What a good ADHD assessment should involve.
What a thorough adult ADHD assessment involves in Australia: history, collateral information, other causes, coexisting conditions and a written outcome.
A good assessment should help you understand your experiences, strengths, support needs and the patterns affecting everyday life, whether or not the conclusion is ADHD.
By Dr Jaspreet Saini. Last reviewed 2026-10-16
What is covered
A thorough assessment looks at childhood and adult experiences, the impact on work, study, relationships and home, personal and family history, other possible causes and any coexisting conditions. Rating scales support the clinician's judgement but do not replace it.
Information that helps
Accounts from a parent, sibling or partner, school reports if they exist, and specific examples from your own life are all useful. School reports help but are not essential.
The outcome
You should receive a clear explanation and a written summary, whatever the conclusion, along with a plan for what happens next.
Questions worth asking before booking
How many appointments are involved? Who will see me? What should I bring? What happens if it is ADHD, and what happens if it isn't? Who provides ongoing care afterwards?
Ready to explore an adult assessment?
Dr Saini offers adult ADHD assessments at Rosedale Medical Practice. Find ADHD care for the practice's care pathway. Rosedale manages its own fees, eligibility and bookings.
Further reading
- What happens during an adult ADHD assessment in Australia?
A plain guide to the adult ADHD assessment: the history, questionnaires, collateral information, other causes considered and the written outcome.
- Can you be assessed for ADHD without childhood school reports?
School reports help but are not essential. What other information can show how ADHD affected childhood when the records are gone.
- How much does adult ADHD assessment and treatment really cost in Australia?
How the costs of adult ADHD care are made up in Australia: consultation fees, Medicare rebates, medicines and the PBS, and ongoing reviews.
- What if an ADHD assessment finds that you don't have ADHD?
A careful assessment can conclude it is not ADHD. What that outcome means, what it can still offer, and how to take the next step.
This page is general information, not personal medical advice.