Private ADHD Assessment and Treatment for Children and Adolescents in Leicester

ADHD symptoms generally fall into two predominant presentations: inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity.

A child with inattentive symptoms might struggle to focus, make careless mistakes, appear not to listen, lose things often, or have difficulty organizing tasks.

A child with hyperactive/impulsive symptoms might fidget constantly, have trouble staying seated, run or climb inappropriately, talk excessively, or interrupt others.

A diagnosis is made when these behaviours are persistent, frequent, and more severe than typical for the child's age, significantly impacting their life at home, school, or with friends and relatives.

That is a very important question, and the answer is that your time with us is still incredibly valuable. If after a thorough assessment we determine that your child does not have ADHD, our certified clinician will not simply stop there. You will be provided a clear explanation of the findings and discuss other possible explanations for your child's difficulties. These could include anxiety, sleep disorders, sensory processing issues, or specific learning difficulties. You will still receive a detailed report with tailored recommendations and, where appropriate, guidance on next steps or referrals to other specialists. Our goal is always to help you understand your child's needs, regardless of the diagnostic outcome.

No, there is no single medical or computer-based test that can diagnose ADHD categorically on its own. While tools like continuous performance tests (the computer test) provide valuable objective data about attention and impulsivity, they are just one piece of a much larger puzzle.

ADHD is a clinical diagnosis. This means the clinician will gather information from multiple sources (detailed parent interviews, teacher feedback, rating scales, direct observation, and computer tests) and then looks at the whole picture. A thorough assessment rules out other explanations and confirms whether the symptoms meet the established diagnostic criteria.

Our assessment is a multi-layered process designed to give us a complete and holistic view of your child. It includes:

• Detailed Clinical Interview: An in-depth conversation with parents to understand your child's developmental history, medical background, and current challenges.
• Rating Scale Questionnaires: Standardised forms completed by parents and teachers to assess behaviour across different settings. Where relevant, we can also gather valuable insights from other caregivers such as grandparents or childminders.
• Continuous Performance Test (CPT): A computer-based test that helps us objectively measure your child's attention, impulsivity, and ability to sustain focus over time. This is a valuable tool that adds an important layer of data to the diagnostic process.
• Clinical Observation: A direct session with your child where Dr. Sahi observes their behaviour, attention, and social interaction in a relaxed, age-appropriate setting.

We follow a thorough, multi-stage process over typically 1-2 appointments to ensure an accurate diagnosis.

During appointments a detailed conversation with parents/carers will take place to gather a comprehensive developmental, medical, and family history. We will gather information from your child's school or other settings via questionnaires to understand their behaviour in different environments. A computer based test will be required in most cases. All this requires 1 to 2 appointments. Additional appointments may be required. All appointments can be a mix of face-to-face and video or telephone appointments.

We aim to complete the entire diagnostic process efficiently without compromising on quality. One face-to-face session will last a minimum of 1 hour to 2 hours. From your first appointment to the final feedback session, the full assessment typically takes between 4 to 6 weeks. This timeframe allows us to gather all the necessary information from home and school, conduct a thorough clinical assessment, and provide you with a comprehensive report and feedback appointment.

We strongly encourage both parents or primary caregivers to attend the initial assessment appointment if possible. Having both perspectives provides the most complete picture of your child's strengths and challenges. However, we understand this isn't always practical. If only one parent can attend, that is absolutely fine. We can always gather further information via questionnaires or follow-up calls.

We accept both! We believe in making the process as accessible as possible for your family.

Direct Referrals: Yes, you can refer your child directly to our clinic without seeing a GP. Simply contact us to book an initial consultation.

Right to Choose: If you are in England, you also have the legal right to choose your child's healthcare provider. We are registered to accept referrals via the NHS 'Right to Choose' pathway. If you prefer this route, you can speak to your GP about requesting a referral to our clinic.

Unlike the long NHS waiting lists, we can offer appointments much sooner. Our goal is to see your child promptly. Please contact us directly, and we will inform you of our current availability, which is typically within one to two weeks.

If medication is recommended as part of your child's treatment plan our clinician will take time to explain everything in detail. It is important for families to know that of all available treatments, medication is currently the most effective intervention for managing the core symptoms of ADHD. Extensive research spanning decades has consistently shown this to be true.

A useful way to think about it is the 80/20 rule: For most children, medication can effectively control around 80% of their core symptoms, such as inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. The remaining 20% is best addressed through non-medical support like behavioural therapy, parenting strategies, and school-based interventions. The two work hand in hand: medication creates the calm and focus needed for therapy and learning to be truly effective.

Medications for ADHD fall into two main categories: stimulants and non-stimulants.

Stimulants are the most widely used and well-researched medications for ADHD. They work by increasing the levels and efficacy of certain brain chemicals (dopamine and norepinephrine) that help with attention and focus. They come in two forms: Methylphenidate-based medications and Amphetamine-based medications. These can be short-acting (lasting 3-4 hours) or long-acting (lasting 8-12 hours), which means a single dose in the morning can cover the whole school day.

Non-Stimulant Medications: If stimulants are not suitable, not effective, or cause side effects, non-stimulants are an excellent alternative. They work differently, often taking a few weeks to reach full effect, but they provide 24-hour cover and do not carry the same risk of sleep disturbance or appetite suppression. The most common non-stimulant used is Atomoxetine.

There is no single "best" medication for ADHD. It is about finding the right medication at the right dose for your individual child. This process is called titration.

• Starting Low: We always start with a very low dose to see how your child responds.
• Careful Monitoring: You will be asked to keep a simple diary of your child's focus, behaviour, sleep, and appetite. We stay in close contact during this phase.
• Adjusting Gradually: Based on your feedback, the dose may be gradually adjusted (increased, decreased, or split) to find the "sweet spot": maximum benefit with minimum side effects. This is what we call optimisation.
• Regular Follow-Up: Once the optimal dose is found, we can update your GP who can continue to monitor your child's progress with regular reviews to ensure the medication continues to work well as they grow.

Like any medication, ADHD medications can have side effects, though they are often mild and improve with time or dose adjustment. Common ones include:

• Reduced appetite (often managed by giving medication after breakfast and having a good evening meal)
• Difficulty sleeping
• Mild headaches or stomach aches

Our Clinician will discuss all potential side effects with you before starting any medication and will work closely with you to manage them effectively. Our priority is always your child's overall wellbeing and comfort.

Yes, this is often possible through a "Shared Care Agreement." Once our clinician has initiated treatment and your child is stable on medication, we can approach your GP to request that they take over prescribing on the NHS. This is called a shared care agreement. Most GPs are happy to agree to this, but it is ultimately at their clinical discretion. We will provide your GP with a detailed letter and all the necessary information to support this request.

£300 for Assessment and Comprehensive Report. £300 for Treatment and Follow up. If your child completes a comprehensive assessment but does not qualify for the medication treatment, you will only be charged an assessment fee of £300.

No. We do not require any deposit to secure your child's assessment appointment. We believe in keeping the process straightforward and free from unnecessary financial barriers. You will be invoiced for the appointment after it has taken place, or you can choose to pay on the day.

We understand that plans can change. If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, we kindly ask for at least 48 hours' notice. This allows us to offer the appointment to another family in need. We will always confirm this with you at the time of booking.

Yes, absolutely. After the assessment is complete, you will receive a comprehensive, detailed report outlining our findings, diagnosis, and recommendations. With your consent, we will also share this report with your child's GP and, if you wish, their school to ensure everyone involved in your child's care is informed and can provide the right support.

Yes, completely. We are bound by strict professional and legal duties of confidentiality (GMC and GDPR guidelines). All information about your child and family is stored securely and will never be shared without your explicit written consent, except in the rare circumstances where we have serious concerns about a child's safety.

We retain your child's clinical records in accordance with UK legal and professional guidelines. For children and adolescents, records are typically kept until their 25th birthday, or for young people seen just before their 18th birthday, for a set number of years after their last contact. This ensures that a comprehensive history is available if needed for future care or transitions to adult services.