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- Can't focus? Feel impatient or restless?
- Make impulsive decisions at work or in relationships?
- Have a sense that you aren't living up to your potential?
**Note we cannot treat clients diagnosed with ADHD elsewhere. A full re-assessment is needed with one of the psychiatrists to continue.
Common symptoms of ADHD in adults (see here for teens and adult combined Autism & ADHD)
The three main characteristics of ADHD are inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
In adults, hyperactivity can present more as restlessness and less as the boisterousness seen in children. It can mean speaking too fast and too often, or rushing around, constantly busy. Other symptoms that can affect your ability to cope in life include:
- difficulty focusing and then hyperfocusing on the wrong things
- disorganisation and trouble finishing things
- impulsive decision making
- emotional difficulties like impatience
- relationship problems.
Why do an ADHD assessment at Harley Therapy™?
We recognise that finally being tested for ADHD as an adult can be a big step. And that a private ADHD assessment is a serious financial investment.
At Harley Therapy you can relax in knowing you are in the best of hands, working with experienced health professionals who are actual ADHD specialists, not just generalists taking clients on the side.
Psychiatrists Dr Phil Ferreira-Lay, Dr Naresh Buttan, Dr Alexis Economou, and Dr Alessandra Cappai are some of the UK's top experts in ADHD diagnosis and treatment. With almost 100 years of combined medical experience, they have helped thousands of clients with attention deficits to get their life back on track.
Dr Maria Daves is a psychologist and specialist ADHD coach. She previously worked for the NHS diagnosing both ADHD and autism in adults, and has a longstanding interest in the unique challenges women on the neurodevelopmental spectrum face. She offers combined Autism and ADHD assessments.
Find out how we can help you
Ready to stop the constant struggle of living with undiagnosed ADHD? Get in touch now by phone or online to make a confidential appointment for your ADHD assessment in London.
The Benefits of an ADHD Diagnosis
The benefits of an assessment include:
- finally understanding your behaviour and being able to explain it to others
- recognising and building on your strengths
- learning strategies that help you cope better
- accessing support and services to make things easier for you and your family
- moving forward at last with life goals and no longer feeling trapped by your own mind
- improved relationships.
Why do I have ADHD now I'm an adult?
You don't just suddenly develop attention deficit disorder as an adult. It would have been there since childhood. It's just that the struggles of some children are overlooked.
ADHD often goes undiagnosed in children who have high IQs, for example, who can find ways to compensate. It's only when faced with the many responsibilities of adult life that symptoms become more apparent.
And it's now understood that symptoms can be different in girls than boys, with the former being more prone to being inattentive and dreamy over hyperactive. Many adult women had their struggles overlooked when a child.
What is an adult ADHD assessment like?
The main diagnostic guidance followed in the UK is put out by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). It takes into account both the DSM-5 and ICD-10 guidelines.
An adult ADHD assessment can include:
- taking a full history of your psychiatric health and development (learning and challenges in childhood, etc)
- questionnaires looking at how your symptoms affect the different areas of your life, including how you behave and socialise and your everyday coping
- talking about your current life, such as work, family, finances, and relationships
- observing how you interact, and your mental state
- looking at coexisting mental health issues and conditions and also your physical health
- having a person or people close to you fill out reports about how you behave.
Related diagnoses and issues
Your ADHD psychiatrist can also diagnose common co-occuring mental health issues such as:
- anxiety and depression
- bad habits
- eating disorders
- learning differences
- low self-esteem
- personality disorders
- sleep problems.
If it turns out that you don't qualify as having ADHD, you might still end up with a diagnosis of another disorder with similar symptoms. This includes borderline personality disorder or anxiety disorder.
Recommended treatment for adult ADHD
Your ADHD specialist will create a multidisciplinary treatment plan which will address your psychological, behavioural, and occupational/educational needs.
Pharmacological treatment is offered in some cases and should be combined with psychological treatments and support, such as psychotherapy or ADHD coaching. Go to our ADHD treatment page for thorough details on treatment and medication options at Harley Therapy.
*In the interests of safety, there may be cases where ongoing treatment through Harley Therapy is not recommended; NHS or other specialist services may be advised as more appropriate.*
How to book your appointment
Call us now on 0345 474 1724 OR book online
All practitioners are qualified and accredited with reputable professional associations.
Updated Nov 22, 2024 by 
Dr Sheri Jacobson
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