How to prepare for your first ADHD assessment with a GP

Walking into your first ADHD assessment feeling prepared makes a real difference to the outcome. A thorough assessment relies on the information you bring. The more specific evidence you provide, the more confident your GP is in making an accurate diagnosis,. This guide covers what to bring, what to expect, and how to describe your symptoms in a way that reflects your actual experience.

In this article

• What to bring to your ADHD assessment
• What your GP will ask during the assessment
• How to describe your symptoms without minimising them
• What the ASRS screening tool measures
• What happens after the assessment
• The Queensland GP pathway for ADHD diagnosis
• Frequently asked questions

What to bring to your ADHD assessment

Your GP needs evidence that spans your life history, not a snapshot of how you are feeling today. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition, which means symptoms must have been present since childhood, even if they were not recognised at the time. Gathering the right documentation before your appointment strengthens the assessment significantly.

School reports

Primary and secondary school reports are among the most useful pieces of evidence. Look for comments about concentration, organisation, behaviour, completing work on time, daydreaming, or being easily distracted. Even positive-sounding reports often contain clues: “bright but does not apply herself” or “capable student who needs to focus more” are classic indicators of undiagnosed ADHD in girls and women.

If you do not have school reports, that is fine. Not everyone keeps them. Alternative evidence of childhood difficulties includes recollections from parents, siblings, or anyone who knew you as a child.

Work performance reviews

Performance reviews, even informal feedback, often document ADHD-related patterns in adulthood. Look for mentions of time management, missed deadlines, difficulty with sustained attention on long projects, inconsistency between high-quality and rushed work, or problems with organisation and follow-through.

Partner or family observations

People who live with you or spend significant time with you often see patterns you do not notice yourself. Ask a spouse, family member, or close friend to write down what they observe about your attention, organisation, time management, emotional reactions, and daily functioning. Many ADHD assessment processes include a formal observer report. If your GP or the assessment platform uses one, fill it in before the appointment.

Your own symptom notes

Write down specific examples of how ADHD-like symptoms affect your daily life. Concrete examples are more useful than general statements. Instead of “I have trouble concentrating,” write “I left three tasks unfinished at work yesterday because I kept switching between them” or “I missed my car registration renewal for the second year in a row because I forgot to open the reminder letter.”

Previous mental health history

Bring any records of previous diagnoses, medications, or psychological assessments. ADHD commonly co-occurs with anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders. If you have been treated for these conditions before, your GP needs to know. Previous diagnoses do not rule out ADHD, and it is possible that what was diagnosed as anxiety or depression was actually undiagnosed ADHD presenting with those secondary symptoms.

What your GP will ask during the assessment

A thorough ADHD assessment covers several areas. Your GP will ask about:

• Childhood history: When did you first notice attention difficulties? Were there behavioural concerns at school? Did anyone suggest you might have ADHD as a child?
• Current symptoms: How do attention, organisation, time management, emotional regulation, and impulsivity affect you now? In what settings (work, home, relationships)?
• Functional impact: How are these symptoms affecting your work performance, relationships, finances, health, and daily responsibilities? ADHD diagnosis requires evidence of functional impairment, not just the presence of symptoms.
• Other conditions: Do you have symptoms of anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, or other conditions? Your GP needs to distinguish ADHD from conditions that share similar symptoms.
• Family history: ADHD has a strong genetic component. If a parent, sibling, or child has been diagnosed, this is relevant information.
• Substance use: Caffeine, alcohol, cannabis, and other substances affect attention and mood. Your GP needs an honest picture to make an accurate assessment.
• Medication history: What medications are you currently taking? Have you tried any treatments for attention or mood before?

The assessment is a conversation, not a test you pass or fail. Your GP is looking for a pattern of symptoms across your lifetime that is consistent with ADHD. Being honest and specific helps more than trying to present “well enough” symptoms.

How to describe your symptoms without minimising them

Many adults with ADHD unintentionally minimise their symptoms during assessments. After years of developing workarounds, you may not realise how much effort you invest in appearing functional. This is particularly common in women, who are socialised to compensate and mask difficulties.

Common minimisation patterns to watch for:

• “Everyone struggles with that” is not accurate. Everyone forgets things occasionally. Not everyone forgets to eat, loses their keys daily, or cannot sit through a meeting without their mind wandering to five different topics.
• “I manage fine” often hides enormous invisible effort. If you spend two hours on a task that takes most people 30 minutes because you kept getting distracted and restarting, that is not managing fine. That is compensating.
• “It is not that bad” is relative. If your partner handles all the household administration because you cannot keep track of bills, appointments, and renewals, that is functional impairment even if the bills get paid.
• “I did well at school” does not rule out ADHD. Many people with ADHD, particularly women, performed well academically through intelligence and effort while struggling significantly behind the scenes.

Describe the cost of managing your symptoms, not just the outcome. Talk about the effort, the stress, the things that fall through the cracks, the relationships affected, and the opportunities missed.

What the ASRS screening tool measures

The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS v1.1) is a screening tool developed by researchers at Harvard Medical School and New York University. It is the most widely used ADHD screening instrument in clinical practice and is often the first formal step in the assessment process.

The ASRS consists of two parts. Part A contains six questions designed to screen for the most predictive ADHD symptoms. Part B contains 12 additional questions that provide more detailed information for clinical discussion. You rate each item based on how often you have experienced the symptom over the past six months: never, rarely, sometimes, often, or very often.

The questions cover core ADHD domains including:

• Difficulty finishing projects once the challenging parts are done
• Trouble keeping things in order
• Difficulty remembering appointments and obligations
• Avoiding or delaying tasks that require sustained mental effort
• Fidgeting or squirming when seated for long periods
• Feeling overly active or compelled to do things

The ASRS is a screening tool, not a diagnostic test. A positive screening result indicates that further clinical assessment is warranted. A negative result does not definitively rule out ADHD, particularly in women and adults who have developed strong compensatory strategies. You can complete an ADHD screening on our website to see where you sit before booking an assessment.

What happens after the assessment

After your GP completes the assessment, several outcomes are possible:

1. ADHD diagnosis confirmed: Your GP explains the diagnosis, discusses treatment options (medication, behavioural strategies, or both), and develops a management plan. In Queensland, your GP is able to initiate stimulant medication as part of this process.
2. Further information needed: Your GP may request additional evidence, such as a formal observer report, school records, or psychological testing, before confirming a diagnosis. This is thorough practice, not a rejection.
3. Referral to a psychiatrist: In complex cases (significant comorbidities, diagnostic uncertainty, or if your GP is not authorised to prescribe stimulants in your state), your GP may refer you to a psychiatrist. In Queensland, this is less common since GPs gained prescribing authority in December 2025.
4. Alternative or additional diagnosis: Your GP may identify that your symptoms are better explained by anxiety, depression, a sleep disorder, or another condition. ADHD and these conditions often co-occur, so you may receive multiple diagnoses.

If ADHD is confirmed and medication is recommended, your GP will typically start with a low dose and titrate upward over several weeks. Follow-up appointments are scheduled to monitor your response, adjust dosing, and manage any side effects.

The Queensland GP pathway for ADHD diagnosis

Since December 2025, Queensland became the first Australian state to allow GPs to independently diagnose and prescribe stimulant medication for adult ADHD. This is a significant change that has reduced wait times and improved access to care, particularly for people in regional and remote areas.

Under the Queensland pathway:

• GPs with RACGP or ACRRM fellowship are eligible to diagnose and prescribe for adult ADHD
• No mandatory additional training is required, though the RACGP recommends specific ADHD education modules
• GPs follow the Australian Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline for ADHD
• Telehealth assessments are available, meaning you do not need to be in the same city as your GP. However, it is ideal for your ADHD to be managed by the same GP you see for other medical issues.
• Medicare rebates apply to ADHD assessment consultations under standard item numbers

This pathway means you do not need to wait 12 to 18 months for a psychiatrist appointment to get an ADHD assessment in Queensland. A GP assessment typically takes one to two sessions, with the first session lasting 60 to 90 minutes. Learn more about the Queensland ADHD reform and how it affects your options.

To get started, book an ADHD assessment on our website, then book an assessment with a GP trained in adult ADHD.

Frequently asked questions

Preparing for your ADHD assessment is one of the most useful things you do in the diagnostic process. Bring your evidence, be specific about your symptoms, and describe the real cost of managing them. Your GP is looking for a clear picture of how ADHD affects your life, and the clearer you make it, the better the outcome. Book an ADHD assessment, then book your assessment.