I’m Waiting for an ADHD Assessment, What Can I Do While I Wait
Waiting for an ADHD assessment can be frustrating because the problems that led you to seek help continue while the answer remains somewhere in the future.
Waiting for an ADHD assessment can be frustrating because the problems that led you to seek help continue while the answer remains somewhere in the future.
Current NHS England data shows very substantial numbers of open referrals that may be for ADHD assessment, and the NHS warns that waits can extend for months or years.
A waiting list should not mean putting the rest of your life on hold.
You do not need a diagnosis to describe what is difficult
You may not yet know whether ADHD is the explanation, but you probably know what is causing problems.
Perhaps you miss appointments, cannot organise paperwork, become overwhelmed by competing demands or struggle to concentrate in a noisy workplace.
Work with those problems directly.
A calendar does not require a diagnosis. Written instructions do not require a diagnosis. Breaking a large task into smaller actions does not require a diagnosis.
Keep useful information without turning your life into an assessment
It can help to note examples of how difficulties affect work, relationships, household responsibilities or other parts of life.
You might also think about childhood experiences, because ADHD symptoms usually begin before adulthood and assessment commonly explores developmental history.
But avoid spending the entire waiting period monitoring yourself for symptoms.
You are a person waiting for an assessment, not a research project.
Look after problems that need help now
Anxiety, depression, sleep difficulties, substance use or other mental-health concerns should not automatically wait for an ADHD diagnosis.
The NHS notes that ADHD can coexist with other mental-health conditions.
If your mental health is deteriorating, speak to your GP about what you are experiencing now. A future neurodevelopmental assessment should not become a reason that every other problem is deferred.
Check what the local pathway actually is
ADHD assessment arrangements and waiting times can vary between areas.
If you are unsure whether your referral has been accepted, what service holds it or what happens next, ask your GP or the relevant service.
In England, NHS patient-choice arrangements may sometimes affect where an assessment can take place. Current NHS guidance advises discussing available choices with your GP rather than assuming that an online provider or route is automatically available in your circumstances.
Be cautious about certainty from social media
Online communities can provide recognition and practical ideas, especially during a long wait.
But personal experiences and short symptom videos cannot establish whether you have ADHD. Some ADHD-like difficulties overlap with anxiety, autism, sleep problems and other conditions.
Use online content as a source of questions and shared experience, not as a substitute for assessment.
Last reviewed
6 September 2026
Important ADHD and mental health information
This guide provides general information only and is not a diagnosis or a substitute for professional medical or mental-health advice. ADHD can affect people in different ways, and difficulties with attention, organisation, memory, restlessness, impulsivity, emotions, work or relationships can also have other causes.
ADHD should be diagnosed by an appropriately qualified healthcare professional with specialist training and expertise, using a full clinical and psychosocial assessment rather than a checklist or online test alone.
If these difficulties are persistent or significantly affecting work, relationships or everyday functioning, speak to your GP, ADHD service or another appropriately qualified healthcare professional about what support may be appropriate.
Do not start, stop or change prescribed ADHD or mental-health medication based on information in this guide. Medication decisions should be discussed with the clinician responsible for your care.