The Child ADHD Assessment Guide
Chapter 9
Treatment and support
A diagnosis is a beginning, not an end, and the support available for a child with ADHD is broader than many parents expect. Medication is one part of the picture, but only one, and it is rarely the first step for younger children. This chapter sets out the main forms of treatment and support, how they fit together, and what they cost, so you can choose what suits your child.
There is no single right approach
What helps one child may not be what another needs, and most families combine a few approaches. National guidance puts support at home and school first, with medication considered alongside it where appropriate. The right mix is the one that fits your child and your family. Nothing here is compulsory. You can take up as much or as little as you wish, and change your mind as you go.
| What it is | What it can help with | |
|---|---|---|
| Behavioural support and parent guidance | Practical strategies and parent training, often the first step. | Routines, clear expectations, and calmer days at home. |
| School adjustments | Classroom support arranged with the SENCO, recorded in a school support plan. | Seating, movement breaks, broken-down instructions, extra time. |
| Medication | Prescribed treatment, started through a careful titration process. | Steadying attention and impulse for many children, though not all. |
| Talking therapy | Age-appropriate sessions for the child, where helpful. | Managing anxiety, low mood and self-esteem alongside ADHD. |
| Sleep and routine | Attention to sleep, mealtimes, activity and recovery. | Reducing the everyday load that makes traits harder to manage. |
A word on school support and EHCPs
Most classroom support is arranged informally with the SENCO and written into a school support plan. A small number of children with more complex needs may need an Education, Health and Care Plan, or EHCP, which is a formal, legally backed plan. Many children with ADHD never need one, and a diagnosis does not require it. The report we provide gives the school a clear basis to put the right support in place, whichever route fits your child.
Medication, in brief
If you and your clinician decide to try medication, it is started gradually. This is called titration: small, monitored adjustments to find the dose that helps most with the fewest side effects. It is a careful, collaborative process, not a one-off prescription, and for children it includes regular checks on growth, sleep and wellbeing.
Once your child is settled, ongoing care is simpler, with a periodic review to check the medication is still right for them. Our costs for both are fixed and shown below.
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Medication (titration) package6 months | £995 |
| Medication review or external-patient onboardingAnnual for adults, 6-monthly for children | £250 |
Support is a conversation
The goal is not to fix your child, because they are not broken. It is to remove the friction that has made ordinary things harder than they needed to be, at home and at school. The final chapter, supporting your child after diagnosis, looks at how to carry this forward in everyday life.
Common questions
Does my child have to take medication if they are diagnosed?
No. Medication is one option among several, and it is entirely your choice. For children, support at home and school usually comes first, and many do well with that, with or without medication.
What is titration?
Titration is the careful, monitored process of starting medication gradually to find the dose that helps most with the fewest side effects. For children it includes regular checks on growth, sleep and wellbeing.
Will my child need an EHCP?
Most children with ADHD do not. Classroom support is usually arranged informally with the SENCO and written into a school support plan. Only a small number with more complex needs require a formal Education, Health and Care Plan.
Will my GP keep prescribing the medication?
Sometimes, through a shared care arrangement after private titration, but this is always at your GP's sole discretion and not every practice offers it. It is best to ask your GP before you begin.
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