Understanding the Value Behind the Cost – and the Care Behind the Scenes at Makewell

If you’ve looked into a private ADHD assessment, whether for yourself, your child, or a loved one, you may have found yourself surprised by the cost. For many families, the fees can feel like a barrier. It’s a fair question: why do private ADHD assessments seem so expensive?

At Makewell Clinic, we believe in transparency, accessibility, and most importantly explaining the value behind the service. Because the truth is, an ADHD assessment isn’t just a one-off appointment. It’s a detailed, multi-step process that involves a team of trained professionals, hours of specialist input, and a deep commitment to understanding the whole person.

Here’s what’s really going on behind the scenes and why a private ADHD assessment is about far more than a simple diagnosis.

 

1. A Specialist Team with Deep Expertise

At Makewell, your ADHD assessment is never rushed or surface-level. It’s carefully handled by clinicians who are highly trained in neurodevelopmental differences, child and adolescent mental health, adult mental health, and the nuances that come with co-occurring conditions like anxiety, autism, or trauma.

Our assessments are conducted by HCPC-registered psychologists, mental health clinicians, specialist nurses, social workers or psychiatrists, depending on age and presentation. Each professional brings years of training, supervision, and clinical experience to the table, because ADHD rarely presents in a neat, textbook way.

You’re not just paying for a label. You’re investing in the expertise needed to make an accurate, thoughtful diagnosis and to consider what else may be going on.

 

2. A Thorough, Individualised Process

An ADHD assessment at Makewell isn’t a single one-hour consultation. It’s a multi-stage process designed to ensure that every angle is considered and that no voice is left out, especially in the case of children.

Here’s what the process typically involves:

• Detailed intake and screening questionnaires (for the client, parents, and sometimes teachers)
• A review of developmental history, academic or work performance, mental health background, and social-emotional profile
• Direct clinical interviews and observations (normally lasting up to 3 hrs)
• Standardised tools like the Conners or QB Check (licensed to use per client)
• Time spent analysing results and compiling a thorough clinical report
• A feedback session, where we share findings, answer questions, and guide next steps

Every part of this process takes time often 6–10 hours of work behind the scenes per client, if not more.

 

3. It’s Not Just About Diagnosis- It’s About Support

At Makewell, our goal isn’t just to confirm whether someone meets the criteria for ADHD. It’s to offer meaningful insight into how they function, what they need to thrive, and how best to move forward.

That’s why our reports don’t stop at “yes or no”. We include clear, practical recommendations – for home, school, work, and personal wellbeing. We offer follow-up options, referrals, and tailored signposting. And we stay open to ongoing collaboration with families, schools, GPs, or other professionals involved in your care.

You’re not just receiving a diagnosis. You’re gaining a roadmap.

 

4. Faster Access, Less Waiting

It’s no secret that NHS waiting times for ADHD assessments can stretch to months or even years, particularly for children and young people. For many families, private assessments are not a luxury, they’re a necessary alternative when a child is struggling at school or an adult is feeling overwhelmed in work or life.

Choosing a private route offers the opportunity for timely answers, earlier intervention, and faster access to support strategies, potentially preventing years of difficulty or misunderstanding.

 

5. Investing in the Right Start

We know the cost of a private assessment is significant. But we also know how powerful a well-done, compassionate, and accurate assessment can be. It can change a child’s experience of school, help a teen understand themselves for the first time, or give an adult permission to finally stop blaming themselves.

At Makewell, we approach every assessment as a partnership, not a transaction. You’re not just booking a service—you’re inviting us to walk a part of the journey with you. And that’s a responsibility we take seriously.

Curious about what our ADHD assessment process looks like?
We’re happy to answer any questions -big or small.

Makewell Clinic – Understanding the person behind the label.