Child & Teen ADHD Clinics

Children can be assessed for ADHD from around age 5-6 onwards, when they're in school and symptoms become more apparent in structured settings. Some specialists will assess children as young as 4 in certain circumstances. Symptoms must be present in multiple settings (home and school) and cause significant impairment.

A child ADHD assessment typically includes: a detailed developmental history from parents, standardised rating scales completed by parents and teachers, direct observation of the child, cognitive assessments where appropriate, and review of school reports. The process usually takes 2-3 hours, sometimes split across sessions.

Yes, teacher input is an important part of a comprehensive ADHD assessment. Most clinics will ask you to provide completed rating scales from teachers and may request school reports. This helps the clinician understand how symptoms present in different environments.

Yes! 14 of these clinics accept NHS Right to Choose referrals for children. Your GP can refer your child to a private clinic, with the NHS funding the assessment. This is often much faster than NHS waiting lists, which can be 2-3 years for children.

If your child is diagnosed with ADHD, the clinician will discuss treatment options. This may include behavioural strategies, educational support recommendations, and medication if appropriate. 73 clinics here can prescribe ADHD medication for children, and most can arrange shared care with your GP.

ADHD medications have been extensively studied in children and are considered safe and effective when properly prescribed and monitored. Stimulant medications like methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta) are commonly used. Your child's clinician will carefully monitor for side effects and adjust dosage as needed.