Private ADHD Assessment Clinic in Inverness

Get clarity and support with our private Adult (18+) ADHD assessment appointments at Clinic M with Sharon Perks. We use structured clinical interviews and validated diagnostic tools to understand your symptoms, history and day-to-day impact, then provide a clear outcome with a comprehensive written report and tailored recommendations you can actually use. After your assessment, we offer supportive follow-up to help you make sense of the results and plan your next steps with confidence, with flexible appointment options to fit around work and life.

: ADHD Assessments in Inverness

: Sharon Perks ADHA

: ADHD Assessments in Inverness at Clinic M

Assessment Process:

Our private adult ADHD assessment is designed to be thorough, structured, and clinically robust from start to finish. After booking, we’ll email you a set of ADHD assessment questionnaires and screening tools to complete in advance. These are reviewed and interpreted before your clinic appointment, so your consultation is focused, efficient, and personalised. You will then attend the clinic for a two-hour face-to-face ADHD assessment, exploring your current symptoms, developmental history, and the impact on work, relationships, and daily functioning. Following the appointment, Sharon compiles a detailed written ADHD assessment report, bringing together questionnaire results and clinical findings. Reports are usually completed within up to 14 days, with clear outcomes and practical next steps.

Associated Conditions:

Many adults seeking an ADHD assessment also experience overlapping health concerns that can affect focus, energy, sleep, and emotional regulation. Common co-existing conditions include anxiety and depression, autism traits (AuDHD), sleep disorders, migraine, thyroid or hormonal changes (including perimenopause/menopause), and physical conditions that can mimic or amplify ADHD symptoms—such as PoTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), where dizziness, palpitations, brain fog, and fatigue may impact day-to-day life. Because these factors can influence concentration and wellbeing, our adult ADHD approach considers the wider clinical picture and highlights when additional investigations or coordinated care may be helpful alongside ADHD strategies.

Lifestyle Support:

Managing adult ADHD often works best with a whole-person plan that supports attention, motivation, energy, and emotional regulation day to day. In line with NICE NG87, ADHD care should be holistic—addressing psychological and behavioural needs as well as work and home functioning—and may include environmental modifications such as practical changes to routines, structure, and daily demands. We encourage supportive lifestyle strategies including balanced nutrition, sleep foundations, and regular movement, alongside skills-based approaches where appropriate. Structured psychological support can include CBT-style techniques that help build behaviour management skills such as planning systems, time management, reducing procrastination, and strengthening emotional regulation—supporting sustainable coping mechanisms in real life.

Epigenetics Testing:

Epigenetics is an emerging and rapidly developing field of science exploring how lifestyle, environment, nutrition, sleep, stress, and toxins can influence gene expression—helping explain why people with similar genetics can experience very different outcomes. As part of a functional medicine approach, we can offer the DNA Mind® test as an additional layer of insight into pathways linked to brain and mental wellbeing, including neurotransmitter balance, methylation, and inflammation. With qualified practitioners, results can be interpreted alongside symptom history and relevant functional biomarkers to support a personalised plan focused on practical “levers” over time—such as targeted nutrition, lifestyle changes, and sustainable behaviour strategies—rather than relying on genetics alone.

Medications:

ADHD medications are classified as controlled drugs and therefore require a specific HIS regulatory licence to prescribe. Our clinic is currently in the process of applying for this extended licence. Once approval has been granted, we will be able to issue prescriptions for ADHD medications.

This page will be updated as soon as prescribing becomes available.

Helpful Supplements:

L-theanine is a naturally occurring amino acid found almost exclusively in green tea and has been used safely for many years, particularly in Japan. It is known for its calming yet focusing effects, making it especially relevant for individuals with ADHD who may experience restlessness, overwhelm, or difficulty concentrating. L-theanine works by gently supporting key brain chemicals involved in mood, attention, and memory—such as dopamine and serotonin—while also helping the body produce GABA, a calming neurotransmitter that acts like a “brake” during times of stress. It also promotes alpha brain waves, which are associated with a relaxed but alert mental state. Research has shown that L-theanine can help people feel calmer and more focused without causing drowsiness, with effects typically beginning within about 40 minutes. Overall, it may help create a better balance in the brain, supporting improved focus, emotional stability, and a greater sense of calm in day-to-day life.

Read the FAQ below to gain a further understanding of the process at Clinic M Medical, Inverness.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I book an appointment?

To book a private Adult (18+) ADHD assessment at Clinic M with Sharon Perks, please contact our Reception team as your first point of contact. Reception will confirm current availability, answer any practical questions, and help you request an assessment appointment. Once you’re happy to proceed, they’ll guide you through paying the assessment fee to secure your booking.

We recommend you do not book an assessment appointment until you’re confident this is the process you wish to follow and you feel ready to proceed with the assessment pathway.

Why is it an adults only service (18+)?

Because child and adolescent ADHD care has additional legal, safeguarding, and clinical governance requirements that differ materially from adult services. In a private setting, we choose to focus on adults so we can deliver care within a clear, robust scope with the right processes, follow up and accountability for that population.

It’s the same condition, but the assessment framework, evidence sources, and support needs differ.

For children and young people, assessment usually requires:

broader developmental history and school input

family context and safeguarding consideration

parent/carer-based interventions and school liaison pathways (often central to recommended care)

NICE guidance explicitly covers separate considerations for children/young people vs adults, including parent/carer-focused support for younger patients.

Why would I book an assessment?

You might want to book an assessment if the following feels familiar:

The difficulties are persistent, not occasional.
Things like distractibility, disorganisation, procrastination, time-blindness, forgetfulness, restlessness, or impulsive decisions have been there for years, not just during a stressful month.

They started earlier in life (usually in childhood), even if they were missed.
Many adults describe “I always had to try harder,” “I was bright but chaotic,” or “I coped until life got bigger.” NICE expects ADHD symptoms to have begun earlier in life and continued over time.

They show up in more than one area of life.
For example: work and home life; admin and relationships; driving and finances. NICE describes ADHD as affecting functioning across settings, not just one situation.

They cause a meaningful level of impairment.
Not “I’m a bit messy,” but repeated real-world impact—missed deadlines, chronic overwhelm, job instability, relationship strain, accidents/near misses, poor sleep routines, emotional reactivity, or burnout. NICE links referral to symptoms that are associated with at least moderate impairment in social/occupational functioning.

Another issue doesn’t fully explain it (though other issues can coexist).
Anxiety, depression, trauma, sleep disorders, and substance use can mimic ADHD—and ADHD can exist alongside them. NICE highlights the need to consider whether symptoms are better explained by another condition while recognising comorbidity is common.

If you recognise this pattern, NICE supports referral to an ADHD specialist service for assessment in adults presenting with symptoms.

What is the assessment fee and what does it cover?

Our adult ADHD assessment fee is £950, and it is payable at the time of booking. Cancellation and rescheduling charges apply. Under 48 hours notice the full fee is non refundable, this is due to the high demand of time allocation and shortage of appointments for diagnosis.

The cost reflects the volume and complexity of work required to assess ADHD properly and safely in adults. This typically includes:

Pre-assessment screening and questionnaires (often multiple forms)

Use of structured/standardised assessment tools to support clinical decision-making

The clinician’s time reviewing your information before your appointment

A detailed clinical assessment appointment

Report writing, which involves analysing all available evidence and documenting a clear clinical rationale and outcome

Where relevant, documenting any co-existing difficulties (for example anxiety, mood symptoms, sleep problems) and recommendations for next steps

The assessment isn’t just the appointment itself—the fee covers the wider clinical process, including the evidence gathering and report preparation required for a thorough assessment.

Does the cost include medication?

No. The £950 assessment fee does not include medication or any medication-related prescribing/titration.

ADHD can be managed in many ways, and medication isn’t always the first step. Where appropriate, we encourage starting with practical, non-medication strategies such as:

Lifestyle changes (sleep routine, structure, exercise, reducing overwhelm)

Diet and nutrition support (for stable energy, focus, and mood)

Coping mechanisms and skills-building (planning systems, time management, emotional regulation)

If you’d prefer to explore these first, we can also offer ADHD-focused life coaching to help you build sustainable strategies before considering medication.

We can also signpost to support groups and peer communities, which many people find helpful for social support, shared learning, and building healthier “dopamine management” habits (e.g., reducing unhelpful dopamine-seeking loops and building more supportive routines).

What happens if I decide to choose ADHD medications?

If you decide that medication is something you’d like to explore, we can support you through that process.

There are several different types of ADHD medication, and Sharon will talk you through the options, including expected benefits, side effects, and what might be the best fit for your symptoms and medical history. If you choose to proceed, Sharon can help select the most appropriate medication for you.

Because ADHD medicines are controlled medications, we do not keep any stock onsite at the clinic.

Safety checks before starting medication

Before medication is considered safe, we require specific medical assessments. These include:

ECG

Specific blood tests

For continuity of care and consistent reporting, these must be completed at our clinic, so results are obtained and interpreted in a standardised way.

Additional costs

Medication assessment and initiation carries a higher level of clinical responsibility and ongoing monitoring. For that reason, there are separate charges for the medication pathway (including the required ECG/blood tests and the consultant-led prescribing and follow-up process).

What are the costs for the checks needed before ADHD medication?

If you choose to explore medication, we’ll first arrange the required safety checks.

Blood tests: prescribed by Sharon and tailored to you. A typical blood panel is approximately £250.

ECG: £100.

Please note: there may be additional costs depending on who carries out the investigations and what clinical input is needed.

In more complex cardiac cases, you may need an appointment with our Consultant Cardiologist, who would need to review the results and accept responsibility for your cardiac care before ADHD medication can be considered. This would be charged separately.