For neurodevelopmental conditions the assessment report is not just a diagnosis. It is the document that unlocks accommodations, so how and where you get it matters more than usual.
The public route
A GP or polyclinic referral into a hospital service. Subsidised, and typically involving a wait. For school-age children, the school is often involved in identifying the need and will be involved in implementing anything that follows, so bringing the school in early is worth doing regardless of route.
The private route
Faster and unsubsidised. Ask three questions before booking: who conducts the assessment and what are their qualifications, what instruments are used, and what does the final report contain. A report that does not document functional impact across settings is of limited use when you later ask a school or an employer for adjustments.
Adults
Adult assessment is a different pathway from paediatric assessment and is less widely available. Many adults are identified only after a child’s assessment prompts recognition of the same pattern in themselves. If that is you, say so at referral; it changes where you are sent.
What to prepare
- School reports going back as far as you have them. Developmental history is central to both diagnoses.
- Observations from more than one setting. Home only is not enough.
- A record of what has already been tried and what happened.
- For adults, any history of anxiety or depression treatment that did not fully work.
Where families find support
The Autism Resource Centre (Singapore) works with autistic people and their families. Unlocking ADHD is a Singapore organisation focused on ADHD support and maintains a healthcare and community services directory.
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