When things look fine on the outside, but feel effortful inside.
Many of us adults reach a point where they quietly wonder if ADHD might explain longstanding patterns… not a pattern of chaos, nor crisis. Just persistent friction with focus, follow-through, or emotional regulation that has never fully made sense.
I get it.
Not just as a clinician, but as a human being.
I was diagnosed later in life myself. For over a decade, I understood ADHD academically and in others (even diagnosis!) before recognizing parts of my own experience within it. That shift deepened my respect for how complex adult ADHD can be, especially in high-functioning individuals.
You Might Be Wondering If…
Adult ADHD rarely looks dramatic. It often looks subtle, but persistent.
- You’ve always worked harder than others for similar results
- Focus comes easily only when something is deeply interesting
- You oscillate between hyperfocus and burnout
- You feel capable, but inconsistent
- A child’s diagnosis made you reflect on your own history
What the Assessment Involves
Clinical Interview
We begin with a detailed conversation about what brings you here. Not just symptoms, but patterns. How you work. How you think. Where things tend to get stuck.
We talk about your daily rhythms, your stress points, your strengths, and the strategies you may already be using to cope. Often, adults have built impressive workarounds. Part of the process is understanding both what is difficult and what has allowed you to function as well as you have.
Developmental History
ADHD does not suddenly appear in adulthood. It has roots. We explore childhood experiences, school patterns, attention style, emotional temperament, and how others experienced you growing up. Sometimes small details begin to connect in new ways.
This is not about digging for problems. It is about tracing continuity.
Standardized Measures
Alongside our conversations, I use validated assessment tools to clarify patterns of attention, executive functioning, and emotional regulation.
These tools do not replace clinical judgement. They help sharpen it. They provide structure, comparison, and context so that conclusions are grounded rather than impressionistic.
Feedback Session
The final step is making sense of everything together. You will receive a clear explanation of whether ADHD is present, what overlaps may exist, and what this means in practical terms. There is space for questions. Space for uncertainty.
The aim is not simply to deliver a diagnosis. It is to leave you with coherence and direction.
After the Assessment
If ADHD is diagnosed, support may include:
- Executive functioning strategies
- Emotional regulation work
- Cognitive behavioural approaches
- Collaboration with a psychiatrist if appropriate
If ADHD is not diagnosed, we explore alternative explanations. The goal is clarity, not confirmation.
A Final Note
If you are considering an adult ADHD assessment in Singapore, you are welcome to reach out. We can discuss whether this process would be appropriate for you.
Frequently asked questions
Perfect. Here is the full FAQ section populated, balanced, and aligned with your positioning. Calm, clinical, honest, not salesy.
You can paste this directly under your Adult ADHD page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will this be documented in a formal report?
Yes. A detailed psychometric report is provided detailing developmental, medical, psychiatric history, assessment process, findings, and diagnostic conclusions where applicable. Second, upon request, a summary report that provide highlights can be furnished.
Psychometric evaluations are structured and clinically grounded. They may be used for personal understanding, further medical consultation, or workplace discussions.
Can results be used for workplace accommodations?
In many cases, yes. A formal diagnosis and report may support workplace accommodations, depending on your organization’s policies.
That said, not all adults pursue assessment for formal accommodations. Some seek clarity for personal understanding, performance sustainability, or decision-making. We can clarify your goals at the outset so the process aligns with your needs.
What if I am unsure whether I want a diagnosis?
It is entirely reasonable to feel uncertain. An assessment is exploratory and collaborative. Our aim is not to force a label, but to understand patterns clearly. Some individuals meet criteria for ADHD. Others do not, but still gain valuable clarity about attention style, anxiety, burnout, or executive functioning challenges.
The goal is coherence, not categorization.
Is medication required?
Medication is not mandatory. However, for adults with moderate to severe ADHD, stimulant medication is widely regarded as a first-line, evidence-based treatment and can be highly effective.
If ADHD is diagnosed, we will discuss the full range of options. These may include behavioural strategies, structural adjustments, psychotherapy, and, where appropriate, referral to a psychiatrist to explore medication.
Some adults experience substantial improvement with medication. Others prefer to begin with non-pharmacological approaches. We will not rush this process, and will make decisions thoughtfully and collaboratively, based on symptom severity and your personal preference.
How long does the assessment take?
An adult ADHD assessment typically unfolds over multiple appointments and is completed across two to four visits, depending on complexity.
The process may include a clinical interview, developmental history, structured diagnostic interviews such as the DIVA, screening for co-occurring conditions such as the MINI, cognitive testing such as the WAIS where appropriate, objective attention testing such as the CPT, and standardised rating scales such as the CAARS.
A dedicated feedback session is scheduled to integrate findings and discuss next steps. Most adults complete the process within a few weeks.
Lightfull Psychology | Clinical Psychologist Singapore 