Adult ADHD Assessment

Welcome to Bartles Foundry, where understanding is forged through collaboration between a clinical psychologist and an education specialist.

We’re a team that works closely together to help you understand ADHD, and we’re here to guide you through the process. At Bartles Foundry, we combine Dr. Scott Bartle's clinical psychology expertise with Mrs. Lenia Bartle's educational background, creating a holistic approach to ADHD assessments.

Dr. Scott Bartle is a clinical psychologist with years of experience assessing and supporting individuals with neurodevelopmental differences like ADHD. He’s trained in UKAAN standards, so you can trust that the assessment is thorough, evidence-based, and up-to-date.

Mrs. Lenia Bartle is an educational specialist with a psychology background and specialised training in neurodevelopmental assessments. Her experience in working with people across the lifespan ensures that we address both the educational and developmental needs that might come with ADHD.

Together, we make sure the assessment process is comprehensive and tailored to your needs. Our team is here to support you, providing insights into how ADHD might be affecting your life and guiding you towards the right support.

If you've ever watched a reel on Instagram or TikTok and thought, "That sounds just like me!" - you’re not alone. Social media has brought ADHD into the spotlight, and for many adults, it’s been the first time they’ve felt seen or understood.

There are lots of online quizzes that claim to tell you whether you might have ADHD. Some can be helpful as a starting point, but they can't give you a full picture or confirm a diagnosis. ADHD is more than just being forgetful or distracted - it can affect your work, relationships, and how you feel about yourself. A proper diagnosis isn’t about ticking boxes; it’s about understanding how these patterns show up in your life and whether they’ve caused enough of a struggle to meet the criteria for a diagnosis.

At Bartles Foundry, we take the time to really get to know you - not just your challenges, but also your strengths. Our assessments go far beyond quick online tests. We look at the whole person, and we help make sense of your experiences so you can decide what comes next, whether that’s seeking support, talking to your workplace, or just having more self-understanding.

At Bartles Foundry, we know that many people have concerns about private ADHD assessments, especially after hearing stories in the media or seeing one/two-page letters that get rejected by services. We want to reassure you that our assessments are thorough, based on the latest guidelines, and designed to meet both your needs and the requirements of services you might need to engage with, like your workplace, NHS services, or universities.

What Makes Our Reports Different?

Our ADHD assessments follow the NICE Guidelines for adult ADHD diagnosis and treatment, as well as best practice recommendations from the UK Adult ADHD Network (UKAAN) and the British Psychological Society (BPS). This means our approach is rooted in the most up-to-date research and clinical standards.

We also understand that assessments should go beyond just filling out forms. Our reports are written with you in mind - clear, easy-to-understand, and designed to be useful for a variety of situations. Whether you need a brief letter for work or a detailed clinical report, we’re happy to tailor it to suit your needs.

What’s Included in the Report?

Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect in your assessment report:

1. Presenting Concerns
   We start by summarising the challenges that led you to seek an ADHD assessment, including difficulties at work, school, relationships, or everyday tasks.

2. Developmental History
   We explore your history to understand how ADHD traits may have been present in childhood, school, and early adulthood. This is important for getting a full picture of your experiences.

3. Informant Input
   If needed, we may ask those who know you well (like family or a partner) to provide feedback. Their observations can help paint a fuller picture of how ADHD might be affecting your life.

4. Diagnostic Interview
   We use a structured interview tool, called the DIVA-2, which helps us assess whether your experiences meet the diagnostic criteria for ADHD. This is the same tool recommended in national guidelines.

5. Functional Impact
   ADHD doesn’t just affect how you think - it impacts your life. We use tools like the WEISS Functional Impairment Scale to assess how ADHD affects your daily activities, work, relationships, and emotional well-being.

6. Current Symptoms
   We look at any recent challenges or changes in your symptoms, using questionnaires like the Current Symptoms Scale. This helps us understand what’s going on right now.

7. Screening for Other Issues
   ADHD often coexists with other conditions. We screen for things like anxiety, or depression, to ensure we’re taking the full picture into account.

8. Health Considerations
   We also consider your overall health, as this can influence diagnosis and treatment options. For example, we’ll consider any medical conditions or medications that might be mistaken for ADHD.

9. Diagnosis
   We pull everything together to explain whether your symptoms meet the criteria for an ADHD diagnosis, based on NICE and DSM-5 standards.

10. Formulation
    This section helps you understand the “why” behind your ADHD symptoms - how they fit together, why they’re happening, and how they’ve affected your life.

11. Recommendations
    Finally, we provide practical suggestions for moving forward. This might include treatment options, lifestyle changes, or support strategies for work or home life. If you’re not diagnosed with ADHD, we’ll still offer advice on what could be helpful for any challenges you’re facing.

Reassurance on the Report

We aim for reports that are clear, thorough, and professional — meeting NHS standards and designed with your needs in mind. Our goal is always to provide you with something that’s not just accurate but useful for accessing the support you need, whether that’s for work, education, or healthcare.

In the UK, guidelines suggest it’s helpful to involve family members or refer to old school reports to understand someone's early life when assessing for ADHD. However, some professionals may insist on having family present, even if it’s not practical or beneficial. Research indicates that signs of ADHD can sometimes become more apparent later in life, meaning it's not always necessary to have evidence from early childhood to make an accurate diagnosis. At Bartles Foundry, we recognise that each individual’s journey is unique, and we respect and value everyone’s personal story.

Please feel free to get in touch with us to discuss how we can best support you through the assessment process.