Adult ADHD assessments & treatment
Who this service is for
Adult ADHD can affect focus, organisation, motivation, emotional regulation and relationships.
Many people reach adulthood without a formal diagnosis, or with questions about whether ADHD could explain long-standing challenges.
Our adult ADHD service is designed for:
- Adults who suspect they may have ADHD
- Adults with previous ADHD diagnoses who need a current assessment and treatment plan
- Students and professionals whose focus, planning or time management are impacting work or study
- GPs and referrers seeking a clear, structured assessment pathway for their patients
All appointments are delivered remotely, so you can attend from home or another private space.
What adult ADHD can look like?
- Struggling to start tasks, even when they feel urgent or important
- Losing track of time, appointments or deadlines
- Finding it hard to stay focused in meetings, conversations or online
- Feeling “all or nothing” with energy and motivation
- Acting quickly without always thinking through consequences
- Feeling overwhelmed, burnt out or “behind” despite working hard
An assessment helps to understand whether ADHD is the main explanation, part of the picture alongside other conditions, or not present.
A clear, step-by-step assessment process
Your journey through the adult ADHD pathway usually follows these stages:
1. Enquiry & screening
You complete a short online screening form about your current difficulties, history and goals. This helps us confirm whether an ADHD assessment is likely to be appropriate and which pathway is best (ADHD only, Autism only, or combined).
2. Pre-assessment questionnaires & QbCheck
If an assessment is indicated, we send you a secure pre-assessment pack. This may include:
- Adult ADHD symptom questionnaires
- A brief medical and mental health history
- The option to include feedback from a partner, parent or close friend
You may also complete a QbCheck, a 30–40 minute, home-based computer task. It provides objective information about attention, activity and impulsivity and is used alongside, not instead of, the clinical assessment.
3. Online clinical assessment
Your main assessment appointment is carried out via secure video with an experienced ADHD clinician. The assessment typically covers:
- Your current strengths and difficulties at home, work and in relationships
- Childhood history, education and any early signs of ADHD
- Mood, anxiety, sleep and physical health
- Any overlapping features of Autism or other neurodevelopmental conditions
Recognised diagnostic criteria and structured tools are used as part of a full clinical assessment.
4. Diagnosis & written report
After the assessment, your clinician will:
- Explain whether you meet the criteria for ADHD, and which presentation
- Discuss how ADHD interacts with other factors such as anxiety or Autistic traits, where relevant
- Answer your questions and agree on an initial plan
You receive a detailed written report summarising the assessment, diagnosis (where made) and practical recommendations for daily life, work or study. You can share this with your GP, employer or university if you wish.
ADHD treatment & titration
Where ADHD is diagnosed and medication is appropriate, we offer a structured treatment pathway.
This typically includes:
- A titration phase, where medication type and dose are adjusted to find the most effective and well-tolerated option
- Regular review appointments to discuss benefits, side effects, sleep and physical health
- Monitoring in line with national standards (for example, blood pressure, heart rate and weight at agreed intervals)
The aim is to find a balanced, sustainable plan that supports your goals and overall well-being.
When treatment is stable, we will usually approach your GP to explore a Shared Care arrangement so that repeat prescriptions can be managed locally, with MACC providing specialist review and advice where needed.
Adult ADHD psychoeducation
Medication is only one part of ADHD care. Following diagnosis, adults are offered a focused psychoeducation programme designed to help you understand your ADHD and build practical strategies.
A typical programme includes four structured sessions:
Session 1 – Understanding your ADHD profile
- How ADHD affects attention, motivation and executive functioning
- Strengths and challenges commonly seen in adult ADHD
- Recognising patterns in your own history and daily life
Session 2 – Focus, planning & daily routines
- Strategies for starting tasks and reducing “all or nothing” patterns
- Using external structure (timers, planners, task breakdown)
- Building realistic routines around work, study and home responsibilities
Session 3 – Emotions, relationships & communication
- How ADHD can influence emotions, frustration and sensitivity to criticism
- Impact on relationships at home, work and socially
- Practical tools for communication and managing conflict
Session 4 – Strengths, rights & next steps
- Identifying and using your strengths in work, study and life
- Reasonable adjustments and support options
- Planning next steps and maintaining progress over time
You may also receive written materials and templates to help you put strategies into practice between sessions.
Support with work, study & daily life
ADHD often interacts with work, education and routine. As part of your plan, we can:
- Provide written recommendations for reasonable adjustments at work or university
- Help you map ADHD-related difficulties to specific supports (for example, flexible deadlines, quiet workspace, written instructions)
- Offer practical tools for managing emails, meetings, deadlines and exams
- Support applications for schemes such as workplace adjustments or disability support in education, where applicable
The focus is on making your environment work better for you, not just asking you to “try harder.”
How to access the adult ADHD service
You can usually access our adult ADHD pathway in two main ways:
- NHS Right to Choose – for eligible patients in England who are referred by their GP for an ADHD assessment and whose GP agrees to refer to MACC
- Private assessment – for adults seeking ADHD assessment and support outside NHS referral routes
Your starting point is the same: complete our online enquiry form, and we will guide you to the right route for your situation.