ADHD Assessment Results: Understanding Your Diagnosis Report
You've just received your ADHD assessment report, and it feels like trying to decode a medical textbook. The clinical language, diagnostic criteria, and recommendations can be overwhelming when you're already processing the emotional impact of your diagnosis. Let's break down what your report really means and how to use it effectively.
The Structure of Your Report
Executive Summary: This opening section provides your key diagnosis and immediate recommendations. It's designed for quick reference by GPs, employers, or educational institutions.
Clinical Interview Findings: Details from your assessment conversation, including current symptoms, childhood history, and functional impact. This section demonstrates how your experiences align with diagnostic criteria.
Psychometric Test Results: Standardized questionnaire scores that compare your responses to normative data. These provide objective measures of symptom severity and functional impact.
Diagnostic Formulation: The clinician's reasoning process for reaching your diagnosis, including consideration of alternative explanations and differential diagnoses.
Treatment Recommendations: Specific suggestions for medication, therapy, accommodations, and lifestyle modifications tailored to your presentation.
Understanding Your Diagnosis
ADHD Combined Presentation: You meet criteria for both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms. This is the most common presentation in adults and typically requires comprehensive treatment approaches.
ADHD Predominantly Inattentive Presentation: Your primary challenges involve attention, focus, and organization rather than hyperactivity. Often missed in childhood, especially in girls and women.
ADHD Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation: Your symptoms center on restlessness, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Less common in adults as hyperactivity often decreases with age.
Severity Levels:
Mild: Few symptoms beyond minimum criteria, minimal functional impairment
Moderate: Symptoms and impairment between mild and severe
Severe: Many symptoms beyond minimum criteria, significant functional impairment
Decoding the Clinical Language
Common Terms Explained:
"Meets criteria for": Your symptoms align with diagnostic standards in DSM-5 or ICD-11
"Functional impairment": How ADHD affects your daily life, work, relationships, or academic performance
"Pervasive across settings": Symptoms occur in multiple environments (home, work, social situations)
"Onset in childhood": Evidence of symptoms before age 12, even if not diagnosed then
"Comorbid conditions": Additional mental health conditions that occur alongside ADHD
"Differential diagnosis": Other conditions considered and ruled out during assessment
Your Symptom Profile
Inattentive Symptoms:
Difficulty sustaining attention in tasks
Frequent careless mistakes
Appears not to listen when spoken to directly
Fails to follow through on instructions
Difficulty organizing tasks and activities
Avoids tasks requiring sustained mental effort
Loses things necessary for tasks
Easily distracted by extraneous stimuli
Forgetful in daily activities
Hyperactive-Impulsive Symptoms:
Fidgets with hands or feet
Leaves seat when expected to remain seated
Feels restless or driven by a motor
Difficulty engaging in quiet activities
Talks excessively
Blurts out answers before questions completed
Difficulty waiting turn
Interrupts or intrudes on others
Understanding Your Scores
Percentile Rankings: If you scored in the 95th percentile, you reported more symptoms than 95% of people in the comparison group. Higher percentiles indicate more significant symptoms.
T-Scores: Standardized scores where 50 is average. Scores above 65 (approximately 93rd percentile) typically indicate clinically significant symptoms.
Confidence Intervals: The range within which your "true" score likely falls, accounting for measurement error. A score of 75 with a confidence interval of 68-82 suggests your actual ability falls within this range.
Functional Impact Assessment
Work/Academic Performance: How ADHD affects your professional or educational achievements, including time management, organization, and task completion.
Relationships: Impact on family, romantic, and social relationships, including communication difficulties and emotional regulation.
Daily Living: Effects on household management, financial organization, driving safety, and self-care routines.
Mental Health: Secondary effects like anxiety, depression, or low self-esteem resulting from ADHD challenges.
Treatment Recommendations Explained
Medication Options:
Stimulants: First-line treatment including methylphenidate and amphetamines
Non-stimulants: Alternatives like atomoxetine for those who can't tolerate stimulants
Titration process: Gradual dose adjustment to find optimal balance of benefits and side effects
Psychological Interventions:
CBT for ADHD: Cognitive-behavioral therapy adapted for ADHD-specific challenges
Coaching: Practical support for developing organizational and time management skills
Mindfulness training: Techniques for improving attention regulation and emotional control
Lifestyle Modifications:
Sleep hygiene recommendations
Exercise and physical activity guidelines
Nutrition and dietary considerations
Stress management techniques
Workplace and Educational Accommodations
Reasonable Adjustments: Your report may recommend specific accommodations protected under disability legislation:
Quiet workspace or noise-cancelling headphones
Flexible working hours or break schedules
Extended deadlines for complex projects
Regular supervision and feedback
Written instructions and meeting summaries
Access to Work Schemes: Government programs that can fund workplace accommodations and support services for people with disabilities.
Using Your Report Effectively
With Your GP:
Highlight medication recommendations
Discuss shared care arrangements
Request referrals to specialists if needed
Address any comorbid conditions
With Employers:
Focus on solutions rather than problems
Emphasize your strengths and contributions
Propose specific, reasonable accommodations
Maintain confidentiality boundaries
With Educational Institutions:
Submit to disability services for support
Request exam accommodations
Access tutoring or coaching services
Discuss course load adjustments
Next Steps After Diagnosis
Immediate Actions:
Schedule follow-up with your assessing clinician
Discuss shared care with your GP
Research treatment options thoroughly
Connect with ADHD support groups
Educate close family members or friends
Ongoing Management:
Regular medication reviews and adjustments
Therapy or coaching sessions
Monitoring of symptoms and functional improvement
Periodic reassessment of treatment effectiveness
Common Concerns and Misconceptions
"My symptoms aren't severe enough": ADHD exists on a spectrum. Even mild symptoms can significantly impact quality of life and deserve appropriate support.
"I functioned well before, so I don't really have ADHD": Many people develop excellent coping strategies that mask ADHD symptoms. Diagnosis validates your struggles and provides access to more effective support.
"The report doesn't capture my experience": Assessment reports focus on diagnostic criteria rather than your lived experience. Your personal understanding of your ADHD is equally valid.
Building Your Support Network
Professional Support:
ADHD specialist psychiatrists
Therapists trained in ADHD
ADHD coaches
Support groups and peer networks
Personal Support:
Educate family members about ADHD
Connect with others who have ADHD
Find mentors in your professional field
Build relationships with understanding healthcare providers
The Bigger Picture
Your diagnosis report is more than a medical document - it's validation of your experiences and a roadmap for improvement. The clinical language might seem impersonal, but it represents recognition that your struggles are real and treatable.
Remember that ADHD is a neurodevelopmental difference, not a personal failing. Your report documents challenges, but it also identifies strengths and provides pathways to success.
Moving Forward
Understanding your diagnosis report is just the beginning. The real work lies in implementing the recommendations, advocating for your needs, and building systems that support your success.
Your report serves as evidence for accommodations, guidance for treatment decisions, and validation of your experiences. Use it as a tool for positive change rather than a list of limitations.
Ready to get your comprehensive diagnosis report? Contact a qualified ADHD specialist who provides detailed, understandable reports with practical recommendations. Your diagnosis is the beginning of a journey toward better understanding and management of your ADHD.
