Attention Deficiet Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) assessments at Regal Private Therapy Practice

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Private ADHD assessments for adults, adolescents and children in central London and online

At Regal Private Therapy Practice we offer full diagnostic ADHD assessments, reports and recommendations completed by HCPC-registered Clinical Psychologists, giving you confidence in the accuracy and quality of the process.

We would encourage you to contact the clinic directly to book a complimentary consultation where our highly experienced ADHD assessors would happily discuss the full process and answer any questions you may have.

What is ADHD?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects children, teenagers and adults and leads to difficulties with inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.

While everyone can occasionally feel distracted, restless or forgetful, ADHD is more than that. It is a recognised condition where these difficulties are consistent, significant and impact daily life such as learning, work, relationships and wellbeing.

Though ADHD can bring challenges, people with ADHD show unique strengths such as creativity, ability to think quickly in dynamic situations, hyper focus on interests, high energy and strong problem solving abilities.

What are the symptoms of ADHD?

Inattention

  • Inattention difficulties may look like:

  • Struggling to sustain attention in conversations or tasks

  • Frequently making careless mistakes or overlooking details

  • Difficulty organising tasks, schedules, or belongings

  • Forgetfulness in daily life (appointments, homework, deadlines)

  • Avoiding tasks that require sustained mental effort

Hyperactivity

  • Hyperactivity often involves a sense of constant movement or mental restlessness:

  • Fidgeting with hands or feet, tapping, or difficulty staying seated

  • Running or climbing in inappropriate situations (more common in children)

  • Talking excessively or feeling unable to relax quietly

  • Restlessness, inner sense of agitation or racing thoughts

Impulsivity

  • Impulsivity relates to acting before thinking:

  • Blurting out answers before questions are finished

  • Interrupting or intruding on others’ conversations or activities

  • Difficulty waiting turns in queues, or discussions

  • Making quick decisions without considering risks or consequences

What are the different types of ADHD?

You may have heard the term ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and wondered how it differs from ADHD. ADD was once used to describe people who showed primarily inattentive symptoms, without the more obvious hyperactive or impulsive behaviours.

Today, the term ADHD is used universally, but clinicians recognise three main subtypes of ADHD.

    • Difficulty focusing, daydreaming, forgetfulness, disorganisation

    • More common in girls and women, and often overlooked.

    • Restlessness, fidgeting, difficulty waiting, impulsive speech or actions

    • A mix of inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive features

Does ADHD present differently in different people? Types of ADHD explained

While inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity are the core features, ADHD doesn’t present the same way in everyone. It can look different in adults, children, teenagers and females.

  • In younger children, ADHD often shows through energy and behaviour that feel difficult to manage at school or home. Common features include:

    • Difficulty sitting still in class or at the dinner table

    • Trouble following instructions or completing homework

    • Forgetting school equipment, homework, or everyday tasks

    • Emotional outbursts or frustration when asked to concentrate

    • Struggling to wait their turn in games or conversations

    With the right support, children can thrive. Early recognition is key.

  • Adolescence brings new academic and social demands, and ADHD symptoms may become more noticeable. Teens may:

    • Struggle to stay focused on revision or long assignments

    • Be more impulsive in decision-making, sometimes taking risks

    • Experience low confidence or self-esteem if they feel “different”

    • Forget commitments, deadlines, or personal items

    • Find it difficult to balance independence with organisation

    This stage can be particularly stressful for families, but a clear assessment helps everyone understand what’s happening and strategies for support.

  • For adults, ADHD is often less about running around and more about internal restlessness and difficulties with organisation. Adults may notice:

    • Trouble with time management, planning, and meeting deadlines

    • Forgetting appointments or losing important belongings

    • Feeling mentally “busy” or unable to switch off

    • Procrastination followed by last-minute surges of productivity

    • Challenges in relationships, careers, or daily responsibilities

    • May be sensitive to perceived rejection

    • Impulsivity may come in the form of excessive spending, binge eating, quitting job if frustrated without back up plan, alcohol or drug use (self medication)

    Recognising ADHD in adulthood can be life-changing, offering understanding and practical strategies for success.

  • ADHD in females has historically been under-recognised, as girls and women often show fewer outward signs of hyperactivity. Instead, they may:

    • Appear “day-dreamy,” or easily distracted

    • Work extra hard to mask difficulties, leading to exhaustion

    • Experience perfectionism, anxiety, or overwhelm

    • Struggle with organisation while feeling highly self-critical

    • Burn out from managing invisible ADHD challenges

    Many women do not receive a diagnosis until adulthood or only suspect ADHD in themselves after their child has been diagnosed with ADHD. Our assessments are tailored to spot these more subtle presentations, ensuring no one is overlooked.

At Regal Private Therapy Practice, our HCPC-registered Clinical Psychologists are highly skilled in recognising nuanced presentations or more subtle signs of ADHD particularly in high masking individuals, ensuring that nothing is overlooked during assessment.

ADHD assessment & diagnosis process UK

At Regal Private Therapy Practice in London, our HCPC-registered Clinical Psychologists have been trained by the NHS and are highly experienced in conducting ADHD assessments in both the NHS and private settings.

Our ADHD assessments use a thorough, multi-method approach that gathers evidence from different sources and settings and utilises NICE recommended psychometric tools. This is to ensure nothing is missed and a reliable diagnosis with tailored recommendations is guaranteed.

As part of the assessment, we also consider whether there are other factors that may explain the symptoms or whether there are additional mental health difficulties that are co-existing with ADHD to provide a complete and holistic picture.

What is included in a child or adolescent ADHD assessment?

  • A standardised screening tool completed by parents/teachers to measure attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

  • Parent and teacher versions as well as adolescent version that explore ADHD symptoms in everyday situations.

  • Completed by school, helps us understand behaviour, learning, and concentration in the classroom.

  • Gathers detailed information about early development, milestones, and family history.

  • Parent and child complete a general mental health screening tool to understand any differential diagnoses or co-occurring mental health difficulties.

  • A structured discussion to explore concerns, examples of behaviour, and family perspective.

  • Age dependant - a supportive conversation tailored to the young person’s age, exploring their experiences in their own words.

  • An objective computer-based task measuring attention, impulsivity, and activity levels.

  • A gold-standard test of cognitive abilities, helping us identify strengths and learning needs. ADHD symptoms can overlap with learning difficulties or issues like working memory and processing speed. The cognitive assessment helps us clarify whether challenges are due to ADHD or a learning profile, while also providing a developmental baseline to guide school support.

What is included in an adult ADHD assessment?

  • A standardised self-report screening tool to measure attention, hyperactivity and impulsivity

  • Psychometric tool completed by the individual themselves and someone who knows them well to explore ADHD symptoms in everyday situations.

  • Individual completes a general mental health screening tool (the GAD-7 and PHQ-9) to understand any differential diagnoses or co-occurring mental health difficulties.

  • Gathers detailed information about early development, milestones, and family history.

  • Completed by a parent or someone who knew you in childhood.

  • A structured discussion to explore concerns, examples of behaviour across all areas of life.

  • An objective computer-based task measuring attention, impulsivity, and activity levels.

Step by step guide to your ADHD assessment with Regal

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Step 1: Consultation

Book a free 15-minute no obligation call with a Clinical Psychologist. The clinician will ask about your experiences and what has brought you to seek an ADHD assessment for yourself or your child. They will guide you through what the assessment involves, check that it’s the right step for you, and answer any questions. Should you wish to proceed, the clinician will book you in for your assessment appointments later that week or at a time and day convenient for you.

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Step 2: Questionnaires

After the consultation, you will be emailed ADHD questionnaires to complete in advance of your appointment. To give us the clearest picture, we will also ask you to complete short questionnaires about your mood or wellbeing to understand whether their maybe other explanations to your symptoms or other mental health symptoms also present.

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Step 3: ADHD Clinical Interview & Continuous Performance Task

The ADHD assessment appointment will last 2 hours. In the clinical interview, your clinician will get to know you in detail, explore challenges, strengths and anything important about your experiences. At the appointment, you will then complete the Continuous Performance Task, a 20 minute computerised test to provide an objective measure of ADHD symptoms.

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Step 5: Team Discussion

Once the assessment is complete, your clinician reviews the findings with at least one other specialist ADHD assessor in the team. This collaborative process ensures your results are considered carefully from more than one expert perspective, giving you a balanced and thorough conclusion.

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Step 6: Feedback, Report & Recommendations

Once all the assessments are complete, your clinician will meet with you to share our findings and explain whether ADHD best explains your difficulties. You’ll have time to ask questions, and we’ll provide clear advice and recommendations tailored to you. The report can be shared with schools, universities, GPs or workplaces. Even if ADHD isn’t the main explanation, we’ll guide you on helpful next steps to support your wellbeing.

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Step 7: Treatment & Support

At Regal, we offer a range of options for support following an ADHD assessment that you may wish to pursue whether or not you received a diagnosis. At Regal, we offer neuro-affirmative post diagnostic support for adults and young people to support with coming to terms with a diagnosis, learn strategies for symptom management and how to harness ADHD as a strength. Medication is an option in combination with non pharmacological intervention where symptoms and impact are servere. Should you wish to consider medication, your clinician can refer you to a trusted private psychiatrist or you can seek support via your GP with the assessment report.

    • At Regal Private Therapy Practice, we offer next-day consultations for ADHD assessments.

    • Same-week ADHD assessment appointments are usually available, so you don’t face the long NHS waiting lists.

    • Once your ADHD assessment is complete and all questionnaires are returned, we provide a comprehensive written report within 2 weeks.

    • Reports include diagnostic outcome, clinical formulation, and tailored treatment recommendations.

    • This report is suitable to share with GPs, schools, universities, or workplaces if adjustments or support are required.

    • Fast turnaround means you can move forward quickly with support, or workplace/ school accommodations.

  • No referral is required. You can self-refer directly to Regal Private Therapy Practice by completing our short booking form or emailing us directly.

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