How to prepare for your assessment

Feeling prepared can make a real difference

Whether you're being assessed for ADHD, autism, or both, preparation can help the process feel less overwhelming and can help the clinician build a fuller, more accurate picture of your experiences. There's no need to be perfectly organised — clinicians are used to guiding people through the process — but a little groundwork beforehand can be genuinely useful.

Before you book

If you haven't already chosen a provider, it's worth taking time to check:

• The clinician's qualifications and professional registration (for example with the GMC, HCPC or NMC)
• Whether the service is regulated, such as by the CQC
• What the full assessment process involves and how many appointments it typically takes
• A full written breakdown of costs, since these vary widely between providers
• What happens after diagnosis, including any support with prescribing or onward referral

Speaking to your GP beforehand, even if you plan to go privately, can also be helpful — they may offer guidance, and it keeps them informed in case you need joined-up care later.

Gathering useful information

Assessments rely heavily on personal history, so gathering relevant information in advance can help. Consider collecting:

• Childhood information: old school reports, letters from teachers, or memories from parents or older relatives about your early development and behaviour
• Educational and work history: any patterns of difficulty or strength across school, college, or jobs
• Health records: a list of any previous diagnoses, therapies, or relevant medical history
• Personal reflections: notes on situations where you've noticed particular difficulties or strengths, in relationships, work, study or daily life
• Input from others: with their permission, some assessments ask a parent, partner, or close friend to complete a questionnaire or take part in an interview

You don't need everything on this list — bring what you can, and let the clinician know if certain information isn't available.

For parents preparing for a child's assessment

If you're preparing for your child's assessment, it can help to:

• Gather school reports, any special educational needs (SEN) documentation, and teacher observations
• Note down specific examples of behaviours or situations that prompted your concerns, across different settings (home, school, social situations)
• Think about your child's developmental history, including early milestones, if you can recall or find records of these
• Prepare your child, in an age-appropriate way, for what to expect, without creating unnecessary worry
• Ask the provider whether teachers or other caregivers will need to complete any forms, and give them enough notice to do so

On the day

• Try to get a reasonable night's sleep beforehand, and eat something if that helps you concentrate.
• Bring any documents, notes or reports you've gathered, along with a form of identification if requested.
• It's fine to ask the clinician to explain anything you don't understand, or to take a short break if you need one.
• Some people find it helpful to bring a trusted person along for support, if the provider allows this.
• Try to answer questions as honestly and fully as you can, even if some feel repetitive or personal — thoroughness helps the clinician reach an accurate conclusion.

Managing nerves

It's completely normal to feel anxious before an assessment. Remind yourself that the process is designed to understand you better, not to judge or catch you out. If you're autistic or think you might be, and find unfamiliar environments or unpredictability stressful, it's worth telling the provider in advance so they can make reasonable adjustments, such as sending you information about the format beforehand or offering breaks during longer sessions.

After the assessment

Ask when and how you'll receive feedback and a written report, and what the next steps look like depending on the outcome. If you receive a diagnosis and medication becomes part of the conversation, remember that any decisions about specific medicines or doses are for you and a qualified prescriber to discuss — this guide is educational only and does not provide medical advice.

If you don't receive a diagnosis, or the outcome isn't what you expected, it's worth asking the clinician to explain their reasoning, and discussing with your GP what support or next steps might be appropriate for you.

A final thought

Good preparation isn't about getting a particular result — it's about giving the clinician as full and honest a picture as possible, so that whatever the outcome, it reflects your genuine experiences. Take your time, ask questions, and don't hesitate to speak to your GP at any point if you need support along the way.

Building a simple timeline

One approach that many people find helpful is to sketch out a rough timeline of your life, noting significant events, transitions, or periods where things felt particularly difficult or particularly easy. This doesn't need to be formal or detailed — even a few bullet points per life stage, such as primary school, secondary school, further education, early working life and more recent years, can help you organise your thoughts before the assessment and make it easier to answer questions clearly when the time comes.

Thinking about strengths as well as difficulties

It's easy to focus solely on difficulties when preparing for an assessment, but clinicians are also interested in your strengths, coping strategies, and the things that work well for you. Reflecting on this beforehand, for example noting particular interests, skills, or situations where you feel most comfortable and capable, can help build a fuller and more balanced picture, and may also be useful later on if you want to think about support or adjustments that build on what already works for you.

Practical logistics worth sorting out in advance

Beyond documents and personal reflection, a few logistical details can reduce stress on the day. Confirm the appointment time, location or video link well in advance, check whether you need to arrive early for any paperwork, and clarify whether you'll need to arrange time off work or childcare. If travel is involved, consider journey times and whether public transport, parking, or accessibility needs might affect your plans. Taking care of these details ahead of time means you can focus your energy on the assessment itself rather than last-minute logistics.

Supporting a child through the process

Children often pick up on parental anxiety, so try to approach the preparation calmly and match your explanations to your child's age and understanding. You might explain that they're going to talk to someone whose job is to understand how their brain works and how they experience the world, framing it as a positive, curious process rather than something to worry about. Bringing a favourite toy, book, or comfort item, if allowed, can also help younger children feel more at ease in an unfamiliar setting.