ADHD Assessments
Children & Adults | Gold Coast
ADHD is one of the most commonly suspected and most commonly misread presentations. Anxiety, learning difficulties, sleep problems, trauma and autism can all look like ADHD from the outside, with sometimes more than one being true at once
At Therapy Partners, you can complete an ADHD assessment without joining a waiting list. Every assessment finishes with a written report, a feedback session to talk through what it means, and practical recommendations for home, school, work and everyday life
- Children & Adults
- No Waiting Lists
- Robina Clinic, Gold Coast
- Written Report & Feedback Session
- Support Available Straight After
Fund Your Assessment With
Two people can meet the same criteria for ADHD for very different reasons. A thorough assessment does more than answer whether it is ADHD, it sets out what is driving the difficulties and what kind of support is likely to help day to day
About ADHD
ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects attention, impulse control and activity levels. It is commonly mischaracterised as a lack of effort or discipline. It doesn’t look the same in every person. Some present as restless and impulsive, others as quietly distracted or easily overwhelmed, and the same person can look quite different at home, at school and at work
ADHD is lifelong. Many people are identified in childhood, and many others are identified as adults, particularly those whose presentation was inattentive rather than hyperactive
When to Seek an ADHD Assessment
Every one of these may have other explanations, and most people will recognise themselves in one or two. What matters is whether the pattern has been there for years rather than weeks, whether it shows up in more than one setting, and whether it is genuinely getting in the way
In Children
- Difficulty sustaining attention on tasks that are not immediately engaging
- Restlessness, fidgeting, or difficulty staying seated
- Acting before thinking, interrupting, or difficulty waiting
- Losing things, forgetting instructions, or missing steps in a routine
- Difficulty getting started on tasks, even ones they want to do
- Feedback from school that effort and results do not match
In Adults
- Starting far more than you finish
- Losing track of time, appointments, deadlines and belongings
- Difficulty with organisation and planning that persists despite genuine effort
- Restlessness, or a sense of being internally driven
- Impulsive decisions, spending or speech
- A long history of underachieving relative to capability
Plenty of adults were never assessed as children, particularly those whose presentation was inattentive rather than hyperactive. Being assessed later in life is common, and it isn’t too late for it to be useful
Start an ADHD Assessment
At Therapy Partners, every ADHD assessment includes:
- A comprehensive written report setting out the process, the instruments used, the findings and the reasoning
- A clear statement of whether diagnostic criteria for ADHD are met
- Consideration of autism, and of anything else that may be contributing
- A cognitive and adaptive functioning profile showing where strengths and difficulties actually sit
- Practical recommendations for home, school, study and work
- A feedback session to talk through the results and ask questions
- Documentation you can take to a GP, paediatrician, psychiatrist, school, university or employer
Who Can Diagnose ADHD in Australia?
Psychologists, psychiatrists and paediatricians can all assess and diagnose ADHD. Since December 2025, specialist GPs in Queensland can also diagnose ADHD in adults and prescribe medication, and other states are introducing their own pathways at different rates
Psychologists can’t prescribe medication. If medication is likely to be part of the picture, a GP, paediatrician or psychiatrist takes those next steps. Our reports set out the assessment process, the instruments used, the diagnosis and the clinical reasoning, which is what a prescriber needs
A full ADHD assessment may be useful when:
- The person being assessed is a child
- Autism is also a possibility, since the two often occur together and each can mask the other
- Anxiety, learning difficulties, sleep problems or trauma may be contributing
- You want a full picture and practical recommendations, not only a prescription
ADHD and autism often occur together, and each can mask the other; and is a common reason why an ADHD diagnosis on its own can leave some things feeling unexplained
Our Approach to ADHD Assessments
Attention and focus can be affected by a lot of things, and more than one thing can be affecting focus at once. Ruling these in or out is an integral part of the assessment; producing a report that explains the individual: what the diagnostic picture is, what may be contributing, and what would practically help at home, school, study or work
Autism
Autism and ADHD often occur together, and each can mask the other. Every assessment we run considers both
Anxiety
Anxiety can pull attention away from a task in a way that looks a lot like inattention. Working out which is driving which changes what support actually helps
Learning Difficulties
A specific learning difficulty in reading, writing or maths can make sustained effort feel impossible. A cognitive and academic profile shows where the difficulty actually sits
Sleep, Stress & Trauma
Poor sleep, prolonged stress and trauma all affect concentration, memory and regulation. These need ruling in or out before a diagnosis is settled
The exact combination of assessment tools depends on age and on what needs to be ruled in or out. For adults without a parent or long-term informant available, we work with what can be gathered, including school reports, early records and your own account
There is no waiting list to get started, with the entire process (from first session to the finished report) taking around 4-8 weeks
Step 1.
Step 2.
Step 3.
Step 4.
Step 5.
Step 1.
We talk through what you are noticing and what you are hoping to find out, and let you know whether an assessment with us is the right next step or whether another route would serve you better
Step 2.
A structured interview covering developmental history, current difficulties, and the settings they show up in. Where helpful, we also gather rating scales from a parent, partner, teacher or someone else who knows the person well
Step 3.
Direct assessment using the standardised diagnostic tools, including cognitive and adaptive functioning measures and screening for additional contributing factors. Sessions are paced to suit the individual and are usually spread across more than one appointment
Step 4.
We score and interpret the results, weigh them against the diagnostic criteria and everything else gathered, and write the report. It sets out the process, the instruments used, the findings, the reasoning, and practical recommendations
Step 5.
We talk through the report together, what the findings mean day-to-day, and what the next steps are. There is time to ask questions and to raise anything that doesn’t fit
Funding Your Assessment
Paying Privately
Most ADHD assessments are paid for privately. We give you the full cost upfront when you enquire, covering intake, all assessment sessions, analysis, the written report and the feedback session
Medicare
A partial rebate is available through a specific pathway, but only if it’s set up in advance. It needs a referral from a paediatrician, or from a psychiatrist for people under 25, and the referral must be in place before the assessment begins. It can’t be backdated
Private Health Funds
Some private health funds cover part of the cost under psychology extras. Cover varies considerably between funds and policies, so it’s worth checking directly with yours
Meet Our Psychologists
The same psychologists carry out our autism and ADHD assessments, so you will never be switching between two different teams. Get to know them below, or get started and we’ll match you with the right clinician
Support Beyond Your Assessment
A report is only useful if something happens after it. Therapy Partners is a multidisciplinary team, so whether the next step is psychology, support with executive function and daily routines, or something else entirely, you are not joining another waiting list to start accessing supports
Frequently Asked Questions
Still can’t find what you’re looking for? Call us today for more information!
Can a GP diagnose ADHD?
In some states, yes. Queensland was the first to allow eligible GPs to diagnose ADHD in adults and start medication, from December 2025, and other states have since introduced or begun rolling out their own pathways. However, these pathways may experience significant delays depending on your region and needs.
Can a psychologist diagnose ADHD?
Yes. Psychologists are qualified to assess and diagnose ADHD in children and adults. However, psychologist cannot prescribe ADHD medication.
Can you prescribe ADHD medication?
No. If medication is likely to be part of the picture, a GP, paediatrician or psychiatrist takes that step, and our report is written to support that conversation
Should I see a GP or have a full assessment?
It depends on your situation. For an adult with a fairly clear-cut presentation whose main goal is medication, a GP pathway may be the more direct route where one is available. A full assessment makes more sense for children, where autism is also a possibility, where anxiety or learning difficulties may be contributing, or where you want a complete picture and practical recommendations. Speak with our team about your situation to find the best fit.
Do you assess for autism at the same time?
Yes. We can assess for both ADHD and autism across assessment sessions so you get one consistent picture and one report covering both.
Will an ADHD diagnosis make me eligible for the NDIS?
Usually not on its own. NDIS access depends on the functional impact of a permanent impairment rather than on a diagnosis, and ADHD alone rarely meets the criteria. Where ADHD occurs alongside autism, intellectual disability or another condition, the position can be different
Do you have a waiting list?
No. You can get started straight away rather than waiting months for a first appointment
Do I need a referral?
Not to book with us. Many people self-refer, often after a suggestion from a teacher, a GP or a family member. A referral is only required if you want to claim a Medicare rebate, and it has to be arranged before the assessment starts
How much does an ADHD assessment cost?
Fees depend on the assessment and what it needs to cover. We will give you the full cost upfront when you enquire, covering intake, all sessions, analysis, the report and the feedback session, so you know exactly what you are committing to before anything is booked
How long does the assessment take?
From the first session to the finished report is usually four to eight weeks. Where it takes longer, it is almost always because questionnaires from parents, teachers or other informants have not come back yet
Where does the assessment happen?
At our Robina clinic. Standardised assessments need consistent, distraction-free conditions to produce reliable results. In some specific cases, we can also arrange school-based assessment
What if the assessment does not result in a diagnosis?
That can happen, and it is still a useful result. You will have a cognitive and adaptive profile, an understanding of what else may be contributing, and clear recommendations about what would genuinely help. We go through all of it in the feedback session
Message Us Directly
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