVA Assessment
The second stage is the DIVA Assessment, which accounts for the majority of the assessment and can take up to 120 minutes.
It focuses on the types of symptoms you have and your current challenges, compared to those during childhood. The assessment features a structured clinical interview that explores ADHD traits in more depth.
This stage can be helpful because it brings together experiences that may have felt disconnected for many years. You may begin to recognise patterns in school, work, relationships, routines, confidence and emotional wellbeing.
Diagnosis
In the diagnosis stage, you will meet with a psychiatrist or Consultant Clinical Psychologist for a 60-minute appointment to assess whether your symptoms meet the criteria for an ADHD diagnosis.
Report and Treatment Pathway
If ADHD is diagnosed, a comprehensive report will follow. This report includes the outcome, next steps and recommendations. It may also support conversations with employers, schools, universities or other professionals, depending on your circumstances.
How Much Does a Private ADHD Assessment Cost?
Our private ADHD assessment costs vary depending on the nature of your symptoms and the type of assessment you need. If you only require a medical history and screening assessment, it could cost about £300, while the DIVA assessment could cost about £1,200.
