Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by symptoms like inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. ADHD is not just about being ‘hyperactive’ or ‘distracted’. It’s a complex condition that impacts every aspect of a person’s life, from school or work performance to relationships. 

Symptoms of attention deficit can include struggles to pay or sustain attention, making careless mistakes, finishing and organising tasks, listening, being distracted. 

Symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity can include fidgeting, feeling restless, engaging in leisure and social situations, communication, impatience and interruptions. 
 
These symptoms are traits that many people have. In order to meet the threshold for a clinical diagnosis, experts will assess for the degree of impairment these symptoms have caused – both in childhood and adulthood – and across many domains of life such as work, education, relationships, family, social contacts, hobbies, and self-confidence/image. 

The NICE guidelines state: “diagnosis should only be made by a specialist psychiatrist, or other appropriately qualified healthcare professional with training and expertise in the diagnosis of ADHD.”  

To receive a diagnosis the person must “meet the diagnostic criteria in DSM‑5 or ICD‑11″ and the symptoms must “cause psychological, social, educational or occupational impairment and be pervasive, occurring in 2 or more important settings including social, familial, educational and/or occupational settings.” 

We do advise our clients that they need to be prepared that a potential outcome of the assessment is that they might not be diagnosed. For some people, this is received as good news, but we know that it will be hard for some people who are still looking for answers.  
 
In these situations, we want to be clear that the lack of ADHD diagnosis doesn’t invalidate the symptoms, traits and impairments they have been feeling. It simply means that based on the evidence available, the clinician has judged that the person does not meet the criteria for the clinical disorder. Where you do not have a diagnosis, our clinical team will do their best to provide a full explanation, provide further information and signpost you to other avenues of support that might help in your case.