ADHD assessment by telehealth
Telehealth Psychology Australia (THPA) offers ADHD assessment for children, teenagers and adults by secure video, anywhere in Australia. A Registered Psychologist carries it out: online questionnaires, two interviews, a written report with a letter for your GP, and a feedback session.
It is a psychological assessment, not a psychiatric one, and we do not prescribe medication. This page sets out the steps, the fee, and what the report can and cannot do.
Who is an ADHD assessment for?
People who think that difficulties with attention, organisation, restlessness or impulsivity may be affecting study, work, relationships or home life, and who want a clear, documented answer. Adults may have wondered for years. Parents may be acting on a concern raised by a teacher or a GP.
An assessment looks at whether ADHD explains what you are noticing, and at what else might. Anxiety, low mood, poor sleep, trauma and prolonged stress can all look similar, and more than one thing can be true at once. An assessment may or may not result in a diagnosis.
At a glance
- By secure video, anywhere in Australia
- Children, teenagers and adults
- A written report and a letter for your GP
- No referral needed for a private assessment
Can a psychologist diagnose ADHD?
Yes. A registered psychologist can assess for ADHD and give a diagnostic opinion in a written report. What a psychologist cannot do is prescribe. Medication for ADHD is prescribed only by a medical practitioner: a psychiatrist, a paediatrician or, in some cases, a GP.
Prescribers make their own decision. Some accept a psychologist's report as the basis for treatment. Others do their own assessment first, and the rules differ between states. If medication is your main goal, ask your GP which pathway they recommend before you book, so that you do not pay for an assessment you then need to repeat.
Your assessment would be conducted by one of our Registered Psychologists, registered with the Psychology Board of Australia through AHPRA, holding general registration.
What this assessment is, and is not
- A psychological assessment with a diagnostic opinion and recommendations.
- Not a psychiatric assessment. We do not prescribe or manage medication.
- For ADHD only. We do not offer autism, cognitive (IQ) or neuropsychological assessment.
What does an ADHD assessment involve?
These are the five steps for an adult. Everything is by secure video or online.
- 01
Online questionnaires
You complete standardised rating scales online, in your own time, before the first interview.
- 02
History interview
One session on your developmental and personal history: childhood, school, work, health, and what is happening now.
- 03
Structured diagnostic interview
A 90-minute structured interview that works through the diagnostic criteria, with examples from childhood and from adult life. Someone who knows you well takes part. A parent is preferred, a partner is acceptable, and they can join by video.
- 04
Scoring, report and GP letter
Between sessions, your psychologist scores the questionnaires, brings the findings together, and writes a report with a diagnostic opinion and recommendations, plus a letter for your GP.
- 05
Feedback session
One session to go through the findings and recommendations together and answer your questions.
How does it work for children and teenagers?
The shape is the same, with the information coming from more people. A parent or carer takes part in the interviews and completes questionnaires. With the parent's written consent, we also ask the child's teacher to complete one, because the difficulties need to show up in more than one setting, such as home and school.
How much of each session the child or teenager joins depends on their age. Because the steps differ from an adult assessment, we set them out, with the fee, in writing before you commit.
Where medication is being considered for a child, that is usually managed by a paediatrician or a child psychiatrist, and your GP can refer you.
What an assessment can and cannot tell you
- It may or may not result in a diagnosis. Either way, the report explains the findings and makes recommendations.
- It describes a point in time, not a fixed or permanent label.
- Suitability for telehealth is checked first. If any part would be better done in person or with a different provider, your psychologist tells you before going ahead.
- Individual experiences vary.
How much does an ADHD assessment cost?
For an adult, $1,272.81 in total. You receive the same breakdown as a written quote before you commit, so nothing is added later.
| Step | Time | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Online questionnaires | In your own time | Included |
| Publisher's fee for one standardised rating scale | $7.81 | |
| History interview | One session | $230.00 |
| Structured diagnostic interview, with someone who knows you well | 90 minutes | $345.00 |
| Scoring, written report and GP letter | 2 hours, between sessions | $460.00 |
| Feedback session | One session | $230.00 |
| Total | $1,272.81 |
- Medicare. A standalone assessment and report is generally a private service and is usually not covered by a Medicare rebate. A rebate of $101.55 may apply to a session only where that session meets the requirements of Medicare's Better Access initiative and you hold a Mental Health Treatment Plan and referral from your GP. Your written quote says what applies to you.
- Children and teenagers. The steps differ, so the fee is quoted in writing before you commit.
- Other funding. Where an assessment is to be funded under NDIS or WorkCover, it needs to be approved in advance by your plan manager, support coordinator or case manager.
ADHD assessment, answered
The questions people ask before booking an assessment. If yours is not here, email admin@thpa.au.
Yes. A registered psychologist can assess for ADHD and give a diagnostic opinion in a written report. A psychologist cannot prescribe medication. That is done by a medical practitioner: a psychiatrist, a paediatrician or, in some cases, a GP.
Not on its own. The decision to prescribe belongs to the medical practitioner. Some accept a psychologist's report as the basis for treatment, others do their own assessment first, and the rules differ between states. If medication is your main goal, ask your GP which pathway they recommend before you book.
For an adult the total is $1,272.81: two sessions at $230 each, a 90-minute structured diagnostic interview at $345, $460 for scoring, the written report and a GP letter, and a $7.81 publisher's fee for one rating scale. For a child or teenager the steps differ, so the fee is quoted in writing before you commit. Fees are current at the time of writing.
Usually not. A standalone assessment and report is generally a private service. A rebate of $101.55 may apply to a session only where that session meets the requirements of Medicare's Better Access initiative and you hold a Mental Health Treatment Plan and referral from your GP. Your written quote says what applies to you before you commit.
No. You can refer yourself for a private assessment. If you already have a GP, it helps to tell them, because the report includes a letter for them.
For an adult, someone who knows you well joins the structured diagnostic interview. A parent is preferred, a partner is acceptable, and they can join by video from wherever they are. For a child or teenager, a parent or carer takes part throughout and, with the parent's written consent, we ask a teacher to complete a questionnaire.
Yes. The interviews are by secure video and the questionnaires are completed online. Suitability is checked first, and if any part would be better done in person or with a different type of provider, your psychologist tells you before going ahead.
No. This assessment is for ADHD. We do not offer autism, cognitive (IQ) or neuropsychological assessment. Your GP can refer you to a provider who does.
Ready when you are
Tell us whether the assessment is for you or for your child, and how you would like to be contacted. We will reply with the steps and a written quote before anything is booked.
A 2-minute enquiry · a reply usually within one to two business days · no health details needed