An assessment is a chance to explain what has been happening in your life and ask what might account for it. If you are wondering what to remember, what to bring or how much detail to give, the suggestions below offer a starting point. They are intended to help you organise an accurate account, rather than rehearse answers or build an argument for a particular diagnosis.
At a glance
- Describe real experiences, including their effects and the help you already use.
- Childhood information can be useful; discuss unavailable records or informants with the service.
- Follow your own appointment instructions and ask about access or communication needs in advance.
Understand what the conversation may cover
A clinician may ask about childhood, education, daily life, relationships, work and physical and mental health. Somerset NHS Foundation Trust describes these areas in its adult assessment information. The purpose is to understand the history and effects of difficulties.1
Use the service's own instructions to find out what will happen at your appointment. NHS provider examples in this article illustrate possible approaches; they do not establish Innovate's forms, appointment length or assessment process.
If a request is unclear, you could write one short message explaining the difficulty and asking what is needed. For example: “I can describe my school years, but I do not have school reports. What information would you like me to provide?”
Start with a few examples from current life
You could use a page headed “What happens”, “How it affects me” and “What helps”. Choose a few experiences that matter to you, rather than trying to document every day. Include how often a difficulty occurs and where it happens, as accurately as you can.
Consider this illustrative example. Instead of writing only “I struggle with deadlines”, you might describe a recent task: when it was assigned, what happened when you tried to begin, whether you finished, and the consequences. You could also mention a similar task that went well and what was different about it. Examples help explain your experience; they do not diagnose ADHD.
Use your own words. If you cannot estimate frequency, say that. If an example reflects an unusually difficult week, explain that context. A practical way to organise a longer account is to mark the two points you most want to discuss and keep the rest as reference notes.
Gather earlier information where available
North London NHS Foundation Trust describes using childhood and adult information and suggests bringing school reports and someone familiar with you where possible. Such information can contribute to understanding your history.2
You could set aside reports or letters already available to you and note which period they cover. Keep your own recollections separate from something another person has told you. Where memories are uncertain, write “I am not sure” rather than fill in a gap. Ask the service which documents are relevant and how it wants to receive them before sending personal information.
If you cannot involve someone who knew you earlier, discuss this with the service. Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust explicitly offers discussion of alternatives for missing informants; another provider's arrangements may differ.3
Prepare health information and your own priorities
NHS outpatient advice recommends noting symptoms, medicines, allergies and concerns. Include prescribed medicines, products bought without a prescription and alternative treatments. Medicine packaging, photographs or a list can help communicate what you take.4
For your own preparation, you could add a brief timeline of important health changes and any previous assessments you want to mention. If you are unsure whether something is relevant, put it on a separate questions list. Let the clinician decide its significance rather than trying to remove anything that does not seem to fit ADHD.
Also write what you hope the appointment will clarify. Perhaps you want to understand a longstanding difficulty, discuss another possible explanation or work out what support to ask for. Choose the priority you most want to raise first.
Make the appointment easier to access
NHS advice recommends asking for an interpreter or communication support if needed. It also encourages asking for unfamiliar terms to be explained.5
You could contact the service ahead of time to describe what would make participation easier: written information, time to think about questions or a discussion about breaks. Ask what can be arranged. For an in-person appointment, check the location and travel plan. NHS guidance advises allowing enough time and contacting the clinic if you cannot attend.4
If your appointment is by video, NHS guidance recommends a suitable camera-enabled device, an internet connection and a quiet, private, well-lit space.6
As practical preparation, check the joining instructions and keep the service's contact details nearby. Ask in advance what to do if the connection fails or you cannot find a private space. Do not assume a particular alternative appointment format will be available.
Ask how the outcome will be explained
An assessment may identify ADHD or suggest another explanation. Somerset's service describes both possibilities and considering other support when ADHD is not diagnosed.7
Before your appointment ends, ask how you will receive the findings and what happens next. NHS advice encourages checking understanding, keeping notes and knowing whom to contact afterwards.5
Questions you could take with you
- What information is most useful if I cannot remember part of my childhood?
- Which other explanations or health needs should we discuss?
- How will I hear the outcome, and can I ask questions about it?
- If further information is needed, what should I provide and how?
- What support could address my current difficulties, whatever the outcome?
Choose the questions that matter to you and add your own. You can leave space beside each one for an answer.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to find every school report?
Ask your service what it needs and explain what is unavailable. North London's guidance describes reports “if possible”; this does not establish a universal documentation rule. Do not recreate a missing record from guesswork.2
Should someone come with me?
Someone who knows you well may provide useful information, but ask your service about their role and arrangements. Think about what you want help with, such as remembering questions, and raise any concerns about involving another person.2
Can I use notes rather than remember everything?
NHS appointment advice encourages bringing notes and writing down important information. You could organise yours under a few headings and tell the clinician you would like to refer to them. Ask for clarification whenever something is unclear.5
Will everything be decided in one appointment?
Ask your service. Somerset notes that another appointment or further information may sometimes be needed. Its example should not be treated as a timetable for your own assessment.1
What if I disagree with, or do not understand, the outcome?
Start by asking the assessor to explain the findings and the information behind them. You could note what feels unclear, ask whether anything is missing and discuss the available next steps. Ask the service to explain its review or second-opinion arrangements.
References
- Somerset NHS Foundation Trust. What happens at an ADHD assessment. Back to text ↑
- North London NHS Foundation Trust. Adult ADHD Clinic. Back to text ↑
- Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust. Adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Back to text ↑
- NHS. Outpatients and day patients. Back to text ↑
- NHS. What to ask your doctor or other healthcare professional. Back to text ↑
- NHS. Video consultations. Back to text ↑
- Somerset NHS Foundation Trust. How to access our service, information on assessment outcomes. Back to text ↑
