ADHD does not look the same in everyone. Depending on the individual, difficulties may include:

• Becoming easily distracted or having difficulty sustaining attention
• Procrastinating, particularly with tasks requiring sustained mental effort
• Starting tasks but having difficulty completing them
• Forgetting appointments, deadlines or everyday responsibilities
• Frequently misplacing important belongings
• Difficulty organising tasks or deciding where to begin
• Underestimating how long something will take or frequently running late
• Feeling internally restless or having difficulty switching off
• Interrupting others or acting before considering the consequences
• Difficulty maintaining routines despite repeated attempts to establish them
• Becoming overwhelmed when managing multiple responsibilities

Over time, these difficulties can affect academic performance, work, relationships, finances, household responsibilities and emotional wellbeing.

Some adults also develop ways of compensating for their difficulties. They may rely heavily on reminders, work excessively to avoid missing deadlines, function well within highly structured environments, or leave tasks until urgency provides enough pressure to complete them. Therefore, understanding ADHD involves looking beyond a checklist of symptoms and considering how the person actually functions in everyday life.

At People Psychological Solutions, our clinical psychologists provide psychological assessment for adults who are experiencing difficulties with attention, organisation, impulsivity or related areas and would like to understand whether ADHD may be contributing to them.

A comprehensive ADHD assessment involves considerably more than completing an online ADHD questionnaire. Current evidence-based guidelines recommend gathering a detailed history of symptoms, their onset and functional impact, developmental history, mental health history and possible co-occurring or alternative conditions.

Depending on your individual circumstances and the purpose of the assessment, the process may involve:

• A detailed clinical interview
• Exploration of current difficulties and their impact on daily functioning
• Developmental and educational history
• Assessment of ADHD symptoms using appropriate standardised measures
• Information about childhood functioning
• Collateral information or previous records, where appropriate and available
• Assessment of relevant cognitive, emotional and behavioural factors
• Consideration of alternative or co-occurring psychological and neurodevelopmental conditions
• A feedback session to explain the findings and recommendations

Not every person will require exactly the same assessment procedures. Our psychologists select assessment methods according to the individual and the clinical questions that need to be answered.

There is no single psychological test that can independently establish whether someone has ADHD.

For example, difficulties concentrating can occur in ADHD, but they can also occur when someone is experiencing significant anxiety, depression, poor sleep or other psychological difficulties. ADHD can also occur alongside other mental health or neurodevelopmental conditions.

Evidence-based guidelines therefore recommend a thorough assessment that considers both ADHD and possible alternative or co-occurring conditions.

The purpose of an assessment is consequently not simply to answer:

“Do I have ADHD?”

We also want to help you understand:

“What is contributing to the difficulties I am experiencing, and what can I do about them?”

Receiving an ADHD diagnosis can provide an explanation for longstanding difficulties, but understanding the diagnosis is only one part of moving forward.

Evidence-based ADHD care can involve psychological interventions, environmental modifications and, where appropriate, medication. Treatment should be individualised according to the person’s symptoms, functional difficulties, circumstances and preferences.

At People Psychological Solutions, psychological intervention may focus on areas such as:

• Improving organisation and planning
• Managing procrastination and task avoidance
• Breaking overwhelming tasks into achievable steps
• Improving time management
• Developing strategies for managing distractions
• Establishing sustainable routines
• Managing impulsive behaviours
• Developing strategies for emotional regulation
• Managing stress associated with ADHD
• Addressing negative beliefs that may have developed following repeated academic, occupational or interpersonal difficulties
• Improving communication and managing ADHD-related difficulties within relationships

Our clinical psychologists may draw upon cognitive behavioural approaches and other evidence-based psychological strategies, adapted according to the individual’s needs. Evidence-based clinical guidelines recommend ADHD-focused cognitive behavioural interventions as a psychological treatment option for adults with ADHD.

Treatment is therefore not simply about trying to make someone “concentrate harder.” It involves understanding where difficulties occur and developing strategies and environments that make everyday functioning more manageable.

What about ADHD medication?

Medication can be an important component of treatment for some adults with ADHD and is supported by clinical guidelines.

Clinical psychologists do not prescribe medication. If medication assessment is indicated, we may recommend consultation with a psychiatrist or other appropriately qualified medical practitioner.

Psychological intervention and medical treatment are also not necessarily alternatives to one another. Where appropriate, psychological support can take place alongside medical management as part of a broader treatment plan.

ADHD does not always occur by itself. Adults seeking ADHD assessment may also experience other psychological or neurodevelopmental difficulties.

These can include:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Autism
• Sleep difficulties
• Substance-use difficulties
• Relationship difficulties
• Other emotional or behavioural concerns

A thorough assessment therefore considers the whole person rather than ADHD symptoms in isolation. This is particularly important when different conditions produce overlapping difficulties or when more than one condition may be present.