Do I have ADHD? Do I need to get assessed?

Meagan Cooke
May 1
4 min read

If you’re having trouble with your attention, hyperactivity, or impulse control, you may wonder if you have ADHD. Taking steps to be assessed can be challenging at times.

Here are some things to consider if you think you have ADHD.

There is a misconception that ADHD is overdiagnosed. The truth is that many adults are waiting years or decades before getting assessed and diagnosed, and there’s a few reasons for this.

Symptoms are often misunderstood through a person’s life and explained as something else like anxiety, personality traits, or even “laziness”. Some people put in a huge amount of effort to mask or compensate so ADHD-related challenges are less visible to people around them. Others may normalise their struggles and get stuck in thoughts like “I just need to try harder,” only seeking support when things reach crisis or burnout.

On top of this, ADHD assessments can be hard to access with limited specialists, long waitlists and big costs.

Even though getting assessed can feel challenging, starting the process can be a powerful step, bringing a sense of relief and understanding.

If you’re considering an ADHD assessment, think about the following points.

Is this just normal… or is it having a real impact on my life?

It’s common knowledge that ADHD involves differences in attention, organisation, activity levels, and impulsivity.
These traits are also part of the normal human experience, and everyone experiences them at times to some degree or another.
This can lead to the common myth that “everyone has a bit of ADHD”, but this is not true.
For a diagnosis of ADHD, these symptoms need to happen often, and have a significant and ongoing impact on different areas of a person’s life.
This is important. The level of impact in daily life is a key factor and worth considering before you decide to book an ADHD assessment.

Could something else be going on?

There is a lot of overlap between the symptoms of ADHD and other mental health conditions, and even some physical conditions
People with ADHD are also more likely to have co-occurring mental health conditions.
That’s why a comprehensive ADHD assessment will look at your overall mental health, not just ADHD symptoms. This gives us the best understanding of your experience and helps guide the most helpful and accurate support.
If you’re feeling nervous about the outcome of an assessment (which is completely normal), it’s helpful to remember that even if you don’t meet criteria for ADHD, you will still come away with valuable insights and a clear support plan for your mental health.

Have I always been this way, or is this new?

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental difference, which means it begins at an early age and continues throughout life.
Because of this, comprehensive assessments will explore ADHD-related behaviours during your early childhood.
Think about when you first remember these behaviours or challenges and, if possible, talk with family members about what they remember from your childhood.
If this feels like something that’s only shown up recently, it might be worth asking what else could be going on? Having said that…

ADHD can show up differently as you move through life

People often think of ADHD as a childhood thing, but now we understand that it commonly continues in adulthood.
A good thing to know is that ADHD symptoms change across the lifespan.
Hyperactive symptoms of fidgeting and difficulty sitting may turn to internal feelings of restlessness, difficulty switching off and talkativeness.
Attention and organisational difficulties may also become more noticeable over time, as you take on more responsibilities and become more independent.
It can be helpful to think about how your behaviour has changed over time.

ADHD isn’t a one-size-fits-all

There is evidence to suggest that women with ADHD are less likely to present with symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity and more likely to present with inattentive symptoms.
This is also true of people from different cultural backgrounds.
They are also much more likely to have compensatory or masking behaviours that make symptoms of ADHD less visible to others.
If this feels relevant for you, it can be helpful to consider the clinician’s experience, particularly in assessing women and people from diverse cultural backgrounds, when choosing who to book with.