Reflections on the current challenges in children’s ADHD assessment services

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This article shares the personal reflections of two staff members on the current challenges in children and young people’s ADHD assessment services. We reflect on a range of challenges which impact on children and young people’s sense of self and mental health, and reduces their likelihood of receiving timely and effective support. The challenges discussed are waiting times, a deficit-based criteria, the impact of masking, signs of ADHD being overlooked, inaccurate perceptions of ADHD, overlapping symptoms with other conditions, and a lack of research and support. We suggest some potential areas of focus for service developments and future research.