Private ADHD Services
We offer private ADHD assessments to children and young people aged 6 – 17.5 years old.
All of our assessments are conducted by a GMC registered Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, guaranteeing you a high quality, needs-led assessment.
If you are seeking a high-quality, person-centred ADHD assessment with specialist psychiatrists, The Retreat Clinics is here to help.
To refer your child for an ADHD assessment, please fill out the CYPND Self-Assessment Referral Form.
What is ADHD?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can be commonly characterised by signs and symptoms of hyperactivity, inattentiveness, impulsivity or a combination of all.
There are three recognised types of ADHD in children and young people:
- Inattentive: When symptoms of inattention, but not hyperactivity/impulsivity, have been present for at least six months
- Hyperactive/Impulsive: When symptoms of hyperactivity/impulsivity, but not inattention, have been present for at least six months
- Combination: When symptoms of both inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity, have been present for at least six months
- The main symptoms include:
Poor organisational skills, Inability to focus or prioritise, Carelessness and lack of attention to detail, Continually starting new tasks before finishing old ones, Continually losing or misplacing things, Forgetfulness, Restlessness, Difficulty keeping quiet and often speaking out of turn / interrupting others, Mood swings and irritability, Inability to deal with stress, Extreme impatience, Taking risks in activities, with little or no regard for personal safety or the safety of others.
How do I refer for an assessment?
To refer your child for an ADHD assessment with The Retreat Clinics, please download the self-referral form above or contact us at manchester@theretreatclinics.org.uk or cypinfo@theretreatclinics.org.uk for a self-referral form.
Please return this form, along with a referral letter from your GP.
Upon receiving your information, your referral will be triaged by a member of the team and, if an ADHD assessment looks to be appropriate, we will arrange an assessment for you.
What happens during an ADHD assessment?
Before taking part in your assessment, you’ll be asked to complete our self-referral form where you are asked to give examples of your child’s symptoms and experience and provide a GP referral letter. This helps to ensure that your GP is aware of the referral and that they can provide any relevant clinical information.
At your assessment, you will be warmly welcomed by your assessor who will explain the full process to you and help you and your child feel at ease. Our ADHD assessments typically last between 1.5 – 2 hours and are held with an expert child and adolescent psychiatrist.
After this, you will be guided through a structural clinical assessment. This assessment is based on the latest DSM-V criteria for ADHD, often referred to as the gold standard of assessment criteria for diagnosing the different subtypes of ADHD.
Children’s ADHD assessments consist of a structured clinical assessment for ADHD using the latest Conners 4 diagnostic assessment tool. This well-recognised tool has three components (Parent, Child and Teacher) and is used to help your psychiatrist gain an objective understanding of how your child’s ADHD symptoms impact them. The doctor will also gather information relating to your child’s general wellbeing and functioning.
Following this, the doctor will formulate their diagnosis, taking into consideration all of the information gathered in the assessment, referral form and additional liaison where relevant. We will then write to you with this information and recommendations for a bespoke treatment plan for your child.
Inclusion / Exclusion criteria for CYP ADHD assessments
- From 6 years old to 17 years and 6 months
Exclusion criteria
- No previous assessment of ADHD
- Moderate – Severe learning disability
- History of substance misuse
Will my diagnosis be recognised by schools/GPs?
As the diagnosis is done by a GMC registered psychiatrist specialising in ADHD there is no reason why this will not be recognised by a school, college or your GP. However, we recommend that you liaise with your school/GP to ensure that they will recognise the assessment as we are unable to take responsibility for this.
Will my child be eligible for extra support at school?
Your consultant will note any reasonable adjustments they feel necessary for school, college or university in your assessment letter.
What if I’m diagnosed with something other than ADHD?
Whilst the assessment is specifically for ADHD, your psychiatrist will also undertake a general assessment and note any other common co-occurring psychiatric
conditions which may be contributing to your current difficulties, such as anxiety, depression or personality difficulties. If further assessment of these are required, our consultant psychiatrist would be happy to offer a general psychiatric assessment.
Will you prescribe medication for my child?
The Retreat Clinics does not offer medication for children and young people for ADHD at this time. If a referral to your local CAMHS team is required for medication, this will be organised as part of your assessment fee.
When will I receive my report?
Following your assessment we will send you, via secure email, a detailed report from your psychiatrist, outlining any diagnosis and treatment plan recommendations. We will aim to send this within 3 weeks of your assessment.
What does the cost include?
This cost includes the assessment and diagnosis appointment with a psychiatrist and a detailed written report. This also includes liaising with other professionals to provide a holistic assessment.
What support is available after diagnosis?
The Retreat Clinics has a team of experienced therapists and psychologists who can work in a neurodevelopmentally informed way. We are happy to provide CBT for ADHD, in line with NICE guidelines.