Screening basics

Why informant input matters in ADHD screening

Someone who knows you well may notice patterns you have normalised. Their view adds context, and it can also differ from your own.

Reviewed by NeuroFXEvidence checked 14 August 20265 min read

Two people completing separate observation forms beside a shared folder

The short answer

Informant input can show how attention, organisation, activity or impulsivity appear in another setting or over time. It is useful supporting evidence, not a deciding vote. ADHDassess labels each source, keeps parent and teacher results separate and records missing optional input as a limitation rather than blocking the report.

Another person sees a different setting

ADHD symptoms and impairment are considered across important parts of life. A partner may see routines at home. A colleague may notice missed handovers or intense deadline sprints. A teacher sees how a child manages instructions, independent work and transitions.

That perspective is valuable because no one person sees every setting.

Disagreement can be useful information

Different answers do not automatically mean somebody is wrong. Structure, interest, noise, fatigue and support can change how difficulties appear. A child may hold things together at school and struggle after getting home. An adult may perform well in a highly structured job while daily administration becomes unmanageable.

The report should describe the difference and its context, not average it away.

Choose someone who can give examples

For an adult screening, choose someone who knows you well enough to describe patterns rather than offer a general opinion. If childhood information is available, that may help a future assessor explore when difficulties began.

For a child, school input is most useful when it comes from someone who observes the child regularly. The person should answer from what they have seen and say when they do not know.

Informant input is optional in ADHDassess v1

An adult informant or education respondent can add context, but the report is not held indefinitely if optional input is unavailable. The limitation is stated clearly. A future diagnostic provider may still ask for its own observer information.

Sources

How this resource is maintained

This page is reviewed and maintained by NeuroFX Ltd. Its next scheduled review date is 14 February 2027.

Services and referral rules can change. Follow the linked NHS or provider page before acting on local pathway information.