Do I Need an ADHD Assessment?
If you’ve found yourself searching things like:
“Do I have ADHD or am I just lazy?”
“ADHD assessment near me”
“Private ADHD assessment London”
“Adult ADHD symptoms in women”
“How do I get tested for ADHD?”
“Is ADHD real or am I making excuses?”
“Can you have ADHD and still do well at work?”
“High-functioning ADHD signs”
“ADHD or anxiety?”
“Why can’t I focus unless it’s urgent?”
…you’re not alone.
Many adults come to an ADHD assessment after years of quietly struggling, second-guessing themselves, and trying to push through. Often, the hardest part isn’t the symptoms — it’s the uncertainty: “Is this ADHD, or is it just me?”
This blog is here to answer the most common questions people ask before they book.
“Do I have ADHD or am I just lazy?”
This is probably the most common fear people hold privately.
Most adults who ask this question aren’t lazy — they’re exhausted.
ADHD doesn’t mean you don’t care. It means your brain may struggle with starting tasks, switching attention, prioritising, and staying consistent, especially when tasks feel boring, unclear, or emotionally uncomfortable.
Many people with ADHD describe:
knowing exactly what they should do
genuinely wanting to do it
feeling unable to start until panic kicks in
then doing it in a rush with stress and self-criticism
That’s not laziness. That’s often an executive functioning pattern.
“Can I have ADHD if I’m successful?”
Yes. ADHD doesn’t cancel out intelligence or ambition.
Some adults with ADHD are high-achieving because they’ve developed powerful coping skills — for example:
perfectionism
overworking
people-pleasing
relying on deadlines and adrenaline
doing everything at the last minute
masking disorganisation with charm or competence
From the outside, things might look fine. But internally, it can feel like:
you’re always behind
you’re using 10× the effort of everyone else
you’re constantly “holding it together”
you can’t relax because you’ll drop something important
Many people seek a private ADHD assessment not because they’re failing — but because coping has become unsustainable.
“Why is it harder now than it used to be?”
Sometimes people tell me:
“I managed at school.”
“I was fine at university.”
“It’s only recently become a problem.”
Often, ADHD becomes more noticeable when life becomes more complex — for example:
a promotion with more responsibility
working independently (less structure)
moving house, parenting, caregiving
burnout, stress, or sleep disruption
hormonal changes (especially for women)
In those situations, you may lose the external systems that used to support you. When structure disappears, ADHD patterns can become louder.
“Is it ADHD or anxiety?”
This is a brilliant question — and it’s a very common reason people search:
“ADHD vs anxiety symptoms”
“ADHD misdiagnosed as anxiety”
“Why do I feel overwhelmed all the time?”
ADHD and anxiety can overlap, and they can also occur together. Sometimes anxiety develops because of ADHD — especially if you’ve spent years trying not to mess up, forget things, or fall behind.
A good assessment doesn’t just tick boxes. It looks at:
what’s been present long-term
when symptoms began
how they show up across different settings
how much effort it takes to keep functioning
whether anxiety is driving inattention, or inattention is driving anxiety
This is why screening mood and anxiety (for example, with tools like PHQ-9 and GAD-7) can be helpful in an ADHD assessment pathway.
“What does ADHD look like in women?”
Many women search for:
“ADHD symptoms in women”
“late diagnosis ADHD female”
“why wasn’t my ADHD noticed?”
“inattentive ADHD women”
ADHD can look different in women, particularly when symptoms are internalised or masked. Instead of being seen as disruptive, many women are labelled as:
sensitive
anxious
forgetful
disorganised
chatty
perfectionistic
“not living up to potential”
Women often compensate in ways that hide ADHD: over-preparing, over-achieving, staying agreeable, and doing emotional labour that isn’t always visible.
If you’re constantly “coping” but never really okay, it’s worth exploring.
“Do I have ADHD if I can hyperfocus?”
Hyperfocus is one of the most confusing ADHD traits because it can look like the opposite of inattention.
Many people search:
“can ADHD people hyperfocus?”
“why can I focus for hours on some things but not others?”
ADHD isn’t a lack of focus. It’s often a challenge with regulating focus.
You might be unable to start routine tasks, but then:
spend hours locked into a project you enjoy
lose track of time
forget to eat or drink
struggle to switch gears afterward
That can absolutely fit ADHD.
“What is masking ADHD?”
Masking is when someone hides their difficulties to appear more organised, capable, or ‘together’ than they feel.
People often search:
“masking ADHD”
“high functioning ADHD”
“ADHD compensation strategies”
“why am I exhausted but still productive?”
Masking can look like:
being the person who always says yes
pushing through with stress and adrenaline
over-apologising for mistakes
working longer hours to match others
relying on elaborate systems that don’t really hold
feeling ashamed of how hard things are
Masking works… until it doesn’t. Many adults seek assessment at the point where the cost becomes burnout.
“What happens in an adult ADHD assessment?”
This is one of the most important questions — because the right assessment should feel thorough, not rushed.
People often search:
“what happens in an ADHD assessment?”
“how long does an ADHD assessment take?”
“is a private ADHD assessment worth it?”
“what questions do they ask in an ADHD assessment?”
A high-quality ADHD assessment typically includes:
pre-assessment questionnaires
a detailed clinical history (childhood + adulthood)
structured diagnostic interview (e.g., DIVA)
exploring functional impact across settings
informant input where possible
screening for comorbidities and differentials
feedback + written report with recommendations
It shouldn’t feel like a one-size-fits-all template. It should reflect your story and context.
“Is an ADHD assessment worth it?”
People often ask this when they’re tired of self-doubt.
An assessment can be worth it if you want:
clarity about whether ADHD explains your patterns
a framework for understanding your strengths and difficulties
practical recommendations for daily life and work
a written report that supports next steps
relief from self-blame and confusion
Even when someone doesn’t meet ADHD criteria, a good assessment still provides helpful insight — because it explores what is going on and what support might be more appropriate.
Ready for clarity?
If you’d like to book a private ADHD assessment in London, or you have questions about whether an assessment is right for you, you’re welcome to get in touch.
