Getting assessed for ADHD in Australia usually starts with paperwork: long forms, repeated history-taking, and admin that has to happen before a GP can even begin. The Velluto Method is the name for how that first stage works differently at MySpecialistGP. One question at a time, from your phone, in your own time, so the hardest part of getting started stops being the reason people put it off.
In this article
- Why getting assessed for ADHD is so hard to follow through on
- What the Velluto Method actually is
- Why a structured, multi-source intake matters clinically
- What doing the intake is actually like
- What your GP still does
- Frequently asked questions
Why getting assessed for ADHD is so hard to follow through on
ADHD assessment in Australia has a well-documented access problem. In 2023, an Australian Senate committee spent months examining ADHD assessment and support services, taking more than 700 submissions before handing down a final report with 15 recommendations. One of those recommendations called for a dedicated government ADHD information portal, so people could find someone qualified to assess them. The government’s response supported that recommendation only “in principle,” and no funding has been committed to build it.
On the clinical side, a 2024 survey of Australian GPs found that lack of time, knowledge, and experience were the main things limiting GPs from taking on more ADHD patients, alongside inadequate access to specialist assessment and treatment more broadly. Even once someone finds a GP who assesses ADHD, the standard process is built around long intake forms and a full history taken from scratch, sometimes more than once: for a psychologist, again for a GP, again for a specialist if a referral is needed.
None of that is designed to be hard on purpose. But long, multi-page forms and repeated history-taking are exactly the kind of task that ADHD makes harder to start and finish. ADHD is associated with working memory difficulties: one study of children and adolescents with ADHD found that two in three showed impairment in at least one working memory domain. Holding a long form in your head, remembering what you already told the last person, and getting back to a half-finished questionnaire are all working memory tasks. The condition someone is trying to get assessed for is often the same thing making the assessment process hard to complete.
What the Velluto Method actually is
Velluto is Italian for velvet. The Velluto Method is the name for the intake experience that sits in front of every ADHD assessment at MySpecialistGP, built by Velluto, the platform behind it.
Instead of one long form, the Velluto Method presents one question at a time. Instead of typing everything out, you can tap the microphone and answer by voice if writing is the barrier. Instead of needing to finish in one sitting, every answer saves the moment you give it: close the browser, come back tomorrow or in three days, and you pick up exactly where you left off. Instead of repeating your history to the next person in the chain, everything you enter is collected once and organised for your GP before the appointment.
The full intake covers validated questionnaires, your medical and family history, childhood history, functional impact, and a nomination for someone who knows you well to give an independent account. It’s built for a phone, in whatever order suits you, with no app download or account required. Most people complete it in 25 to 35 minutes total, usually across more than one sitting.
Same thoroughness. None of the friction. That’s the velvet.
Why a structured, multi-source intake matters clinically
This isn’t just about comfort. Structured, multi-source intake is how ADHD assessment is meant to work.
Adults aren’t always the most reliable narrators of their own ADHD symptoms. A study of young adults with childhood ADHD diagnoses found that self-report tended to under-identify current symptoms, while a parent or informant’s account was a stronger predictor of diagnostic status. That’s the clinical case for the observer report: someone who knows the person day to day, filling in a picture the person themselves may not see clearly.
The questionnaires matter too. The Velluto Method uses the ASRS v1.1, the adult ADHD screening scale developed with the World Health Organization and validated against clinical diagnosis. For children, it uses the Vanderbilt scale for ages 6 to 12 and the SNAP-IV for ages 13 to 17. These are the same instruments used in clinical practice generally. The Velluto Method doesn’t replace them with something proprietary; it just collects the answers in a format that’s easier to complete.
None of this means Velluto makes a diagnosis. Velluto scores the questionnaires the same way a paper form would be scored, flags gaps and inconsistencies for the GP to look at, and presents it all as a summary. The GP reads the summary, asks their own questions, and makes the clinical call.
What doing the intake is actually like
The intake works more like a guided conversation than a form. Each question appears on its own, with a visible sense of how many are left and what section comes next. There’s no wall of checkboxes to scroll through, and no way to lose your place.
Voice input is there for anyone who finds typing to be its own barrier: tap the microphone, say the answer, and it appears as text. Because nothing is timed, there’s no penalty for stopping halfway through a section or picking it up again the next day.
The observer step works the same way for whoever you nominate. A partner, parent, or close friend gets their own secure link and their own short questionnaire, no account or login needed, and reminders go out automatically if it isn’t completed. You can see whether it’s done without having to chase anyone yourself.
Once everything you and your observer have entered is submitted, none of it needs repeating. It’s already there for your GP.
What your GP still does
The Velluto Method prepares the ground. It doesn’t replace the appointment.
Velluto is a clinical intake tool. It gathers structured information, scores validated questionnaires the way they’re meant to be scored, and flags what’s missing or inconsistent so the GP can see it at a glance. It’s not a diagnostic device, and it doesn’t tell anyone whether they have ADHD. That decision, and everything that follows it, sits with the GP, based on their own clinical assessment during the appointment.
What changes is where the admin happens. Instead of your GP spending consultation time asking questions that could have been collected beforehand, they walk in with your questionnaires, history, and observer report already organised, and can spend the appointment on the parts that need a clinician in the room.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Velluto Method?
The Velluto Method is the name for the ADHD pre-consultation intake experience at MySpecialistGP, built on the Velluto platform. It collects your questionnaires, history, and an observer report one question at a time, on your phone, before your GP appointment.
Does the Velluto Method diagnose ADHD?
No. Velluto collects, scores, and organises information for your GP. Your GP makes the diagnosis during your appointment, based on their own clinical assessment.
Can I use voice instead of typing?
Yes. Every free-text field has a microphone button. Tap it and speak your answer instead of typing it.
What if I run out of time or need to stop halfway through?
Every answer saves the moment you give it. You can close the browser and come back later, and you’ll pick up exactly where you left off. Most people complete the full intake in 25 to 35 minutes, often split across more than one sitting.
Do I need someone else to fill anything in?
You nominate one or two people who know you well, such as a partner, parent, or close friend, to complete a short, independent questionnaire about you. They get their own secure link and don’t need an account.
Is my information kept private?
Your data is stored within Australian jurisdiction. Only you, your nominated observer, and your GP can see what you’ve entered.
Italian for velvet. Soft, smooth, no snags.
This is what velvet feels like
Real words from the people who went through it. No forms. No friction.
It’s really straightforward. It walks you through one question at a time, it looks beautiful, and being able to answer by voice was genuinely helpful. There was never a point where I wasn’t sure what to do next.
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Lisa
Did the Velluto Method
It gamified the whole thing, and it wasn’t so complex that it put me off giving a proper answer. Best of all, I didn’t have to keep repeating myself. The whole process was incredibly smooth.
A
Anonymous
Did the Velluto Method
I really liked the step-by-step flow. It avoids a wall of text and makes it clear what to focus on, and you can see how many steps there are and your progress. No frustrating moments, no errors, and the reminders were timely.
G
Greg
Did the Velluto Method
The whole thing was so simple to work through, step by step.
A
Anonymous
Did the Velluto Method
Conclusion
Getting to the point of booking an ADHD assessment is already the hard part for a lot of people. The Velluto Method is built so the appointment itself, and everything before it, doesn’t add another obstacle. If you’re ready to start, you can book with a GP and complete your intake from your phone, at your own pace.
General health information
This article is general health information only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always speak with a qualified health professional before making any changes to your medication or treatment plan.
MySpecialistGP is a health information and GP directory service operated by Webbed Feet Pty Ltd. Read our Medical Disclaimer.
