Adult ADHD Assessment
and Therapy

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is defined as a persistent pattern of inattention and or  hyperactivity that interferes with functioning at work/school or development. While ADHD is a recognised condition in children,  there is now an increasing awareness that symptoms may be present in adolescence and even adulthood. Many adults would not have been diagnosed during childhood due to a lack of awareness of the condition at that time. DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition) lists ten symptoms for inattention of which six or more must have  persisted for at least six months to a degree that is inconsistent with developmental level and impairs academic, social or professional performance. Some of the symptoms are

1. Failure to give close attention to detail or careless mistakes at work or during other activities.
2. Difficulties to sustain attention.
3. Does not seem to listen when spoken to directly.
4. Does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish tasks.
5. Difficulties in organising tasks or activities.
6. Avoidance of tasks that require sustained mental effort.
7. Losing things necessary for the task or activities.

8. Distraction by external events or unrelated thoughts.

9. Forgetfulness of daily activities.

There are nine symptoms in DSM-5 for hyperactivity and impulsivity of which six or more must have persisted for at least  six months to a degree that results in impaired functioning at school, work or any activity that requires mental effort. The nine symptoms are

1. Fidgets with or taps hands/feet and the inability to sit in a relaxed position.
2. Leaving in situations where it is expected to remain seated.
3. In adults, feeling restless.
4. Difficulties in engaging in leisure activities quietly.
5. Being "on the go" as if "driven by a motor".
6. Talking excessively.
7. Completing other people's sentences.
8. Distraction by external events or unrelated thoughts.
9. Forgetfulness of daily activities.

ADHD begins in childhood and several symptoms must be present before age 12 years. Since depression and anxiety can also 

 result in irritation and concentration problems, it is important to differentiate between ADHD as a neuro-developmental 

disorder and other mental health problems that may occur later in life.  In this sense, many of the tests that are 

  freely available on the Internet are insufficient for a diagnosis since they do not allow for the possibility that symptoms

 are the result of other mental health problems.

Autism and ADHD Assessments focusses on adult ADHD and is using the latest psychological and computational techniques 

 to arrive at an accurate assessment. With clinical psychologists Australia-wide and in selected countries around the world,

 we offer assessments and reports within 2-3 weeks. Online assessments are typically available within one week.

The  includes four parts: (1) a clinical interview to obtain information on current challenges and the personal as well as medical

 history, (2) a series of psychological tests, (3) the explanation of results and (4) a report. With written permission of the 

 client, we also interview partners and caregivers, in addition to the review of previous assessments and records. An assessment 

 does not only include the direct contact with the client, it also includes the scoring of tests, the interpretation of results,  the review of documents and writing a report.

Please note that government agencies in Australia, such as the NDIS , accept psychological reports from clinical psychologists only. We are a group of clinical psychologists endorsed by the Psychology Board of Australia. We offer assessments in a single day or distributed over several sessions. There is no waiting list, so please email us today.

Autism and ADHD Assessments offers Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy (CBT) as well as coaching services for ADHD. Often, the two are combined: Psychological therapy aims at unhelpful thinking styles that result in low motivation and distraction. ADHD coaching supports the client in the completion of daily tasks, works on motivational strategies, calming techniques as well as goal setting. ADHD coaching is performed by (1) registered (licensed) psychologists (including "provisional psychologists" who are in training and work under clinical supervision) and (2) the artificial intelligence system JoBot^TM that interacts with clients in English language. Please have a look a the AI system JoBot^TM.

Personal coaching services are available for clients with an established ADHD diagnosis. ADHD coaching is hands-on and includes setting and decomposition, motivational strategies, visualisation methods, reminder systems and relaxation techniques. We clients on the use of brain training techniques as well. Frequently, ADHD coaching is an online service: a one-to-one, personal and confidential online consultation by use of Skype, WhatsApp  or a similar service. The online consultation offers a number of advantages:

1. ADHD coaching is available after hours and on weekends.
2. ADHD coaching fees are lower than psychological therapy due to the reduced overheads.
3. If the client is at home or at work, we help to organise the study and learning environment.
4. Online coaching allows more frequent consultations between psychologist and client.
5. The online service makes it easy to integrate partners and family members.
6. Online psychological testing by a clinical psychologist is available as well. Some conditions apply.
7. Online services make it easy to track progress and to help in case of a relapse.