We know the journey to getting an assessment can be long and stressful. Wait times can cause anxiety and distress for you and your family. We understand that a diagnosis or a non-diagnosis can produce mixed emotions for both individuals and their families. 

There are several different stages as part of your child's ADHD assessment process. The assessment takes approximately 3-4 hours in total; however, we administer your assessment in different components as below.

· Pre-assessment questionnaires

Our secure system will send you some different questionnaires to complete about your child’s history, strengths and challenges. We will also send out a questionnaire to your child’s educational setting for your child’s class teacher, SENCo or teaching assistant to complete.  Information gathered from questionnaires is reviewed and analysed by our clinical team before your child’s assessment.

· Case history interview

Your clinician will complete a phone call with you as the child’s parent or carer to gather information on the development, behaviour, and skills since birth. The call systematically covers developmental history and captures early and current parental observations. This interview will also cover your child’s medical, psychiatric and educational history. This appointment is approximately 1 hour.

· QbCheck (if indicated or requested)

QbCheck is a reliable computer-based test designed to objectively measure and assess various aspects of hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention. It is administered remotely using your computer’s web browser and takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. Our support team will send you detailed instructions and a voucher code to remotely access the QbCheck test.

· ADHD Observational Interview

Your clinician will arrange a convenient time and day for an online video session using Microsoft Teams with you and your child. The clinician will ask you and the child/young person questions relating to various daily living elements and focus on ADHD characteristics, usually lasting up to 90 minutes. The clinician will also ask you and your child about additional topics such as their sleep, mental health and their behaviour during this session. In addition to gathering information from you and your child, the clinician will make observations on how your child presents during the session. 

We complete the majority of these appointments online; however, we can offer face-to-face appointments in South Manchester. There are many benefits to online assessments, including reduced change of routine, children can access their appointments in their own environment, reduced communication demand with an online call, and no travel. We can provide support and strategies to help your child access their appointment online if this is something you think they will find difficult. Similarly, if you cannot access this in your own home, we can work with your child’s school to facilitate the appointment there. 

We understand that your child might find it difficult to engage in the session, so they are welcome to take regular movement breaks throughout the session.

·  Feedback and report

After the assessment sessions, the clinician will agree on an appropriate outcome for the child based on all the information and evidence from all components of the assessment as well as the diagnostic criteria from the DSM-V-TR. On occasion, we may request additional information from you, your child or their school/college to help with formulating an outcome. The clinician will arrange a phone appointment with the named contact to give the outcome, provide a summary of the overall assessment and provide suggestions for appropriate strategies or interventions that may be beneficial. A comprehensive, detailed assessment report will be shared with you within two weeks of your feedback phone call. This appointment is typically 30-45 minutes.

Any ADHD assessment carried out by The Owl Centre's team complies fully with the NICE guidelines (National Institute for Clinical Excellence). However, some local authorities prefer to carry out the ADHD assessments themselves. Therefore, clients should contact their local health authority to discuss this before making a booking with us.

We are only able to provide an ADHD assessment for children over the age of 7 years old.

An ADHD assessment usually takes between 3-6 weeks to complete.

If you are considering medication for your child, we will place you on our short waiting list. Our team will review your child’s information as additional information or further investigations may be required before we can start medication. We will inform you if this is required and ask your child’s GP to provide information. We understand this can feel frustrating for some as it might mean a longer wait; however, your child’s safety is our utmost priority, and we must ensure that medication can be safely administered. We also advise you to discuss medication with your child’s GP before as we will request that the GP takes over the 'shared care' for repeat prescribing when your child is stabilised. Their GP does not need to accept this request.

Shortly before your child’s first titration (medication) appointment, you will be asked to provide information such as their height, weight, blood pressure and heart rate. You will receive a blood pressure monitor from us before you are asked to do this. You will be sent a date and time for the titration appointment. This appointment will be done in an online session on Microsoft Teams with one of our prescribing team. Your prescriber will discuss medication options and talk you through your child’s medication. They will arrange regular follow-up appointments to check their progress. You will need to provide measurements before each appointment. Your child will need to attend the medication appointments.

When it is felt that your child is stabilised on their ADHD medication, we will ask their GP to accept shared care, meaning that they continue prescribing your child’s medication; however, we will need to complete yearly reviews with you and your child. If your GP rejects our request for shared care, we can continue to issue monthly prescriptions; however, we will still need to complete yearly reviews with you to monitor your child’s medication.

Includes pre-screening questionnaires (including school), developmental history interview, clinical observation interview, feedback session & comprehensive report with advice, strategies and recommendations.

Includes pre-screening questionnaires (including school), developmental history interview, clinical observation interview, feedback session, QbCheck assessment & comprehensive report with advice, strategies and recommendations.

Includes pre-screening questionnaires (including school), developmental history interview, clinical observation interview, feedback session & comprehensive report with advice, strategies and recommendations. The assessment will be delivered in one day.

Includes pre-screening questionnaires (including school), developmental history interview, clinical observation interview, feedback session, QbCheck assessment & comprehensive report with advice, strategies and recommendations. The assessment will be delivered in one day.

Includes blood pressure monitor, up to five titration appointments with a designated prescriber to discuss and review medication, issue and distribution of prescriptions, medication letters to your child’s GP and shared care documentation.

Additional titration appointment to review medication (if needed in addition to medication titration package). This appointment may include the issue of a prescription and appointment letter to your child’s GP.

If your child already has a diagnosis of ADHD & you want to start medication, this is an initial consultation to review the diagnosis & discuss medication options. Please note we will require evidence of a formal diagnosis and information from the GP.

Includes an appointment to review your child’s progress on their medication. We will write a letter to the GP to inform them & will advise of any management plan changes. Please note that changes to medication will require a new titration package.

If shared care is refused by your child's GP, we can issue monthly prescriptions to you.