If you’ve started researching ADHD assessments, you may have already discovered that not all clinics are created equal. Unfortunately, in my many years in the NHS I’ve had to turn away more ADHD assessments than I can count, because of the poor quality, and them simply not meeting NHS standards. This is one of my absolute pet hates, because when people finally get the courage and often money together for an assessment, hoping this is going to be the difference than changes their lives, they’re essentially ripped off and have to start the process with the NHS all over again. It’s devastating!

Here's what you need to be aware of:

Some companies offer quick online tests with minimal interaction. Other companies seem clinical, cold, judgemental, and rushed, like they just want to take your money, and get you out the door to get the next person in.  Sadly, there are too many companies that treat you as a product on a conveyor belt. We strive NEVER for our clients to feel this way.

Let’s be clear:

An ADHD assessment is not and should never be a quick process. Diagnosing ADHD takes a lot more than an hour’s chit chat. It requires a thorough and robust assessment covering every aspect of your life, drawing from your childhood and even speaking to a loved one or family member who knows you well, and hopefully ideally has known you all your life.

If you’re going to take the brave step of pursuing an ADHD assessment as an adult—especially if you've spent years silently questioning whether your struggles are "just you"—you deserve more than a tick-box diagnosis, and a see you later. This can be an incredible emotional time, which requires a genuine feeling of being supported through the emotional turmoil that can follow as you go through the assessment process and find out the outcome.

Many women have lived mis diagnosed until their 50’s 60’s and even later, always feeling lesser than, and thinking ‘something is wrong with me’, or ‘why can’t I be like others’. They’ve questioned their likeability, their intelligence, always feeling like an imposter if they achieve any success.

Often once they have a confirmed ADHD diagnosis it’s a light bulb moment followed by a grieving process, which includes a healthy amount of anger, for all that could have been different if only they were diagnosed sooner.

At Core ADHD, we not only offer a gold standard thorough, evidence-based assessment, we pride ourselves on ensuring a compassionate assessment which is rooted in emotionally supporting you through the whole process, from beginning to end and beyond if required, with no question being too small or silly. We’re here to support you.

 Here’s what a gold standard assessment looks like:

1. It starts with screening forms

Once you’ve decided to go ahead and have booked your assessment, you’ll be sent screening forms to complete and return to us. These are:

• The Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scale (WFIRS): This looks at how ADHD traits might be showing up and impacting you across key areas of your life—home, work, social life, emotional regulation, and more.

• The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS): A validated screening questionnaire used globally to identify the presence of ADHD symptoms in adults.

• An informant questionnaire to be given to a family member or loved one that lives with you. Ideally someone who knows you well or has been present in your life since you were a child. This isn’t always possible; however, in these circumstances a close friend or partner is ok.

These aren’t just for ticking boxes. We use them to begin forming a complete picture—not just of your symptoms, but of your story.

2. Then we have our assessment which includes the DIVA interview: Where It All Starts to Make Sense. This should take approximately 2-3 hours.

The heart of our assessment is the DIVA-5 (Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults). This is a structured, internationally recognised tool based on DSM-5 criteria that looks at:

• Your current symptoms

• How those symptoms showed up in childhood

• Real-life examples from your daily life

It’s not about passing or failing. It’s about understanding the pattern, the history, and how ADHD may have shaped your experiences from school to career to relationships.

3. During the assessment we weave in a thorough mental health & developmental assessment

ADHD rarely exists in isolation. That’s why we include a full mental health screen and developmental history. We explore:

• Any overlapping or co-occurring conditions (like anxiety, trauma, or depression)

• Family history

• Educational and social milestones

• Your emotional responses to stress, feedback, conflict, and success

This helps us rule out other diagnoses and ensures you don’t receive a label that doesn’t fit—or miss the one that does.

4. We involve the people who know you best

As said above, where possible, we ask a partner, parent, or someone who knows you well to complete a brief informant questionnaire. This isn’t about “checking up on you.” It’s about giving the assessment depth and context—because ADHD is often invisible, even to the person living with it.

5. Clear feedback discussion- should take approximately 1 hour. Tailored support, and a full written report

This isn’t a one-and-done. After the assessment, you’ll receive:

• A detailed, NHS-standard diagnostic report (suitable for sharing with your GP or employer)

• A clear explanation of what type of ADHD (if any) is present

• Insights into how it affects you across different areas of life—career, relationships, mental health

• A supportive discussion of next steps, including coaching, therapy, or medication if appropriate

Because You Deserve Answers—Not Assumptions

Too many of us have spent our lives feeling like we’re always one step behind. Like we’re missing something everyone else just seems to know instinctively. I’ve carried the shame of feeling stupid, awkward, and lesser than other women who always seemed to get it right, be liked, remember the little things. And at work? I’ve constantly felt like I was just blagging it—waiting to be found out.

Getting an ADHD assessment didn’t magically fix all that, but that light bulb moment did help. An ADHD assessment helped me understand that the things I thought were personal flaws weren’t flaws at all—they were signs my brain just works differently. And for the first time, I stopped blaming myself, just think I wasn’t smart enough. Now I confidently say ‘my brain just doesn’t work that way, my brain works this way.’

This process isn’t just about a label. It’s about releasing the shame that was never yours to carry, understanding how your brain really works, and finally having a path forward that fits you—not the version of you you’ve been performing for everyone else.

If you’re ready to talk about whether this is the right step for you?
you can book your free 15-minute consultation here.

We provide ourselves on being Compassionate. Professional. Following NICE Guidelines & Being NHS-informed.