Private ADHD assessments for children and adults in Herne Bay If you are looking for a private ADHD assessment in Herne Bay, 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 describes the mental skills that help us organise ourselves, plan ahead, manage time, hold information in working memory, regulate emotions and move between different tasks. For children, ADHD characteristics may appear through difficulties staying focused at school, forgetting instructions, losing belongings, impulsive behaviour, restlessness or becoming overwhelmed when demands increase. Other children may experience predominantly inattentive characteristics and appear quiet, distracted or prone to daydreaming rather than noticeably hyperactive. Adults may recognise longstanding difficulties with concentration, organisation, deadlines, starting or finishing tasks, managing responsibilities or maintaining focus during work and everyday activities. A private ADHD assessment explores how these experiences have developed over time and how they affect different areas of life. Depending on the individual, the process may include developmental history, clinical interviews, recognised ADHD assessment tools and information from parents, partners, schools or other relevant people. The aim is to build a detailed picture of strengths and difficulties and, where appropriate, reach a diagnostic decision with useful recommendations for support. Private autism assessments in Herne Bay Cross Psychology also provides private autism assessments for children, young people and adults in Herne Bay and the wider North Kent area. Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition associated with differences in areas including social communication, sensory processing, routines, interests and the way someone experiences the world around them. Autistic characteristics can present very differently between individuals. A child may find friendships or social situations difficult to understand, prefer predictable routines or experience sounds, textures, lights and busy environments more intensely. Some adults reach assessment after many years of feeling different without understanding why. They may have become skilled at masking, consciously or unconsciously adjusting their behaviour to fit social expectations. This can mean that the amount of effort involved in work, relationships or everyday social interaction is not obvious to the people around them. Our autism assessments consider 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 clinical assessment. These tools contribute evidence to the wider assessment rather than providing a diagnosis on their own. The information gathered is considered by appropriately qualified members of our multidisciplinary team to build a fuller understanding of the individual's strengths, differences and support needs. Combined ADHD and autism assessments ADHD and autism can occur together, and some experiences associated with the two conditions may overlap. For example, someone may experience differences involving executive functioning, emotional regulation, sensory processing, communication, attention or routines that are difficult to understand when considered separately. Where initial screening indicates characteristics of both ADHD and autism, Cross Psychology can provide a combined ADHD and autism assessment for children and adults. A combined assessment considers the broader neurodevelopmental profile rather than attempting to fit every difficulty into a single diagnosis. For some children and adults, this provides greater clarity around experiences that have previously seemed confusing or contradictory. It can also help ensure that recommendations reflect the individual as a whole rather than focusing on just one part of their neurodevelopmental profile. Cognitive assessments for dyslexia and dyscalculia Cross Psychology also provides cognitive assessments for learning differences including dyslexia and dyscalculia. A cognitive assessment explores how an individual understands, remembers and processes information, identifying areas of strength alongside aspects of learning that may require more effort. Dyslexia is commonly associated with persistent difficulties involving reading, spelling and written language, while dyscalculia affects the understanding and processing of numbers and mathematical concepts. For children and young people, assessment can help explain difficulties that have become apparent at school and inform recommendations for educational support. Adults may seek cognitive assessment after recognising longstanding difficulties that have affected education, employment or everyday tasks. ADHD, autism and learning differences can also occur together, so considering the wider neurodevelopmental and cognitive profile can sometimes provide much greater clarity. ADHD and autism assessments for children and young people Parents often contact us because they can see their child is struggling but are unsure what sits behind those difficulties. You may have noticed problems with concentration, emotional regulation, schoolwork, friendships, communication, sensory sensitivities or adapting to changes in routine. These experiences do not automatically mean a child has ADHD or autism. A comprehensive assessment considers their development, strengths and experiences across different settings to understand the wider picture. Where appropriate, information from parents, schools and other people involved in the child's life can contribute to this understanding. The aim is not simply to identify difficulties, but to help families understand why they may be happening and what kinds of support could be helpful. Adult ADHD and autism assessments in Herne Bay Adults may begin exploring ADHD or autism at almost any stage of life. You may have developed ways of keeping yourself organised, rehearsed social situations, avoided environments that feel overwhelming or simply accepted that certain aspects of everyday life require more effort. Some adults start considering assessment after their own child is diagnosed. Others recognise themselves after learning more about ADHD, autism or neurodivergence. An adult assessment can help put lifelong experiences involving attention, executive functioning, social communication, sensory processing, emotional regulation and relationships into context. For many people, receiving greater clarity is not about changing who they are. It is about understanding themselves better and recognising why certain situations have felt difficult throughout their lives. What happens during an ADHD or autism assessment? The exact assessment pathway depends on whether you are exploring ADHD, autism, both conditions or a cognitive difference. Your assessment may include: Initial screening questionnaires Discussion of strengths and current 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 is no exam to pass and no need to practise what you are going to say. We want to understand genuine everyday experiences rather than see a particular type of behaviour during an appointment. Our team explains each stage clearly and gives you time to ask questions, helping make the assessment process feel as predictable and comfortable as possible. Supporting children and adults in Herne Bay and across North Kent Herne Bay is a coastal town on the North Kent coast within the Canterbury district, positioned between Whitstable and the wider Thanet area and around eight miles north of Canterbury. Cross Psychology supports children, adults and families from Herne Bay itself as well as nearby communities including Beltinge, Broomfield, Reculver and Herne, together with people travelling from Whitstable, Canterbury and surrounding parts of North and East Kent. Herne Bay's position within the Canterbury district also gives it useful connections with both Canterbury and Whitstable. Local authority transport planning treats Canterbury, Herne Bay and Whitstable as closely connected centres within the district. For families living along the North Kent coast, having access to specialist ADHD, autism and cognitive assessment locally can reduce the need to travel much further into Kent or towards London for neurodevelopmental services. That can make a genuine difference for children and adults who find lengthy journeys, unfamiliar environments, busy transport hubs or changes to routine particularly tiring or stressful. Our aim is to provide people in Herne Bay, Canterbury, Whitstable and the surrounding Kent communities with thoughtful, specialist neurodevelopmental assessment in an environment where they feel listened to, understood and involved throughout the process.