How Long Does an ADHD Assessment Take? From Booking to Results

So you’ve decided to book yourself in for an ADHD assessment – but what can you expect in terms of timing?

The amount of time it takes to get assessed varies hugely between different Australian providers, but here at ADHD Therapy Australia, we’ve deliberately designed our process to ensure we can see patients – and give them their results – as quickly as possible.

We know how hard it feels to wait for something so important.

So here’s what happens at each stage, and how long it usually takes.

Enquiry to clinical interview: usually 1–2 weeks

Of course, wait times will fluctuate based on demand, but generally, our patients can book their ADHD assessment appointment one to two weeks from the day they enquire.

Our assessments are carried out by experienced, compassionate psychologists and clinical psychologists via telehealth (meet our team here), which means our wait times are often much shorter than in-person appointments.

Want to know more? Read our articles “How Do You Get Tested for ADHD? What an ADHD Assessment Actually Involves” and “Where to Get Tested for ADHD in Australia: How to Choose an Assessment Provider”.

Clinical interview to feedback: usually 1–2 weeks

Your clinical interview with our psychologists is where we ask some big questions about your childhood, your teen years and your adult experiences to get a full picture of any symptoms and how they affect your life.

We’ve designed this interview to be ADHD-friendly, so you’re welcome to fidget, interrupt or move around during the conversation.

Our clinical interview itself takes 60 minutes for adults, and 90 minutes for children and teens.

Your feedback session usually takes place 1–2 weeks after the clinical interview.

Feedback to written report: usually 1 week, up to 3 weeks

During your 30-minute feedback session, your clinician will explain the outcome of your ADHD assessment. You can ask questions and talk through the recommended next steps, which may include therapy, medication or ADHD education.

Your personalised report will usually arrive about a week later, though it can take up to three weeks. It brings together the information gathered during your assessment, including your symptoms and how they affect you in different settings. It also explains how the DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria were considered, discusses any other possible explanations for your symptoms, and sets out your recommended next steps.

Medication timeframes: varied

Our psychologists can diagnose ADHD, but they can’t prescribe medication (read our article “Who Can Diagnose ADHD in Australia? Psychologist vs Psychiatrist vs GP” for more information).

If you’d like to explore medication as a treatment option, you’ll need an appointment with a psychiatrist after your assessment. Wait times vary, but this typically adds around 4–12 weeks to the process.

Total time: shorter than the average ADHD assessment

There’s no single timeframe that applies to every ADHD assessment, but we do do our best to ensure every patient is seen as quickly as possible. Our shorter wait times for booking in your clinical interview mean that you can set the process in motion and get some answers sooner.

And our team members pride themselves on being warm, supportive and making sure you feel heard throughout the process.

Want to get the ball rolling? Find out more and book your ADHD assessment appointment.