# ADHD Assessment Truths: Who Can Diagnose, What to Expect & Why It Matters

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-hidden-20-6751677/adhd-assessment-truths-who-can-diagnose-what-to-expect-why-it-matters
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-hidden-20-6751677/adhd-assessment-truths-who-can-diagnose-what-to-expect-why-it-matters.md
Podcast: [The Hidden 20%](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-hidden-20-6751677)
Published: 2026-02-25T05:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://shows.acast.com/hidden-20/episodes/adhd-assessment-truths
Audio file: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/657b32c48f98e20016664592/e/699dd64ba4a9e6b7fd64d198/media.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-hidden-20-6751677/episodes/adhd-assessment-truths-who-can-diagnose-what-to-expect-why-it-matters
Duration seconds: 3651

## Resource

In part two of Ben’s conversation with Dr Shyamal Mashru , they unpack what actually makes a good ADHD assessment - and why so many people are still waiting, misdiagnosed, or left without answers. Dr Shyamal, an NHS Consultant Psychiatrist and Medical Lead for Adult ADHD, explains what happens inside a thorough assessment, who is qualified to diagnose ADHD, and why emotional dysregulation is so often overlooked.  Together, they explore NHS vs private pathways, co-occurring conditions like autism and RSD, and why ADHD rarely shows up in neat, textbook ways. We hope this episode brings clarity to a process that can often feel stressful, and inaccessible. If you’re questioning ADHD, on a waiting list, or trying to understand what good care really looks like, this conversation is for you. Join us at  hidden20.org/donate . ________ Host: Ben Branson Production Manager: Phoebe De Leiburné Video Editor: James Scriven Social Media Manager: Charlie Young Music: Jackson Greenberg Head of Marketing: Kristen Fuller 00:00 Introduction 01:12 Who Can Diagnose ADHD in the UK? 04:25 ADHD Assessment Options: NHS vs Private Explained 11:20 ADHD Assessments Outside the UK: What’s Different? 13:00 Why ADHD Assessments Are Complex & Often Siloed 20:14 ADHD & Reduced Life Expectancy: What the Research Shows 24:20 What Makes a Good ADHD Assessment? 29:25 ADHD at School vs University: Missed Support 32:50 RSD, Relationships & Emotional Regulation Flags 34:16 ADHD & Daily Life: Hobbies, Money, Sleep 41:02 When ADHD Gets Misdiagnosed - and Why 47:15 Autism + ADHD: What If You Suspect Both? 55:06 The Missing Piece in ADHD Diagnosis: Emotional Dysregulation 59:00 Dr Shyamal’s Green Dot Badge The Hidden 20% is a charity founded by AuDHD entrepreneur, Ben Branson. Our missi…

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