About 1 in 3 children with a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder can grow out of the condition and not require any ADHD treatment as adults.

For others, ADHD continues into adult life, making it harder to shift into a focused state and often creating a constant sense of mental fast-forward. These challenges can become more noticeable with today’s fast-paced, high-pressure lifestyles.

Sometimes, alongside the inability to focus, people with ADHD also experience impulsivity, hyperactivity or lack of organisation skills. ADHD symptoms include:

• Difficulty concentrating or following details
• Not being able to focus when others are speaking
• Poor organisation skills
• General forgetfulness
• Restlessness and fidgeting
• Inability to sit or lie still
• Speaking too loudly or quickly
• General impatience
• Tendency to interrupt
• Irritability at small things
• Impulsivity
• Risk-taking behaviour

There is no single or definitive test for ADHD. Diagnosis typically involves two structured consultations with a psychiatrist, each playing a distinct role in the assessment:

Consultation 1: Understanding your background

• Exploration of current symptoms and behavioural patterns
• Review of school reports, past assessments, or medical records
• Discussion of childhood development and collateral information
• Screening for related conditions that may mimic ADHD

Consultation 2: Formal ADHD diagnostic assessment

• Completion and interpretation of a specialist ADHD diagnostic tool
• Further discussion of symptom impact on daily functioning
• Clinical evaluation using DSM-5/ICD-11 criteria
• Final confirmation of diagnosis and treatment recommendations

At Dementech’s London ADHD clinic, our ADHD specialists explain the purpose of each step and ensure that the diagnostic process is thorough, clear, and evidence-based.

A number of strategies and interventions can help manage ADHD, to enable individuals affected to feel more in control of their behaviour and ability to focus – but it’s important that these are tailored specifically to each individual’s needs. This includes looking at the severity and impact of the condition, as well as the individual’s lifestyle and goals.

The specialist team at our London ADHD clinic will tailor a comprehensive care plan, which may include pharmacologic (consultation with a psychiatrist) and non-pharmacologic (consultation with a psychotherapist) management interventions. Some patients may benefit from a combination of both of these approaches as part of their strategy to manage ADHD.

While ADHD does not always require medication, medications can help to reduce certain symptoms associated with the condition, such as hyperactivity and difficulty with concentration.