Seeking: ADHD diagnosis
This post was originally written in February 2025 and has now been updated with prices.
Seeking an ADHD diagnosis as an adult can be difficult because of many reasons, one of them being the overwhelming amount of information available. This could explain why one of our inbox's most frequently asked questions is, "What happens during an ADHD assessment with Dr Matt?". Contrary to what people may think, it's not going in for an hour of consultation and coming out with a diagnosis. Like everything in life, it's a process.
But first, let's talk about how Dr Matt is qualified to do his work.
Dr Matt Harvey has undertaken advanced mental health skills training through his Australian Society for Psychological Medicine membership. He is a full member of the Australasian ADHD Professionals Association (AADPA), the Australian Adult ADHD Interest Group (AAADHDIG), and the RACGP Mental Health and ADHD/ASD/Neurodiversity special interest groups.
In short, Dr Matt is an accredited provider of focused psychological therapies, making him one of the leading ADHD GPs in Brisbane.
The assessment begins here
The patient arrives at their appointment, and with Dr Matt's help, they paint a comprehensive picture of the patient's life story with ADHD: their relationships, academic or professional life, and family dynamics. Dr Matt attentively listens and takes notes. He then guides the patient through the necessary steps, including blood tests and an ECG, to ensure a thorough assessment for any co-existing or underlying conditions. This appointment is approximately 1 hour long (45-50 face to face, 15-10 min of notes and administration tasks) and costs $486.80. The Medicare rebate is $202.65.
After the initial consultation is done, the patient needs contact the Admin to book a review appointment in two to three weeks time. It’s important to book the review right after the first consultation to keep momentum going and not have to wait more than necessary once the blood test and all the questionnaires are done.
During the second appointment, Dr Matt reviews the test results and the questionnaires with the patient and constructs a management plan. A referral with a compilation of the symptoms is sent to a psychiatrist, where the patient makes their next appointment. Just like the first consultation, this appointment is approximately 1 hour long (45-50 face to face, 15-10 min of notes and administration tasks) and costs $436.80. The Medicare rebate is $202.65.
At the psychiatrist’s
Depending on the psychiatry services, they contact the patient upon receiving the referral from Dr Matt. The number of visits to the psychiatrist depends on the patient's complexity and the psychiatrist's methods but more than often it’s one appointment and the cost varies between $1200 to $1600 (around $400 in Medicare rebate). Once the patient has booked an assessment date with the psychiatrist, it’s a good idea to call Dr Matt’s Admin so they can arrange a review appointment to line up with the incoming diagnostic report. The psychiatrist finalises a report generally within 2 weeks of the assessment and shares it with Dr Matt.
Back at Dr Matt’s
The patient comes in to review the diagnostic report with Dr Matt and discuss the results and management of their diagnoses. This appointment is booked for 1 hour to ensure the patient gets all the information necessary about their diagnosis, management, and treatment.
The patient needs to book a treatment review appointment in three to five weeks time to see how they're going with their chosen treatment plan, including medication. Once the treatment is stable, and the patient is informed and happy, the treatment reviews are booked for 30 minutes every 5 to 6 months and the patient is welcome to discuss other issues during these consultations.
And that’s it! An ADHD diagnosis in five appointments (or less).
It sounds easy, but in reality, this process involves a lot of waiting. Waiting for results, waiting for a psychiatrist appointment, waiting for the final report. Whoever said "patience is a virtue" was not an undiagnosed neurodivergent in waiting mode.
If you have read this far and you still have questions or want to know when the next available appointment is, the contact details are on the bottom of the page.