Private ADHD Assessment in Bristol
The Spectrum Assessments private ADHD assessment follows a six-step process, beginning with a free telephone consultation followed by clinical assessment online or at our Bristol clinic.
ADHD Assessments in Bristol
If you have been told to wait and see, or you have spent years wondering why everyday life feels harder than it should, you may be considering a private ADHD assessment. Going private gives you clarity, a written diagnostic report and a clear next step, without the long wait for NHS or CAMHS services.
Spectrum Assessments provides private ADHD assessments in Bristol for children, young people and adults. Our assessments follow NICE guideline NG87, use validated assessment tools, and take place both online and at our clinic in Bristol. Our clinicians have over ten years of experience in autism and ADHD assessment across NHS and private settings and are registered with their relevant regulatory and professional bodies.
The process is confidential, supportive and centred on your needs. Read more about our child ADHD assessment or our adult ADHD assessment, or book an ADHD assessment to enquire.
Signs You May Benefit from an ADHD Assessment
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects attention, activity levels and impulse control. It is not a behaviour problem, and it is not something a person grows out of. NICE guideline NG87 sets out three presentations of ADHD, and you may recognise signs of one or more of them.
Inattentive presentation
- Difficulty paying attention to detail, often making careless mistakes at school or work
- Trouble sustaining focus on tasks, conversations or reading for any length of time
- Seeming not to listen when spoken to directly
- Difficulty organising tasks, belongings and time
- Easily distracted by sights, sounds or thoughts
- Frequently losing items such as keys, phones, pencils or paperwork
- Avoiding or delaying tasks that require sustained mental effort
Hyperactive and impulsive presentation
- Fidgeting, squirming or finding it hard to sit still
- Restlessness, or difficulty staying seated when it is expected
- Talking excessively, interrupting others or blurting out answers
- Finding it very hard to wait or take turns
- Acting without thinking through the consequences
- Making impulsive decisions about spending, work or relationships
- A constant sense of being driven or unable to switch off
Many people show a combined presentation, with traits from both groups. Traits must be present in more than one setting, usually home and school or home and work, and must have been present from a young age. It is also worth knowing that ADHD in girls and women is frequently missed or diagnosed much later, often because the inattentive presentation draws less attention than the hyperactive one.
If you also recognise signs of autism, you can read about our autism assessment in Bristol.
A list of traits is not a diagnosis. NICE NG87 is clear that an ADHD diagnosis should not be made on rating scales or observational data alone. A full clinical assessment is needed to confirm whether the diagnostic criteria for ADHD are met.
Our ADHD Assessment Process
Our ADHD assessment follows the recommendations set out in NICE NG87, the framework that governs ADHD diagnosis across the UK. The process is structured and transparent, and we make sure you understand each step before we move to the next. The specific tools used vary depending on the age of the person being assessed, their needs and their presentation.
Initial enquiry.
You contact us using the form or by phone. We are usually in touch within 24 hours, and within one week at the latest, to arrange a free telephone consultation.
Free telephone consultation.
We answer your questions, gather initial background information and help determine whether a full assessment is the right step before anyone commits.
History and questionnaires.
We gather a developmental, personal and medical history, and ask you to complete standardised rating scales. Where helpful, we also gather information from someone who knows the person well, such as a parent, partner or teacher. [PLACEHOLDER: name the rating scales used, pending Helena.]
Clinical assessment.
A structured clinical interview explores how ADHD traits affect everyday life across settings such as home, education and work. We never rely on rating scales alone, in line with NICE NG87.
Differential diagnosis review.
We carefully consider whether other conditions, such as anxiety, autism, sleep disorders or learning differences, could explain the presentation, or whether they may be present alongside ADHD.
Multidisciplinary review and report.
The evidence is reviewed by our team against the diagnostic criteria for ADHD. You then receive clear feedback in a dedicated session and a comprehensive written report.
Who Carries Out the Assessment?
Our ADHD assessments are carried out by clinicians who specialise in neurodevelopmental conditions. Every member of our team has significant experience working with people presenting with co-occurring conditions such as autism and anxiety, and our clinicians are registered with their relevant regulatory and professional bodies. We are happy to share registration details on request.
Every case goes to multidisciplinary team review before a report is written, rather than being signed off by a single clinician working alone. This matters most in the cases that are hardest to call, and a second clinical opinion on the same evidence reduces the risk of both a missed and an over-called diagnosis.
Our Bristol Clinic and Online Appointments
Spectrum Assessments is based in Bristol, which means families and individuals across the wider South West can access assessment without long NHS waits. The clinic environment is calm and welcoming, with sessions designed around the needs of the person being assessed.
We offer flexibility in how your assessment is carried out. Many stages can be completed online, which helps if travel is difficult or if you would feel more comfortable at home. Where an in-person appointment is needed, this takes place at our Bristol clinic. For those travelling from Bath, Gloucester, Weston-super-Mare or further afield, parts of the information gathering stage can be completed remotely beforehand.
Is a Private ADHD Diagnosis Valid?
NHS services consider private diagnostic reports on their clinical merit. A report from registered clinicians that uses recognised assessment tools and sets out the DSM-5 criteria and the clinical reasoning behind the conclusion is generally treated on the same basis as an NHS report. Our clinicians work to the same standards of care and professional conduct as clinicians working within the NHS.
If you receive an ADHD diagnosis in Bristol, you receive a full written diagnostic report that you can share with your GP, your employer, your school or your local authority. Where medication may be appropriate, this is a discussion to have with your GP and an appropriate prescriber. Decisions about onward NHS care, including whether a GP enters into a shared care arrangement, stay with local services and are made at their discretion. We are happy to provide the documentation needed to support those conversations.
What Is Included and How Much Does It Cost?
Our private ADHD assessment is a single, fixed-fee service. The fee covers all clinical hours, the rating scale analysis, the clinical assessment, the multidisciplinary team review, the feedback session and the full written diagnostic report. There are no hidden charges, and we discuss all fees clearly during your free telephone consultation so you can make an informed decision before going ahead.
If ADHD and autism may both be present, we offer a combined pathway that covers both conditions in one assessment rather than two sequential ones. This gathers the developmental history once and reaches a single team review, which reduces both cost and delay.
ADHD Assessment FAQS
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Costs vary according to the type of assessment and the person's needs. We explain all fees during your free telephone consultation so there are no surprises, and the quoted fee is a single figure covering the assessment, the team review, the feedback session and the written report.
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Typically several weeks from first enquiry to written report. Expect an initial consultation, then appointments scheduled within a few weeks, followed by team review and report writing. We give you a clear idea of timings during your consultation.
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An assessment involves gathering a history, completing standardised rating scales, and conducting a structured clinical interview. The information is then reviewed by our multidisciplinary team against the diagnostic criteria for ADHD before you receive feedback and a written report.
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NHS services consider private diagnostic reports on their clinical merit. A report from registered clinicians using recognised tools that sets out the DSM-5 criteria and clinical reasoning is generally treated on the same basis as an NHS report. Decisions about onward NHS care, including medication and shared care arrangements, stay with local services.
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Yes, and it is often the better option where both are suspected. A combined pathway gathers the developmental history once and reaches a single team review, reducing cost and delay compared with two sequential assessments. Confirm this with us during your consultation before booking either.
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You still receive a full written report explaining the evidence gathered, why the diagnostic criteria were not met, and what else may account for the difficulties raised, such as anxiety, autism, sleep difficulties or learning differences. Recommendations and onward referral suggestions are still included.
Closing line below the accordion: Questions we have not covered here are answered in our frequently asked questions.
Get in touch to arrange an assessment
If you are considering a private ADHD assessment in Bristol, the next step is a free, confidential telephone consultation with a member of our team. There is no commitment and no obligation. We will listen, answer your questions and help you decide whether an assessment is the right next step.