HELP ADHD reassessment as an adult?

[YourTruthorMine]

My 19 year old son (diagnosed with autism at 6 and ADHD at 7) has been told he needs to be reassessed for ADHD as an adult (in order to restart meds) as many young people grow out of the condition. I am shocked, is this actually a thing? ADHD has a strong genetic component in my family. I have been diagnosed with severe ADHD myself. I am concerned he will not get a diagnosis, he is selectively mute and will struggle to communicate in the online assessment.

I completely understand your shock and frustration as an ADHD coach myself. What you've been told is misleading, and your concerns are entirely valid. Let me clarify what's actually happening here. The idea that 'many young people grow out of ADHD' is outdated. Current research shows that while hyperactivity symptoms may reduce with age, ADHD itself persists into adulthood in approximately 60-80% of cases. The condition doesn't disappear - it evolves. The core executive function difficulties typically remain.

What's actually happening is an administrative issue, not a clinical one. NHS services often require a new assessment when transitioning from child to adult services, but this doesn't mean your son no longer has ADHD. His childhood diagnosis, strong family history, and your own severe ADHD diagnosis are highly significant factors that should be noted.

Your concern about the online assessment is very important. You should:

1. Request reasonable adjustments - Under the Equality Act 2010, your son is entitled to reasonable adjustments for his autism and communication difficulties. Contact the service beforehand to request:
2. Written questions in advance so he can prepare responses
3. Permission for you to support communication (not answer for him, but help facilitate)
4. A longer appointment time
5. Option for written or typed responses during the assessment
6. Provide comprehensive documentation - Gather:
7. His original childhood diagnostic reports
8. School reports showing ADHD-related difficulties
9. Your own ADHD diagnosis (establishing genetic link)
10. Any previous medication records and their effectiveness
11. Written examples of current functional impairments
12. Write a supporting statement - You can provide a detailed parent/carer statement describing current symptoms and impacts on daily functioning
13. Consider advocacy support - Contact your local ADHD support group or autism advocacy service who may be able to provide guidance or even attend the assessment

Offer reassurance: "With his documented history, your family genetics, and proper preparation, there's no clinical reason he shouldn't receive his diagnosis. This is about navigating a flawed system, not about whether his ADHD is real. Sending hugs.

There are providers who offer F2F assessments. Have you considered requesting a referral to one of those providers.

This isn’t necessarily about an issue of transferring between paediatric and adult care within the NHS. It can happen when moving provider regardless of age and private vs NHS. Not all providers accept all other diagnoses made by other providers. It can depend on the original provider, the new provider and sometimes the individual case.

ADHD can present differently in adulthood, but it doesn’t simply disappear for many people, especially with a strong family history. With autism and selective mutism, he should be offered reasonable adjustments, and they should consider parent input, childhood records, school reports, and previous diagnoses. A reassessment should build a clearer current picture of his needs, not wipe away his history or create unnecessary barriers to medication.

I'd be questioning whoever told you that lots of people grow out of ADHD. From everything I've read and from people I know, it seems more accurate to say that it can look different in adulthood rather than disappear altogether.
It sounds as though the reassessment is part of the transition into adult services rather than a suggestion that his original diagnosis was wrong. Given his history, previous diagnosis and family background, I'd expect all of that to be taken into account.
I'd be more concerned about making sure the assessment process works for him, especially if he's selectively mute. It might be worth contacting them beforehand and explaining his communication difficulties so they can make adjustments or accept supporting information in advance.
If you do end up looking at alternative providers, there are some that seem to be quite flexible. Someone I know used ADHD Certify and said they were happy to review previous reports and background information as part of the process, which made things a bit less stressful.
Hopefully it's just a box-ticking exercise to update his records as an adult rather than anything more worrying.