What records help an ADHD evaluation?
Short answer
Useful records include old school reports or report cards with teacher comments, any earlier psychological or learning evaluations, relevant medical and mental health notes, and a current list of medicines. Work reviews can help too. None is strictly required, but records give the clinician a view of your history that does not rely only on memory.
An adult evaluation looks backward as well as at the present, and memory is patchy for everyone. Paper from the past can fill gaps. It does not need to be complete or impressive. A single teacher comment written years ago can say more than a long description from today.
Think of records as supporting evidence for a story you will tell in your own words. The clinician still wants to hear from you directly. What the paperwork adds is detail you could not have known at the time, such as how a teacher saw you in class or what an earlier clinician noticed.
Why clinicians ask for history
Records worth looking for
From school and college
- Report cards or school reports, especially the written comments rather than the grades.
- Letters home, behavior notes, or records of meetings with teachers.
- Any learning support plan, tutoring notes, or exam arrangements.
- College transcripts that show patterns such as dropped courses or uneven results.
From health care
- Earlier psychological, educational, or neuropsychological evaluations, even if they reached no conclusion about ADHD.
- Notes from past mental health care, such as treatment for anxiety or depression.
- A list of every medicine and supplement you take now.
- Anything about sleep problems, head injuries, or other conditions that affect concentration.
From adult life
- Performance reviews or written feedback from work that mention focus, deadlines, or organization.
- Your own notes or a symptom diary kept over a few weeks.
- Written observations from a partner or close friend, if they are willing.
How to get copies
For school records, start with the school or district office, or the college registrar. Policies differ, and very old records may no longer exist, so ask what they keep. Relatives sometimes have report cards in a box somewhere, which is often the quickest route.
For health records in the US, contact each provider's records office and ask for copies of your own records; most have a standard request form.
What you can leave out
You do not need to bring every page. Mark the parts that matter and put a short cover note on top: what each item is, roughly when it dates from, and why you think it is relevant. Skip anything you are not comfortable sharing; you can always mention that it exists and decide later.
Keep originals at home and bring copies. If something is fragile or irreplaceable, such as a handwritten letter from a teacher, a clear photo on your phone is usually enough for the clinician to read.
Start gathering early. Requests to schools and past providers can take a while to come back, and it is easier to sort through them calmly than the night before an appointment.
A starting point for your next step.
A completed ASRS screener is another small record you can add to the folder. It is free and covers the past six months.Frequently asked questions
What if my school records no longer exist?
That is common for adults. Clinicians can work with your own recollections and, where possible, accounts from people who knew you then. Records help but are not the only source.
Should I send records ahead of the appointment?
Ask the clinic. Some prefer to receive documents in advance so they can read them before you meet; others review them during the visit.
Do grades matter, or just comments?
Comments are often more useful, because they describe behavior. Grades can still show patterns, such as strong results in some subjects and very uneven ones in others.
Sources
Source check: 2026-10-28. No medical review has occurred.
- National Institute of Mental Health, "ADHD in Adults: 4 Things to Know"
- NICE guideline NG87, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: diagnosis and management
- Royal College of Psychiatrists, "ADHD in adults" (Public Engagement Editorial Board, published June 2023)
- NIMH, "Taking Control of Your Mental Health: Tips for Talking With Your Health Care Provider"
- Department of Health and Social Care (GOV.UK), "The NHS Constitution for England" (updated 17 August 2023)
Published 2026-10-28. Factual source check: ADHDFalcon editorial team, factual source check, 2026-10-28. No medical review has occurred.