Frequently asked questions

ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is a neurodevelopmental condition. It affects how the brain and body regulate attention, activity, impulses and emotions. It starts in childhood, although many people aren't diagnosed until they're adults.

ADHD isn't about being lazy or not trying hard enough. It's a real difference in how the brain works, and it comes with strengths as well as challenges.

Signs vary from person to person, but can include:

• finding it hard to start, organise or finish tasks
• losing track of time, or being late a lot
• being easily distracted, or "zoning out" in conversations
• forgetting things, and losing keys, phones or paperwork
• feeling restless, fidgety or unable to relax
• acting or speaking without thinking
• strong emotions that come on quickly, and feeling very hurt by criticism
• intense focus on things that interest you ("hyperfocus")

Clinicians describe three presentations: mainly inattentive, mainly hyperactive-impulsive, and combined. The inattentive presentation is often missed, particularly in girls and women, because it can be quieter and less disruptive.

Yes. Many adults are diagnosed later in life. People often find ways to hide or cope with difficulties ("masking"), which can make ADHD harder to spot, especially in girls and women. Symptoms need to have been present in childhood, but they don't need to have been noticed or diagnosed at the time.

Often, yes. Anxiety, low mood, autism, dyslexia, sleep problems and difficulties with emotional regulation are common alongside ADHD. A good assessment looks out for these too.

NICE publishes the national guideline for diagnosing and managing ADHD (NG87). It says diagnosis should be made by a specialist clinician after a full clinical and psychosocial assessment, including your developmental history and information from other people where possible. It should also consider the impact of symptoms across different areas of life. Our assessments follow this approach.

QbCheck is a short computer test, taking about 15 to 20 minutes, If you come to the clinic for your assessment, you do it there on the day. If your assessment is online, you do it at home on a laptop or desktop computer with a webcam, using a link we email you. You press a key when a particular shape appears on screen, while a camera tracks small movements of your head.

It measures attention, activity and impulsivity, and compares your results with people of the same age and sex with and without ADHD. It's a clinically validated medical device, and it gives your clinician objective information to consider alongside everything else. It doesn't diagnose ADHD on its own.

The questionnaires are done online in your own time before your appointment. Altogether they take most people 30 to 40 minutes, and you can do them in any order, with breaks. QbCheck takes 15 to 20 minutes, at the clinic on the day if you come in person, or at home beforehand if your assessment is online. The clinical interview is the longest part. We'll confirm how long to set aside when you book. You're welcome to take breaks.

No. You can book directly with us. With your permission, we can share the outcome of your assessment with your GP afterwards.

You'll still come away with a clearer understanding of your difficulties. Your clinician will explain their reasoning and, if something else might explain your experiences, suggest where to go next.

The process is the same either way, including the same questionnaires, QbCheck and clinical interview. Choose whichever you find more comfortable. For online appointments you'll need a laptop or desktop computer with a webcam (for QbCheck, which you do at home), a stable internet connection and a quiet, private space.

There are 7 in total. Your booking confirmation email has a link to a page where you fill in 6 of them online, one question at a time. They ask about your attention and activity now, what you were like as a child, how things affect your daily life, your mood, worry, and how you notice things. You can do them in any order and take breaks, and each one is sent to us when you finish it.

The 7th is for someone who knew you as a child, ideally a parent. If that isn't possible, a partner, brother or sister, or close friend is fine. Add their name and email on your questionnaire page and we'll email it to them.

Don't worry if you can't finish yours before the appointment: we can complete them with you on the day. Please try to get the 7th done beforehand, though, as we can't do that one with you.

Please contact us before booking for anyone under 18, so we can check our service is the right fit.

A diagnosis made by a suitably qualified specialist following NICE guidelines should be recognised. However, whether your GP will agree to prescribe ADHD medication under a shared care agreement is up to your GP practice. Policies vary, so it's worth asking them first. See after a private diagnosis.

No. We provide assessments and coaching. Your report will set out recommendations, and you can then discuss treatment options with your GP or a prescribing service.

STILL stands for Stop, Talk, Imagine, Listen and Learn, with a final session to Celebrate. It's an ADHD coaching approach that starts by helping you notice and steady how you're feeling, then builds practical strategies that fit the way your brain works. Read more about STILL coaching.

No. Coaching can help if you have a diagnosis, are waiting for an assessment, or recognise ADHD traits in yourself. Coaches don't diagnose, but we can point you towards an assessment if you'd like one.

No. Coaching is practical and goal-focused. It concentrates on the present and the future. Therapy can explore deeper emotional difficulties, past experiences and mental health conditions. Coaching can work alongside therapy, and we'll let you know if we think other support would help.

Six one-to-one coaching sessions of about an hour, plus your workbook materials and a written strategy and adjustment summary at the end.

It's designed to take about six weeks, with one session a week. We understand that plans change and not everyone can be free every week, so you have up to 3 months from your first session to finish, at no extra cost.

That's up to you. You can stop there, book individual sessions for £75 each whenever you'd like a top-up, or move on to our 12-month programme for longer-term support. The 12-month programme costs £825, paid up front, and you can spread the cost with Klarna or Clearpay. It's only available after you've finished the six-week course, and your coach will tell you more about it during your sessions. Once your final session has taken place, you can join online from your personal coaching course page.

When you pay for the course, you book your first session. You then get a personal link to book each session after that. After each session, you can book the next one yourself, or do it with your coach at the end of the session. If it isn't booked yet, we'll send you a friendly email reminder.

Yes. Our group course is the full six-week STILL programme in a small group of up to 8 people, for £295 per person. There's an in-person group in Hull on Wednesday evenings and an online group on Saturday afternoons. Each session lasts 2½ hours. See dates and places left.

No. Your booking confirmation is sent to you personally, and other members never see your email address or phone number. In sessions, you only share what you're comfortable sharing.

Yes. Many people find medication and coaching work well together. Your coach won't give advice about medication, but can help you build routines, including remembering to take it.

The STILL programme is designed to fit Access to Work, a government scheme that can fund support at work. You'd need to apply to the scheme yourself, and we can't guarantee funding will be approved. Please talk to us before booking if you're planning to use Access to Work. Read our Access to Work guide.

Life happens, and that's okay. Get in touch as soon as you can and we'll rearrange. You have up to 3 months to finish the course, so there's room for the odd missed week. Slips are part of the process, not a failure.

Yes. You can book a free 15-minute discovery call by phone or video. It's a relaxed, no-obligation chat about whether an assessment or coaching is right for you. Book a free call.

Go to our booking page, choose your service, choose online or in person, pick a date and time, then pay securely. Your appointment is confirmed as soon as payment goes through, and you'll receive a calendar invitation by email.

Our adult ADHD assessment costs £595, paid when you book, the same online or in person. You can spread the cost with Klarna or Clearpay. It doesn't include medication or prescribing. See exactly what's included.

Paying when you book secures your appointment slot. It means your time is reserved just for you.

Yes. Payments are processed by Stripe, a secure payment provider used by millions of businesses. We never see or store your full card details.

Our Hull clinic is at Innovations in Care, 20–22 Chamberlain Road, Hull HU8 8HP. Please tell us about any access needs when you book.

Yes. Please contact us as soon as possible on referrals@libertyassessments.co.uk. Our cancellation, rescheduling and refund policy is in our Terms and Conditions. In short, please give us more than 24 hours’ notice.

Yes. When you pay online you can choose Klarna or Clearpay to spread the cost over several payments. Just pick one of them on the payment page instead of paying by card.

Your appointment is confirmed straight away, and you then pay Klarna or Clearpay directly in instalments. They will check whether you're eligible, and their own terms apply. If you have any questions, please get in touch.