What to Expect in an Online ADHD Assessment

Deciding to explore whether you might have an ADHD diagnosis can feel both empowering and uncertain. You may have spent years noticing certain patterns in how you focus, plan, or manage your time, perhaps always feeling “on,” easily engaged by what excites you and quickly disengaged by what doesn’t.

The idea of starting an ADHD assessment, especially online, can bring up a mix of emotions: curiosity, hope, and sometimes uncertainty about what the process involves. My intention in sharing this is to take away some of that uncertainty, to show that an assessment isn’t about finding faults. It’s about recognising consistent patterns of attention, motivation, and organisation, and understanding how they show up for you.

So what is an ADHD assessment really then? An ADHD assessment isn’t a test or a checklist of problems. It’s a structured, supportive conversation that looks at behavioural patterns and traits commonly associated with ADHD. It is more of an in depth conversation , looking at things throughout your life to gain information on whether or not there are traits that not only fall into a possible ADHD diagnosis, but that they are also NOT better explained by something else.

The focus is on understanding your lived experience, how you direct attention, manage tasks, process information, and respond to your environment. For many adults, this process brings language and context to long-standing experiences that never quite made sense. It’s not about “what’s wrong”; it’s about naming what is, with curiosity and compassion.

Before considering a full assessment, some people find it helpful to complete a self-screening questionnaire to see whether ADHD traits resonate. One widely used tool is the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS).

Now, I can’t post the ASRS here (copyright rules and all that), but if you search “ASRS ADHD self-screening,” you’ll find versions online that outline how to complete and interpret it. It includes questions about attention, organisation, time perception, and follow-through.

But let’s be clear, a screening tool isn’t diagnostic, it simply gives an indication of whether the traits you experience are POSSIBLY consistent with ADHD patterns. Think of it as a first step toward greater clarity rather than a verdict. Scoring highly on this tool for instance, may indicate ADHD traits, however it does not mean that you will fulfil the criteria for a diagnosis if you have an assessment.

The process usually includes:

• Information gathering before even meeting you through questionnaires from yourself and your chosen informant.

• A collaborative discussion (or as we call it, screening interview) about your experiences, both recent and historical where we delve into your life a bit more.

• DIVA assessment questionnaire exploring recognised ADHD traits.

• A review of background information such as education or previous assessments, if relevant or gathering information from a chosen informant of yours.

• Report writing and a feedback session.

  
  

An online ADHD assessment follows the same evidence-based format as an in-person one, simply delivered through a secure video platform for convenience and accessibility. I’ve had people ask whether I believe this is as accurate/useful as in person (can read more about this in my previous blog here.) Short answer, it can be.

It’s a reflective process, one that highlights your strengths as well as areas that may create challenges in daily life. Many people describe the experience as validating and informative, offering a clearer framework for understanding how they operate best.

Online assessments may make it easier to engage with the process without additional barriers like travel or time constraints. You can attend from wherever feels most comfortable, your home office, a quiet corner, even your car between commitments.

For individuals who identify with ADHD traits, the flexibility of an online format often supports participation and consistency. What matters most isn’t where the conversation happens, but that it’s held in a space of respect, collaboration, and openness. I have found that having online assessments have been more of a help than a hinderance, in some instances clients have been able to show me things that I wouldn’t normally see if it were in-person. Such as showing me around a messy desk or where they try to keep their keys but never do, or the chaotic systems they have created for themselves at home.

After your assessment, you’ll receive a written report that reflects the discussion, noting key ADHD traits, strengths, and any recommendations for next steps.

These next steps might include therapeutic support, coaching, or conversations with your GP or psychiatrist about further management options. The focus is always on creating strategies that align with how you naturally think and function, rather than trying to change who you are.

If you’ve been wondering whether ADHD traits resonate for you, exploring them is an act of self-awareness, not self-criticism. Whether you begin with a self-screening tool like the ASRS or move toward a full assessment, each step brings you closer to clarity about your own behavioural patterns and needs.

An ADHD assessment doesn’t define you, it helps you understand yourself more clearly and access the right support if needed. Whether conducted online or in person, the goal is the same: insight, compassion, and practical understanding that works for you.

(If you’d like to learn more about online ADHD assessments, I offer confidential sessions for adults across the UK. Book a consultation to start the process.)