Child ADHD Assessment
The Spectrum Assessments private child ADHD assessment follows a 6-step process, beginning with a free 15-minute consultation followed by clinical assessment at our Bristol clinic.
Private Child ADHD Assessment
If you have been told to wait and see, watched your child struggle to keep up at school, or noticed that everyday family life feels unusually hard, you may be considering an Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) assessment for your child. A private child ADHD assessment gives you clarity, a written diagnostic report and a clear next step, without the long wait for NHS or CAMHS services.
We provide a comprehensive, NICE NG87-aligned private child ADHD assessment in Bristol, delivered by experienced clinicians who specialise in ADHD assessment for children and young people. The process is confidential, supportive and centred on your child's needs. Read about our ADHD assessment process or meet our clinical team before deciding to enquire.
Signs Your Child 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 child grows out of. NICE NG87 sets out three presentations of ADHD, and your child may show signs of one or more of them.
Inattentive presentation
- Difficulty paying attention to detail, often making careless mistakes in schoolwork
- 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 pencils, jumpers or homework
Hyperactive and impulsive presentation
- Fidgeting, squirming or finding it hard to sit still
- Running or climbing in situations where it is not appropriate
- Talking excessively, interrupting others or blurting out answers
- Finding it very hard to wait or take turns
- Acting without thinking through the consequences
Some children show a combined presentation, with traits from both groups. Signs must be present in more than one setting, usually home and school, and must have been present from a young age. It is also worth knowing that girls more often show the inattentive presentation, which means ADHD in girls is frequently missed or diagnosed much later than in boys. If you also recognise signs of autism in your child, you can read about our child autism assessment service.
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 your child meets the diagnostic criteria for ADHD.
Our Child ADHD Assessment Process
Our ADHD assessment for children follows the recommendations set out in NICE NG87, the framework that governs ADHD diagnosis across the UK. As one of the most thorough child ADHD assessments in the UK, the process is structured and transparent, and we make sure you and your child understand each step before we move to the next. For a full step-by-step breakdown, visit our ADHD assessment process page.
Initial enquiry.
You contact us using the form or by phone. We arrange a free 15-minute pre-assessment call to talk through your concerns and confirm whether a full assessment is appropriate.
Information gathering.
We send standardised rating scales such as the Conners-4 and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) to be completed by you and by your child's teachers. We also ask for any previous reports from health or education professionals.
Clinical assessment.
Assessment includes a developmental history and structured observation. 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 symptoms, or whether they may be present alongside ADHD.
Report.
Within 6 weeks of the last appointment a comprehensive diagnostic report will be shared.
Feedback session.
We meet with you and your child, where appropriate, to discuss the findings.
Post-diagnostic support.
We provide guidance on next steps, including school support, parent strategies and, where clinically appropriate, the route to a medication with our partner service (11 years and older only).
Who Carries Out the Assessment?
Our child ADHD assessments are carried out by clinicians who specialise in paediatric neurodevelopmental conditions.
Every member of our team has significant experience working with children and young people, including girls and children with co-occurring conditions such as autism and anxiety. You can meet our clinical team to read full bios and credentials.
Our Bristol Clinic
Spectrum Assessments is based in Bristol and offers a private ADHD assessment that Bristol families and those across the wider South West can access without long NHS waits. The clinic environment is calm and child-friendly, with assessment sessions designed specifically for children and young people.
For families travelling from Bath, Gloucester, Weston-super-Mare or further afield, parts of the information gathering stage, including parent and teacher rating scales, can be completed remotely before the in-person assessment in Bristol.
What Happens After Your Child's Diagnosis?
If your child receives an ADHD diagnosis, you receive a full written diagnostic report that you can share with your child's school, your GP and your local authority.
Management of ADHD is not only about medication. NICE NG87 recommends that environmental changes, parent training programmes and behavioural strategies are considered first for younger children, and that medication is one of several options to be discussed alongside the child and family. Where medication is clinically appropriate, we will share details of our partner service.
What’s Included and How Much Does It Cost?
Our private child ADHD assessment is a single, fixed-fee service. The fee includes all clinical hours, the rating scale analysis, the clinical assessment, the multidisciplinary review, the feedback session and the full written diagnostic report. There are no hidden charges. For our current fee and payment options, please see our assessment costs and pricing information or contact us directly.
Choosing the private route does not replace the NHS or CAMHS pathway. Many families come to Spectrum Assessments because waiting lists are long and the impact of waiting on a child's education and well-being can be significant. If you suspect your child may also have autism, we offer a combined autism and ADHD assessment that covers both conditions in one pathway.
Child ADHD Assessment FAQs
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Typically assessments take 6-8 weeks from initial inquiry to the report being shared. The developmental history takes around 2-3 hours and observation session lasts around an hour.
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We assess children from age 6 upwards. For younger children, signs of ADHD can overlap with typical early childhood behaviour, so a developmental review is often more appropriate first.
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Not necessarily. Medication is one of several options. NICE NG87 recommends that environmental changes and behavioural strategies be considered first, particularly for younger children. Where medication is appropriate, we will discuss our partner service with you.
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Yes. Our diagnostic reports are produced by registered clinicians and follow NICE NG87 standards. They are accepted by schools, GPs and local authorities, and can be used to support EHCP applications and reasonable adjustments.
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Yes. Many children have both conditions, and an integrated assessment is often quicker and less disruptive than two separate appointments. Our combined autism and ADHD assessment looks at both in a single pathway. If you are unsure, you can also read about our standalone child autism assessment service.
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All children can be distractible, energetic or impulsive at times. ADHD differs in that the traits are persistent, present in more than one setting, started in early childhood, and meaningfully affect daily life at home or school. A clinical assessment is the only reliable way to tell the difference.
Get in touch to arrange an assessment.
If you are considering a child's ADHD assessment in Bristol, the next step is a free, confidential 15-minute call 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 for your child.