Child ADHD Assessments

Clear steps. Compassionate care. Evidence‑based ADHD assessment for children & young people.

 

At The Kalamitia Clinic, our ADHD assessments follow NICE guidelines and are structured, thorough and neuroaffirming. We combine specialist clinical interviews, validated diagnostic tools and multidisciplinary decision‑making to ensure every young person receives a fair, accurate and meaningful assessment.

Our Assessment Process

1. Initial referral & screening call

Every journey begins with a friendly screening call where we explore your concerns, understand your child’s needs and ensure our service is the right fit. If an ADHD assessment is indicated, we will guide you through the next steps clearly and supportively.

2. Screening questionnaires

You will receive parent, young person and school questionnaires to help us build a full picture of your child’s strengths, challenges and everyday experiences.

A £100 screening fee applies for ADHD and autism assessments. This is deducted from the final assessment cost if you proceed.

3. Initial assessment

A comprehensive clinical interview with the parent/carer and young person. We explore developmental history, mental health, school experiences, strengths, challenges and any co‑occurring needs.

This session is warm, collaborative and paced to ensure your child feels safe and understood.

4. ADHD‑specific assessment

We use gold‑standard, structured diagnostic tools to explore ADHD symptoms across settings and over time. These tools help us understand attention, impulsivity, executive functioning, emotional regulation and how these impact daily life. Our clinicians will select either the Young DIVA‑5 or the ACES, depending on their clinical judgement. Both tools assess the same core areas, but use different formats.

Young DIVA‑5

(Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Children & Adolescents)

The Young DIVA‑5 is a structured, evidence‑based clinical interview used internationally to assess ADHD in children and young people. It explores each ADHD symptom in detail, looking at:

  • How symptoms present at home, school and socially

  • How long they have been present

  • How they impact daily life, learning and wellbeing

  • Whether symptoms are better explained by another condition

It helps ensure a fair, consistent and accurate assessment, especially for young people whose ADHD may be masked by anxiety, high ability, or coping strategies.

 

ACES / ACE+

(ADHD Clinical Evaluation Scales)

ACES is a structured ADHD assessment tool that helps us understand:

  • Attention and concentration

  • Impulsivity and hyperactivity

  • Executive functioning (organisation, planning, working memory)

  • Emotional regulation

 

It provides a clear, practical picture of how ADHD traits affect everyday functioning. ACES is particularly helpful for identifying ADHD in young people with complex presentations, co‑occurring conditions or subtle symptoms.

5. Multidisciplinary team (MDT) discussion

Your child’s assessment is reviewed by our multidisciplinary team, led by our Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, to ensure a robust, collaborative and fair diagnostic process. This step strengthens clinical accuracy and supports high‑quality recommendations.

6. Feedback session & comprehensive report

You will receive:

  • Clear verbal feedback

  • A detailed diagnostic report

  • Tailored recommendations for home, school and wellbeing

  • Signposting to support, interventions and next steps

Our reports are thorough, accessible and designed to help families, schools and professionals understand your child’s needs.

Our approach

We provide ADHD assessments that are:

  • Holistic — considering mental health, sensory needs, sleep, trauma, learning and environment

  • Compassionate — ensuring young people feel heard and respected

  • Evidence‑based — using validated tools and structured clinical reasoning

  • Neuroaffirming — recognising strengths, individuality and lived experience

Your journey, our support. We are here to guide you with care, clarity and expertise.