Private ADHD assessments for children and adults in Burton on Trent If you are looking for a private ADHD assessment in Burton on Trent, Cross Psychology provides comprehensive ADHD assessments for children, young people and adults. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that can affect attention regulation, impulsivity and executive functioning. Executive functioning includes mental skills such as planning, organisation, working memory, time management, emotional regulation and moving between tasks. For children, ADHD characteristics may show through difficulties staying focused at school, remembering instructions, managing emotions, controlling impulses or completing everyday tasks. Some children may appear particularly active or restless, while others experience more subtle difficulties with inattention, daydreaming or becoming overwhelmed. Adults may recognise longstanding patterns involving time management, unfinished tasks, concentration, organisation, work, relationships or coping with competing responsibilities. A comprehensive ADHD assessment looks at the wider developmental picture rather than relying on one symptom or test. Depending on the individual, the assessment may include developmental history, clinical interviews, recognised ADHD assessment tools and information from parents, partners, schools or other relevant people. The aim is to understand how ADHD characteristics affect everyday life, identify individual strengths and difficulties and, where appropriate, reach a diagnostic decision with clear recommendations for support. Private autism assessments in Burton on Trent Cross Psychology also provides private autism assessments for children, young people and adults in Burton on Trent and surrounding areas of East Staffordshire. Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition that can influence social communication, sensory processing, routines, interests, relationships and the way someone experiences the world around them. There is no single way autism looks. A child may find changes to routine difficult, become overwhelmed in busy or noisy environments, communicate differently from their peers or develop particularly focused interests. For adults, autistic characteristics may have gone unrecognised for many years. Some people become skilled at masking or compensating for differences in social situations. They may appear to cope well outwardly while finding work, relationships, sensory environments or everyday social expectations exhausting. Our autism assessment process considers developmental history, current experiences and information from different sources where appropriate. Recognised tools such as ADOS-2, ADI-R and 3Di may form part of the broader assessment process. These tools contribute to clinical understanding rather than acting as standalone tests. The information gathered is considered by appropriately qualified members of our multidisciplinary team to develop a fuller picture of the person's strengths, differences and support needs. Combined ADHD and autism assessments ADHD and autism are separate neurodevelopmental conditions, but some characteristics can overlap and a person can experience both. For example, difficulties involving executive functioning, emotional regulation, sensory processing, communication and routines may not always fit neatly into one condition. Where initial screening suggests characteristics associated with both ADHD and autism, Cross Psychology can provide a combined assessment for children or adults. This allows the wider neurodevelopmental picture to be considered together rather than assessing each difficulty in isolation. For some individuals and families, this can provide much-needed clarity after years of experiences that have been difficult to explain. A combined assessment can also help ensure that recommendations reflect the person's overall profile rather than focusing on one diagnosis alone. Cognitive assessments for dyslexia and dyscalculia Cross Psychology also provides cognitive assessments for learning differences including dyslexia and dyscalculia. Dyslexia can affect reading, spelling and written language, while dyscalculia is associated with persistent difficulties understanding numbers and mathematical concepts. A cognitive assessment looks more broadly at how an individual processes, remembers and works with information. For children and young people, this may help explain why particular areas of education require more effort despite strengths in other areas. Adults may seek cognitive assessment after experiencing similar difficulties throughout school, further education or employment. ADHD, autism and learning differences can also occur together, so understanding the wider cognitive and neurodevelopmental profile can be particularly useful where someone has experienced a mixture of difficulties. ADHD and autism assessments for children and young people Parents often contact us because they can see that their child is finding certain aspects of everyday life more difficult but are unsure why. There may be concerns around attention, behaviour, emotional regulation, friendships, communication, sensory sensitivities, learning or adapting to changes in routine. These experiences do not always point clearly towards ADHD, autism or another neurodevelopmental difference. Assessment helps build a more complete picture. Where appropriate, information from parents, schools and other people involved in the child's life can contribute to understanding how difficulties appear across different settings. The aim is not simply to identify what a child finds difficult. It is also to recognise their strengths and provide recommendations that may make home, school and everyday life easier to navigate. Adult ADHD and autism assessments in Burton on Trent Many adults begin exploring ADHD or autism after years of developing their own ways of coping. You may have learned elaborate systems for staying organised, prepared carefully for social situations or become skilled at hiding the amount of effort everyday tasks require. Some people start considering assessment after their child is diagnosed. Others recognise themselves in information about ADHD, autism or neurodivergence later in life. An adult assessment can help make sense of lifelong patterns involving concentration, executive functioning, communication, sensory processing, emotional regulation and relationships. Seeking an assessment does not mean looking for something "wrong". For many adults, it is about finally having a clearer framework for understanding how they think, process information and experience the world. What happens during an ADHD or autism assessment? The exact assessment pathway depends on your circumstances and whether you are exploring ADHD, autism, both conditions or a cognitive difference. Your assessment may include: Initial screening questionnaires Discussion of current strengths and difficulties Developmental and childhood history Clinical interviews Recognised diagnostic assessment tools Information from parents, partners, schools or other relevant people where appropriate Multidisciplinary clinical review Feedback and a detailed written report There are no perfect answers to prepare and no particular way you or your child is expected to behave. The purpose is to understand genuine everyday experiences rather than perform well during an appointment. Our team explains each stage clearly, giving you time to ask questions and understand what will happen next. Supporting children and adults in Burton on Trent and East Staffordshire Burton on Trent sits within East Staffordshire close to the Derbyshire border, making it a natural centre for families and adults travelling from communities on both sides of the county boundary. Cross Psychology supports people from Burton itself and nearby areas including Branston, Stapenhill, Winshill, Stretton, Horninglow, Tutbury and Barton-under-Needwood, as well as people travelling from Swadlincote and surrounding parts of South Derbyshire. Our Alrewas clinic is also conveniently positioned for people travelling from Burton on Trent, giving local families access to specialist private ADHD, autism and cognitive assessments without needing to travel into a larger city. This can be particularly valuable for neurodivergent children and adults who find long journeys, unfamiliar environments, busy places or unexpected changes to routine tiring or stressful. Burton is surrounded by a mixture of established residential areas, smaller towns and villages, so being able to access specialist assessment within the local Staffordshire area can make the process considerably easier for families who might otherwise face a much longer journey. Our aim is to provide people in Burton on Trent and across East Staffordshire with thoughtful, specialist neurodevelopmental assessment in an environment where they feel comfortable, listened to and involved throughout the process.