Private ADHD assessment cost in the UK: what should be included?

At Kiam Clinic, a private ADHD assessment costs £695 online or £1,095 in person for adults, and £1,395 online or £1,695 in person for children and young people. Whatever you pay, a thorough assessment should follow NICE guidance on ADHD: a specialist reviews your history, gathers views from people who know you, and explains the outcome and your options.

Private ADHD assessment costs in the UK vary, because each clinic sets its own fee and decides what it covers. So it's worth asking not only "how much?" but also "what do I get for it?"

In short

• A thorough assessment is led by a qualified specialist, covers your whole history, draws on people who know you, and uses questionnaires only as support.
• It should end with a written report and a clear talk about what the result means.
• Our fees include questionnaires, the consultation, a written report and a letter to your GP.
• Follow-up appointments, prescriptions and other treatment are charged separately.
• You can also ask your GP about an NHS assessment.

What is included in an ADHD assessment?

A thorough ADHD assessment is a specialist interview, backed by other people's views and a written report. It should include:

• A qualified specialist. NICE says only a specialist psychiatrist, paediatrician or other qualified professional with training and expertise in ADHD should diagnose it.
• Your whole history. Your development, mental health and how symptoms affect everyday life. For adults, the NHS explains that the specialist will ask whether symptoms started in childhood.
• Views from other people. For an adult, the specialist may contact a family member or close friend. For a child, they will usually contact the school.
• Questionnaires, alongside the interview. NICE calls rating scales helpful added tools, but says a diagnosis should not rest on them alone.
• A wider health check. NICE also asks about your needs, other conditions, circumstances and physical health.
• A written report. The Royal College of Psychiatrists lists what a thorough report covers. This includes the assessor's qualifications and experience, your symptoms against the diagnostic criteria, your mental and physical health, your childhood and daily life, and views from others.
• A talk about what it means. After a diagnosis, NICE recommends a structured discussion about how ADHD could affect your life, feeding into a written treatment plan you share with your clinician.

Even without a diagnosis, NICE says you may benefit from information about support. Our adult ADHD assessment and our assessment for children and young people both follow NICE guidance.

What is the price of an ADHD assessment at Kiam Clinic?

Our ADHD assessments cost between £695 and £1,695, depending on age and whether the assessment is online or in person. Fees are stated in full, with no separate administration charges, and every fee is on our fees page.

• Adult ADHD assessment (75–90 minutes): £695 online, or £1,095 in person.
• Child and young person ADHD assessment (90–120 minutes): £1,395 online, or £1,695 in person.

Each fee covers the questionnaires you complete beforehand, the consultation with a consultant psychiatrist, a detailed written report and a letter to your GP. These fees were correct on 26 September 2026.

What affects the cost of a private ADHD assessment in the UK?

An ADHD assessment price reflects specialist time and what is included. When you compare fees, look at:

• Time outside the appointment. Reading questionnaires beforehand and writing the report afterwards both take time.
• Age. A child's assessment draws on home and school, so ours takes 90–120 minutes rather than 75–90.
• Online or in person. Our online assessment costs less, but the assessment itself is the same.
• Complexity. If other conditions need considering, ask whether more than one appointment might be needed.

What should you check before you book?

Check who will assess you, what the fee covers and what happens next.

• Who will assess me? Ask about their training and experience in ADHD. For a doctor, ADHD UK suggests checking the General Medical Council (GMC) register, including its specialist register.
• What does the fee include? Look for questionnaires, views from others, a written report, a GP letter and a discussion of the results.
• Could the report support NHS care later? The Royal College of Psychiatrists says NHS adult ADHD services check private reports for the detail listed above, so check first that your local NHS service will accept one. If you hope for shared care, where your GP takes over routine prescribing, ADHD UK suggests asking your GP before you book.
• What happens after a diagnosis? Ask what follow-up care is offered, and what each appointment costs.
• Is the clinic registered? In England, check registration with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Kiam Clinic is CQC-registered.

Which costs come after the assessment?

Treatment after the assessment is charged separately, and the NHS notes that not everyone needs or wants medicine for ADHD.

If medication is considered, NICE sets out these steps:

• Baseline checks: pulse, blood pressure, height, weight and heart health are checked first.
• Titration: the dose is adjusted gradually, with regular reviews, until symptoms improve and any side effects are manageable.
• Shared care: once the dose is stable, prescribing and monitoring should move to shared care arrangements with your GP.
• Yearly review: a specialist should review ADHD medication at least once a year.

At Kiam Clinic, adult follow-up appointments are £225 for 20 minutes, every 3–4 weeks while treatment is being established. A repeat prescription once treatment is stable is £85, and we make no charge for arranging shared care. See how we manage medical treatment, including checks your GP may be able to do.

With private prescriptions, ADHD UK notes that you also pay for the medicine itself. Shared care depends on your GP practice agreeing, so it's worth asking early. For children and young people, please ask us about follow-up fees.

Can you have an ADHD assessment on the NHS?

Yes. You can be referred for an NHS assessment.

• Adults: the NHS advises seeing a GP if symptoms affect your work, studies or relationships. The GP may refer you to a mental health professional who specialises in ADHD.
• Children: start with your child's teacher, who may involve the school's special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCo). A GP or the SENCo can request a referral.

Waiting times vary. In England, the NHS explains that you may be able to choose where you are referred, under the Right to Choose scheme. Your GP can explain the local options.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a private ADHD assessment take?

At Kiam Clinic, the adult assessment lasts 75–90 minutes and the child assessment 90–120 minutes. Questionnaires are completed beforehand (for a child, by the school too, with your permission), and your written report is prepared afterwards. If your situation is complex, ask whether more time might be needed.

Why does a child ADHD assessment cost more than an adult one?

A child's assessment draws on more sources: a full developmental history with you, questionnaires from home and, with your permission, from school, and your child's own account. At Kiam Clinic, this takes 90–120 minutes, compared with 75–90 minutes for adults. The fee is £1,395 online or £1,695 in person.

Is an online ADHD assessment as thorough as one in person?

At Kiam Clinic, the assessment is the same either way: the same consultant, the same diagnostic criteria and the same written report. Online assessments cost less, at £695 for adults compared with £1,095 in person. Some people find it easier to talk from home, while others prefer to meet face to face at the clinic.

Does the assessment fee cover treatment?

No. The fee covers the assessment, a written report, a GP letter and a discussion of your options, while treatment is separate and not everyone chooses medication. For adults at Kiam Clinic, a follow-up appointment is £225, a repeat prescription once treatment is stable is £85, and arranging shared care with your GP is free.

When to get help

It's worth asking for a professional opinion if:

• difficulties with attention, restlessness or acting on impulse have been there a long time, usually since childhood;
• they cause real problems in more than one area, such as work, study, home or relationships;
• for a child, extra support at home and at school hasn't helped enough.

Your GP is a good place to start. For a private assessment, you can compare assessment options and book, online by secure video or in person at our clinic in Epsom, Surrey. For a child, talk to the school's SENCo and your GP too; our child assessments are with a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist.

Paying for an assessment is a big decision, so take your time and ask questions first. To talk it through, call us on 01372 660580 or email enquiries@kiamclinic.com.

Related reading

• What Actually Happens in an Adult ADHD Assessment? — a step-by-step look at the appointment itself, and how to prepare for it.

References

1. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: diagnosis and management (NG87). NICE, 2018, updated 2019.
2. ADHD in adults. NHS, 2025.
3. ADHD in children and young people. NHS, 2025.
4. ADHD in adults. Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2023.
5. Private diagnosis for adult ADHD. ADHD UK, 2021, updated 2026.

Useful resources

• ADHD UK: diagnosis pathways for adults — the routes to an adult ADHD assessment in the UK, step by step, through the NHS or privately.
• ADHD UK: diagnosis pathways for children — the same step-by-step guide, written for parents and carers.

This article is for general information. It is not a diagnosis or a substitute for advice from a qualified professional who knows your situation.