How ADHD PREP Saved Me £10,000: A Real User Story

The question that started everything

What is adhd-tester.com? That was the question a user asked recently, and the answer led to a diagnosis that changed their life—and saved them thousands of pounds in the process.

This is their story, told in their own words through a conversation about navigating ADHD assessment in the UK. It highlights why preparation matters, why choosing the right clinic matters even more, and how a combination of free screening, country-specific guidance, and AI-powered interview prep can make all the difference.

What ADHD PREP actually offers

ADHD PREP (adhd-tester.com) is a free online ADHD screening platform that offers:

Validated screening tools: The ASRS v1.1 (Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale), a WHO/Harvard validated screening tool with 18 questions, plus the ASRS-5, a shorter 6-question version aligned with DSM-5. Both are the same tools many healthcare professionals use.

Instant, anonymous results: No email required, no data storage, no tracking. You get your results immediately with detailed breakdowns of ADHD traits across multiple domains.

Country-specific diagnosis guides: Comprehensive guides for 15 countries, including step-by-step pathways, costs, wait times, and critical information about how to navigate each healthcare system.

Comorbidity screeners: Additional validated tools for anxiety, depression, autism traits, and executive function—because ADHD rarely exists in isolation.

ADHD PREP AI Interview: A paid AI-powered mock clinical interview that uses DSM-5 diagnostic criteria to help you practice articulating your symptoms before your real assessment.

The platform is completely free for screening, with the AI interview available on a pay-what-you-can model (minimum $1, recommended $3).

The UK healthcare minefield

For UK residents seeking an ADHD diagnosis, the healthcare system presents a complex and costly landscape. Here's why getting it wrong can be devastating:

The shared care problem: If you choose a private clinic that doesn't have a shared care agreement with the NHS, you won't be able to get your medication through the NHS after diagnosis. That means paying £200-300 per month for ADHD medication privately—forever. Over two to three years, that's thousands of pounds.

The multiple assessment trap: If you can't articulate your symptoms clearly during your assessment, you might not get diagnosed. That means paying £1,000+ for another private assessment, or waiting months or years for another NHS appointment. Multiple failed assessments can easily cost £2,000-£3,000 or more.

The wrong path cost: Choose the wrong clinic, fail to communicate effectively, or miss critical information about shared care, and you could easily spend £10,000+ over a few years on repeat assessments and ongoing private medication costs.

This is why country-specific guidance matters. The UK guide on ADHD PREP specifically covers which clinics offer shared care agreements, what to ask before booking, and how to ensure you're on the right path from the start.

The value chain: Screen, Path, Practice

The user who shared this story followed a clear three-step process that ADHD PREP is designed to support:

Step 1: Screen - They used the free, validated ASRS screening tools to identify that ADHD was likely. This gave them confidence to pursue a professional assessment.

Step 2: Path - They used the UK-specific diagnosis guide to understand the healthcare landscape, learn about shared care agreements, and choose a clinic that would work with the NHS. This single step potentially saved them £200-300 per month in ongoing medication costs.

Step 3: Practice - They used the ADHD PREP AI Interview to practice articulating their symptoms, gather specific examples, and create a structured report. This helped them walk into their assessment prepared and confident.

This combination—screening to identify the issue, guidance to choose the right path, and practice to communicate effectively—is what makes ADHD PREP more than just another online test. It's a complete pre-diagnosis preparation system.

The AI interview: What it actually does

The ADHD PREP AI Interview is not a diagnostic tool. It's interview preparation—like exam prep, but for your clinical assessment.

The tool offers:

- 7 clinical assessments: ASRS, WFIRS, GAD-7, PHQ-9, Go/NoGo, CPT, AQ-10 - AI-powered mock clinical interview: Uses the exact DSM-5 diagnostic criteria your clinician will use - Voice or text interaction: Practice in the format that feels most comfortable - Doctor-ready PDF report: A structured document with your examples and assessment results that you can bring to your appointment - Practice answering clinical questions: Get comfortable articulating your symptoms with specific examples before your brain freezes in the real appointment

The "brain freeze during appointments" problem is extremely common for people with ADHD. Having practiced responses, documented examples, and a written record can genuinely help you communicate your experience effectively—which is exactly what happened in this user's case.

The outcome: Diagnosed on the first try

The user paid $15 (the "Generous" tier, though the tool works the same at any price point) for the AI interview prep. They completed it, organized their thoughts, gathered specific examples, and created their report.

Then they went to their assessment.

Result: Diagnosed with ADHD by a clinician, straight after using the prep tool. No concerns from the clinician. No need for repeat assessments. No confusion or miscommunication.

The preparation worked exactly as intended. They walked in prepared, walked out believed, and got the diagnosis they needed on the first attempt.

The £10,000 calculation

So how did ADHD PREP save this user £10,000? Let's break it down:

Avoided wrong clinic costs: If they had chosen a private clinic without a shared care agreement, they would be paying £200-300 per month for medication privately. Over 2-3 years, that's £4,800-£10,800. The UK-specific guidance helped them choose the right clinic from the start.

Avoided multiple assessment costs: If they hadn't been able to articulate their symptoms clearly, they might have needed multiple £1,000+ assessments. Two or three failed attempts could easily cost £2,000-£3,000.

Avoided delays and uncertainty: The preparation gave them confidence and clarity, reducing the risk of delays, second-guessing, or giving up on the process entirely.

Total potential savings: £6,800-£13,800+ over a few years, with the user estimating around £10,000 in avoided costs.

For a £15 investment (or even a $1 minimum), that's an extraordinary return. But more importantly, it's not just about money—it's about getting the right diagnosis, the right treatment, and the right support without unnecessary delays, confusion, or financial burden.

Why this story matters

This user's experience highlights several critical points about ADHD assessment:

Preparation matters: Walking into an assessment unprepared, especially with ADHD, often leads to poor communication, forgotten examples, and inconclusive results. Practice and preparation can make the difference between a successful first assessment and needing multiple attempts.

Information matters: In complex healthcare systems like the UK, having the right information about shared care agreements, clinic selection, and system navigation can save thousands of pounds and years of frustration.

The whole package matters: It's not just the screening, or just the guidance, or just the practice. It's the combination—Screen, Path, Practice—that creates real value.

Accessibility matters: The pay-what-you-can model (minimum $1) makes this preparation accessible to people who might not be able to afford expensive coaching or multiple private assessments.

This is why ADHD PREP exists: to help people navigate the confusing, costly, and often overwhelming process of ADHD assessment with better information, better preparation, and better outcomes.

The bottom line

ADHD PREP is more than a screening tool. It's a complete pre-diagnosis preparation system that combines:

- Free, validated screening to identify if ADHD is likely - Country-specific guidance to navigate your healthcare system correctly - AI-powered interview prep to help you communicate effectively

For this user, that combination led to a successful diagnosis on the first try, avoided thousands of pounds in unnecessary costs, and set them on the right path for ongoing treatment.

Whether you're in the UK navigating shared care agreements, or in another country facing different challenges, the principle is the same: good preparation, good information, and good practice can make all the difference.

And sometimes, that difference is measured in thousands of pounds—or in the confidence to walk into an assessment prepared, and walk out with the clarity you need to move forward.

Important disclaimer

This article is based on a real user experience shared through conversation. Individual results may vary. ADHD PREP screening tools and AI interview preparation are not diagnostic tools and cannot replace professional medical evaluation. ADHD diagnosis requires assessment by a qualified healthcare professional. The cost savings mentioned are estimates based on UK private healthcare costs and shared care scenarios. Always consult with healthcare providers about treatment options, medication costs, and care pathways in your specific situation.