How Do You Get Tested for ADHD? What an ADHD Assessment Actually Involves

The idea of being assessed for ADHD can be completely overwhelming – and if you’re considering it, we know you probably have a hundred questions running through your mind. 

How does it work? What if the process is too long, hard or confusing? What if I can’t express myself properly? What if the psychologist is dismissive or doesn't listen to me? What actually happens when I get my results? How much control do I have throughout the process?

Here at ADHD Therapy Australia, we’ve designed our ADHD assessment process to be as straightforward, accessible and neuro-affirming as possible.

Here’s everything you need to know.

All our ADHD assessments are remote

Our ADHD online assessments with our experienced, compassionate psychologists are fully remote, and suitable for adults, teenagers and children over the age of five. 

Each includes:

• A pre-screening survey

• Information from people who know you well

• A clinical interview 

• A 30-minute feedback session

• A detailed written report

Unlike psychiatrists, psychologists cannot prescribe medication – but we can assess and diagnose ADHD. We also partner with selected psychiatrists who may use the information gathered during our assessment as part of their own medical ADHD assessment. If medication is something you would like to explore, you can book an appointment with a psychiatrist following your assessment with us without needing to repeat the entire process.

Our process is designed to be ADHD-friendly 

We specialise in ADHD, which is why we’ve made a deliberate decision to ensure our process is ADHD-friendly from start to finish.

Our online screening forms contain mostly tick-box responses and can generally be completed in around 20 minutes. They’re designed to reduce overwhelm and executive function demands – because we know filling out forms can be tough, and we want to make the process as easy as possible. You can type or even dictate your answers, depending on what works best for you.

An interview that’s tailored to you

Next, you’ll have a clinical interview with one of our psychologists. This is an important part of the assessment and we delve into some big topics: your birth, your childhood, your health, your symptoms and how they affect your life. 

At the beginning of the interview, we’ll explain that some questions may cover emotional topics and that we can slow things down if you feel overwhelmed. You’re welcome to fidget, walk around, interrupt or give long examples. There may also be times when your psychologist needs to gently interrupt to ensure there is enough time to cover everything.

Our role is to make you feel heard, understood and supported through the process, and we take that very seriously. 

We’re also very clear upfront about what a diagnosis actually is: our clinical opinion about what your symptoms are, what’s driving them and what the best steps for treatment are. An assessment doesn’t guarantee an ADHD diagnosis or any type of treatment, as this depends on the information collected.   

If you are diagnosed, it’s helpful to know that your diagnosis is not fixed. For some, it’s clear. For others, further assessment or treatment may be required to clarify the diagnosis. 

Either way, we promise that in your feedback session, you’ll have a clearer picture of your symptoms and our recommended next steps.

Gathering information from other people

As part of the assessment, we’ll also gather information from people who know you well. You’ll need to provide the names and email addresses of two people who know you well now – such as a partner, sibling, parent or friend – and, if possible, one person who knew you well during childhood, such as a parent.

We’ll contact them by email and ask them to complete structured forms about your ADHD symptoms, their impact on everyday life and how you function across different settings.

This information helps us build a more complete picture of your experiences – and we’ll be happy to discuss this with you and answer any questions you may have. 

Please note that if you’re unable to supply any contacts, this may affect the results of your assessment. Please get in touch before booking so we can discuss the best way to move forwards. 

What the feedback session actually involves

Your feedback session is a 30-minute appointment where your clinician will communicate the outcome of your ADHD assessment. 

You can get as much or as little information on how the decision was made, depending on your individual preferences. 

We’ll give you our recommendations for next steps – which could include therapy, medication, and ADHD education – and you’ll have the opportunity to ask any questions you’d like to. 

Our goal is that you leave this feedback session feeling informed, empowered and understood. 

How you’ll receive your report – and what comes next 

Following your assessment, you’ll receive a detailed personal report summarising the relevant information gathered during the process. This will cover your ADHD symptoms, their functional impact across different settings, the DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria, relevant differential diagnoses or alternative explanations, and our recommendations for next steps.

You’ll also be given a copy of our ADHD: What’s Next guide – and you might also like to listen to our podcast Beyond Distracted, where we share stories from neurodivergent people who succeed by embracing, rather than hiding, their differences. 

We also offer ADHD support and therapy (including group therapy sessions), so you don’t have to walk this new path alone. 

Want to know more? Explore our services or book an ADHD assessment with our experienced, supportive team.