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Waiting for an ADHD Diagnosis?
- Rebecca Loan
- Mar 20, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 10
Don't Put Your Life On Hold Whilst You Wait.
If you are currently waiting for an ADHD assessment, you are certainly not alone.
Recent NHS England data suggests that more than 700,000 people in England may be waiting for an ADHD assessment, with many adults waiting over a year and some considerably longer depending on where they live and the route they take to diagnosis.
As an ADHD counsellor, I regularly speak to people at different stages of the diagnostic process and continue to be surprised by the huge variation in waiting times. Some move through the system relatively quickly. Others encounter long waiting lists, administrative errors, lost paperwork and periods of uncertainty that can feel incredibly frustrating. For many people, the journey begins with a quiet suspicion that ADHD may explain some lifelong struggles and then becomes a process of waiting for somebody else to confirm or deny it.
The period between first wondering about ADHD and eventually receiving an assessment can feel particularly difficult. Important questions remain unanswered, support may be delayed and symptoms continue to affect work, relationships, confidence and everyday life. It is understandable that many people find themselves putting plans on hold whilst they wait for clarity.
What I often remind people is that whilst you may be waiting for a diagnosis, you do not have to put your life on hold whilst you wait. In fact, some of the most valuable preparation happens before the assessment itself.
Start With a Self-Screening Tool
One of the first things I often suggest is completing an ADHD screening questionnaire.The World Health Organisation recommends the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1) as a useful screening tool for adults. Whilst it cannot diagnose ADHD, it can help you start identifying patterns and understanding how symptoms may be showing up in different areas of your life.
Many adults tell me they know something feels difficult but struggle to explain exactly what that difficulty looks like when somebody asks them directly. Completing a screening questionnaire can help put language around experiences that may have felt confusing for years. It can also help you arrive at your assessment feeling more prepared and familiar with the types of questions you may be asked.
The goal is not to diagnose yourself. It is to become more curious about yourself.
If you would like support working through the questionnaire, I also offer a one-off ADHD Starter Session where we explore your answers together, discuss your concerns and identify the areas of life most affected by ADHD before you begin the assessment process.
Start Noticing Your Own Patterns
One of the most useful things you can do whilst waiting is begin paying closer attention to your own experiences.
Many people spend years describing themselves as lazy, disorganised, forgetful, inconsistent or lacking motivation without ever stopping to examine the patterns behind those experiences. Waiting for a diagnosis can provide an opportunity to become more curious about how your brain works and the situations that consistently create challenges.
You might notice certain tasks always get avoided. Certain environments leave you feeling overwhelmed. Some responsibilities take far more energy than they seem to take other people. Equally, you may begin noticing areas where you perform exceptionally well, particularly when something captures your interest or provides enough stimulation.
Understanding your own patterns is valuable whether ADHD is eventually confirmed or not. The more information you gather, the easier it becomes to describe your experiences and identify the areas where support may be most helpful.
Understanding your own patterns is valuable whether ADHD is confirmed or not.
Read or Listen to ADHD Books
One of the advantages of today's ADHD landscape is that there are more books, podcasts and resources available than ever before. The challenge, of course, is knowing where to start.
Some people want to understand the ADHD basics. Others are interested in relationships, emotional regulation, work, parenting or executive functioning.
My advice is usually to start with the area causing you the most difficulty right now.
The information is often easier to absorb when it feels directly relevant to your own experiences.
Many adults tell me that reading about ADHD for the first time brings a mixture of relief, validation and understanding. Experiences they have struggled to explain for years suddenly begin to make sense. Whether ADHD is eventually confirmed or not, learning more about attention, motivation, emotions, habits and executive functioning is rarely wasted time.
Find Your Community
One of the things many people find most helpful whilst waiting is connecting with others who have travelled a similar path.
There are now online communities covering almost every aspect of ADHD. Some focus on humour and shared experiences. Others are packed with practical tips, tools and discussions about work, relationships, parenting and diagnosis. There are groups for people diagnosed in adulthood, partners of ADHDers, parents of ADHD children and every stage in between.
For many adults, these communities provide something that has been missing for years: the experience of feeling understood. Hearing other people describe challenges, frustrations and strengths that closely resemble your own can bring countless small moments of recognition and reassurance. You are only a few clicks away from finding people who understand what you are going through.
Waiting for an ADHD Diagnosis Doesn't Mean Standing Still
One of the biggest misconceptions about ADHD diagnosis is that everything starts afterwards.
Whilst a diagnosis can provide clarity, access to treatment and important answers, there is often a great deal you can do before that appointment ever arrives. You can learn more about ADHD. You can notice patterns. You can begin understanding how your mind works. You can connect with others and explore tools and strategies that may help.
Many people arrive at their assessment with a far deeper understanding of themselves than they had when they first joined the waiting list. Waiting can be frustrating, but it can also be a period of learning, preparation and self-discovery.
What To Remember
✓ More than 700,000 people in England may currently be waiting for an ADHD assessment.
✓ You do not have to put your life on hold whilst waiting for a diagnosis.
✓ Some of the most valuable preparation happens before the assessment itself.
✓ Self-screening tools can help you build awareness and prepare for assessment conversations.
✓ Understanding your own patterns is valuable whether ADHD is confirmed or not.
✓ Books, podcasts and support groups can provide insight, validation and practical ideas.
✓ Waiting may be frustrating, but it can also be a valuable period of learning and self-discovery.
Continue Exploring
Rebecca Loan
Psychotherapist & ADHD Specialist
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