Before an ADHD assessment

Before an ADHD assessment with the Neurodisability service

For children in primary school, before the assessment appointment takes place, one of our Neurodisability specialists may carry out a school observation and talk to your child’s teaching staff. We would not usually inform you or your child of this visit.

Children attending secondary school will normally be asked to come to an appointment for a Qb test (Quantitative Behavioural testing). This is a computer-based test that takes place within a specific appointment at Ryegate before the assessment. Please watch this short video for more information on Qb tests. What is a QbTest? – YouTube

Some children may require both a school observation and a Qb. This will only be done if information collected at the school observation is not clear. For most children, the school observation will provide enough information.

The information gathered within the school observation and/or Qb test will be shared with those who will be conducting the assessment appointment, you will not receive feedback until this appointment.

Preparing you and your child for attending the assessment appointment

When your child comes to the assessment appointment, one of our clinicians will ask you questions and look at their full medical history. We will make observations of your child during the appointment and get their views. We might carry out a physical examination and make recordings of growth, pulse and blood pressure.

The appointment will take approximately 1.5 to 2 hours. You might want to bring some drinks or snacks and activities and to keep your child entertained.

Please talk to your child before the assessment appointment to give them an explanation of what to expect and why they are having the assessment.

This guide describes what to expect at an ADHD assessment.

Here is a social story that may help you to explain what will happen in the appointment.

Before an ADHD assessment within CAMHS

All children and young people seen within CAMHS have an initial assessment with a specialist CAMHS worker or mental health nurse. We will offer between 1 and 6 sessions to assess your child’s current mental health concerns and provide support. If we feel that your child may have ADHD, we will arrange for screening questionnaires to be completed.

The clinician will take the results of these questionnaires, as well as other relevant information, to our Neurodevelopmental Assessment Team specialists who will decide if an ADHD assessment is needed.

If an ADHD assessment is needed, your child will then be placed on an internal waiting list to be seen and assessed by our Neurodevelopmental Assessment Team.

Help with appointments

See more helpful information for preparing your child for an appointment on our outpatients page.