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Who is Kaya for?
Kaya is for adults who want clear information about ADHD assessment before deciding what to do next.
- You are wondering whether an adult ADHD assessment may be an appropriate next step.
- You are preparing for an NHS or private assessment and want to know what evidence may help.
- You are comparing providers and need to understand quality, full costs and continuing care.
- You want information that considers work, relationships, home life and caring responsibilities.
Kaya is intended for adults of all genders. ADHD in women and later recognition have a dedicated route because these experiences can be overlooked.
Kaya is currently an information and service-development website. It does not provide assessment, diagnosis, treatment or prescribing.
Suggested next steps
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition. Adult assessment considers how patterns have developed over time and how they affect more than one setting.
Across a lifetime
Childhood development matters alongside the person’s current life. Old records can contribute, but one missing document should not become the whole story.
Across daily life
Assessment considers work, education, relationships, home life, finances, caring responsibilities and other important settings.
Alongside other explanations
ADHD can coexist with other needs. A thorough assessment considers mental health, physical health and alternative explanations.
Source: NICE guideline NG87. General information only.
Suggested next steps
NICE says diagnosis should be based on a full clinical and psychosocial assessment, developmental and psychiatric history, observer information and assessment of mental state.
Clinical and psychosocial assessment
The discussion should explore symptoms, behaviour and their effects across the important settings of everyday life.
Developmental and psychiatric history
Adult ADHD assessment considers patterns beginning in childhood alongside mental health, physical health and other possible explanations.
Information from other sources
Observer information and records can contribute where available. The provider should explain its approach when they are unavailable.
A reasoned outcome
The outcome may be ADHD, another explanation or a need for further assessment. A questionnaire cannot make that decision alone.
Suggested next steps
Direct answers to common questions about adult ADHD assessment, diagnosis, private costs and continuing care in England.
Listen to each question — Kaya reads every answer from NICE guidelines and UK resources.
Track 1 of 9
What does a thorough adult ADHD assessment include?
Show all nine questions and answers
What does a thorough adult ADHD assessment include?
NICE says diagnosis should be based on a full clinical and psychosocial assessment, a full developmental and psychiatric history, observer reports and an assessment of mental state. The discussion should consider symptoms and their effects across different areas of everyday life.
Source: NICE guideline NG87, diagnosisCan an ADHD diagnosis be made from a questionnaire?
No. NICE says an ADHD diagnosis should not be made solely from a rating scale or observational data. Questionnaires can support an assessment, but they do not replace the full clinical process.
Source: NICE guideline NG87, recommendation 1.3.2Do I need school reports for an adult ADHD assessment?
School reports can help show childhood patterns, but NICE does not list school reports as a universal requirement. The assessment does need developmental history and observer information. Ask the provider what alternatives they accept if records or a suitable observer are unavailable.
Source: NICE guideline NG87, recommendations 1.3.1 to 1.3.3Who can diagnose ADHD in adults in England?
NICE says ADHD should only be diagnosed by a specialist psychiatrist, paediatrician or another appropriately qualified healthcare professional with training and expertise in diagnosing ADHD.
Source: NICE guideline NG87, recommendation 1.3.1Why can ADHD be missed in women?
NICE recognises that ADHD is under-recognised in girls and women. They may be less likely to be referred for assessment and more likely to receive an incorrect diagnosis of another mental health or neurodevelopmental condition.
Source: NICE guideline NG87, recommendation 1.2.2Can a private ADHD diagnosis be used for NHS prescriptions?
A private diagnosis does not guarantee that a GP will take over prescribing. Shared care decisions and local NHS pathways vary. Before paying, ask your GP and the provider who will prescribe, monitor treatment and fund each stage if shared care is declined.
Source: Nottinghamshire NHS Right to Choose guidanceWhat costs should I check before a private ADHD assessment?
Ask for the full pathway cost, not only the assessment fee. Check the price of the assessment, report, follow-up appointments, medication titration, private prescriptions, medication, continuing reviews and any further assessment.
What happens if I do not meet the criteria for ADHD?
A careful assessment may identify another explanation, suggest further assessment or find that symptoms fall below the diagnostic threshold. NICE says people in this position may still benefit from information and support.
Source: NICE guideline NG87, information and supportCan I book an ADHD assessment with Kaya now?
No. Kaya is currently an information and service-development website. Assessment, diagnosis, treatment and prescribing are not available through Kaya at this stage.
Suggested next steps
The information library is being built now while the future clinical pathway is developed.
Now
Research, resources and specialist training
Publishing useful information without presenting Kaya as a live clinical service.
Next
Supervised competence and clinical governance
Confirming diagnostic responsibility, supervision, insurance, data handling and partnerships.
Before launch
The complete service pathway
Publishing verified clinicians, prices, prescribing responsibilities, policies and continuing care.
Later account access
Public resources will stay open. Optional login can later allow people to return to saved forms across devices. Email collection is deferred and is not required to use the current resources.
Suggested next steps
Choose one guide. Each opens as a separate, printable page.
Suggested next steps
NICE states that ADHD is thought to be under-recognised in girls and women.
Women may be less likely to be referred, more likely to have undiagnosed ADHD and more likely to receive another diagnosis before ADHD is considered.
This route will cover
- How stereotypes can affect recognition
- Late identification and previous diagnoses
- Preparing a developmental history
- Work, relationships, parenting and caring
- Questions to prepare before assessment
Suggested next steps
Nadia Hajat is an independent social worker undertaking specialist training towards work in adult ADHD assessment.
A whole-life perspective
Social work assessment already pays attention to history, relationships, environment, strengths, risk, identity and everyday functioning. Kaya is developing that perspective within the additional training and governance required for ADHD assessment.
Training is one part
The future service also needs supervised competence, named diagnostic responsibility, clinical governance, appropriate insurance and clear arrangements for prescribing and continuing care.
How the information is used
Kaya links directly to the public guidance used in its resources. It provides general information, not individual medical advice. The future service will publish clinician, governance and pathway details before it opens.
Suggested next steps
Choose one guide. Each opens as a separate, printable page.
Suggested next steps