ADHD Assessment in Singapore: Cost, Process & Where to Go

A teacher mentioned your child can't sit still or finish work, and the word "ADHD" came up. Or you've been reading late at night, recognising your own child (or yourself) in every description. Now you want the practical answers nobody gives you upfront: who actually does an ADHD assessment in Singapore, what does it cost, and how long is the wait?

Here's the honest version. There are two routes: a subsidised public route through a polyclinic referral to a government hospital, which is affordable but can involve a long wait, and a private route that's faster but costs significantly more. This guide lays out both, with real dollar figures, so you know what the next appointment will actually cost.

The Short Answer

An ADHD assessment is not a single test or brain scan. It's a clinical evaluation done by a psychiatrist or psychologist over one or more sessions. In Singapore you can get it two ways: the subsidised route (polyclinic referral to KKH, NUH or IMH — a full assessment can run roughly $150 to $800 for citizens/PRs, but the wait is often several months) or the private route (a private psychologist or psychiatrist, where a full assessment commonly runs $1,800 to $3,500, usually within a few weeks). A written diagnostic report is the key output, and it's what schools need for exam accommodations.

What an ADHD Assessment Actually Involves

There's a common misconception that ADHD is confirmed by a quick checklist or a scan. It isn't. ADHD is diagnosed from patterns of behaviour seen across settings and over time, so a proper assessment gathers several kinds of information and rules out other explanations. It typically includes:

• A developmental and family history interview
• Behaviour information from both home and school (often teacher questionnaires)
• Standardised rating scales (tools like the Conners-4 or BASC-3 that compare your child against age norms)
• Direct clinical observation
• Ruling out other causes — anxiety, sleep problems, or a learning difficulty can look like ADHD

Sometimes cognitive (IQ) testing is added, which helps if a learning difficulty or giftedness may sit alongside the attention issues. If you're getting a private quote, ask whether it includes full cognitive testing or just the ADHD-specific parts, because that changes the price.

Public Route — Polyclinic to KKH, NUH or IMH

For subsidised specialist fees, the polyclinic is your first stop. A family-physician consultation there is usually under $20, and the GP can refer your child to a Specialist Outpatient Clinic (SOC) — the Child Development units at KKH or NUH, or the Child Guidance Clinic at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH).

What to expect on this route (figures as reported by Unlocking ADHD and IMH fee coverage in CNA, 2023–2026):

• Polyclinic GP referral: usually under $20
• Subsidised specialist consultation: around $45; IMH's first consultation has been reported at about $46 for children and $42 for adults
• Full subsidised assessment: roughly $150 to $800 for citizens and PRs, depending on what's included
• Subsidised medication (if prescribed later): certain ADHD medications, such as Ritalin, are subsidised at restructured-hospital pharmacies
• Wait time: commonly several months, and reported to range from about 3 to 18 months for a first appointment

If you'd rather not wait for a subsidised slot, most SOCs let you attend as a private (non-subsidised) patient for roughly $150 a consultation — still usually cheaper than a fully private clinic.

Private Route — Private Psychologist or Psychiatrist

Going directly to a private psychologist or psychiatrist is the fastest way to an assessment, typically within one to four weeks, and no referral is needed. You pay full fees for the speed and the choice of provider.

Typical private figures (as listed by Unlocking ADHD and Nightingale Pediatrics, accessed 2026):

• Private psychologist: from about $180 per hour
• Private psychiatrist: from about $250 per consultation
• Full private ADHD assessment: commonly $1,800 to $3,500, usually covering the intake, testing hours, scoring, and the feedback session and report

There are also community options worth knowing about. For example, AMKFSC Community Services runs a Psychological Services Unit offering psychoeducational assessments for ages 5 to 16 at about $70 a session, with testing packages of roughly $750 to $1,120 — though it serves residents of its constituency only. It's worth checking whether a Family Service Centre near you offers something similar.

Public vs Private — Side by Side

Can You Use MediSave or Insurance?

Mostly no, and it catches families off guard. MediSave and MediShield Life are built for hospitalisation and specific approved treatments, not for an outpatient developmental or psychiatric assessment, so most families pay the assessment fee out of pocket. Some Integrated Shield Plans include outpatient specialist or psychiatric benefits, but coverage varies a lot by insurer and plan tier. If you hold an ISP, it's worth checking your policy wording for "outpatient specialist" or "outpatient psychiatric" cover before you assume anything. Confirm current MediSave rules with your provider, as they change.

After a Diagnosis — What Support Exists

A diagnosis is the start, not the end. Depending on your child's age and needs:

• Under 6: children with developmental needs can be referred to the government-subsidised Early Intervention Programme (EIPIC), where fees are means-tested. See CareCompare's EIPIC guide for costs and how to apply.
• School support: the written report is what MOE schools use to grant exam access arrangements such as extra time. Ask whether the assessment is DSM-5 based, as that's generally required.
• Medication: if prescribed, common ADHD medications are subsidised at restructured-hospital pharmacies.
• Still not sure if it's ADHD, autism, or both? The two overlap and often co-occur — see CareCompare's guide on ADHD vs autism, and on the PDA (demand-avoidant) profile of autism.

Questions to Ask Before You Book

Booking blind is how families end up paying for the wrong thing. Before you commit, ask:

• Do you provide a written report suitable for school exam-accommodation applications?
• Is the assessment DSM-5 based?
• What's included in the quoted fee — parent interview only, or also teacher questionnaires and cognitive testing?
• Will you coordinate with a GP or paediatrician for medication follow-up if it's needed?
• How long until we get the appointment, and the report afterwards?

What to Do This Week

1. 1Write down the specific patterns you and the teacher have noticed, across both home and school. The clinician will ask for exactly this.
2. 2Decide your priority: lowest cost (public route, book a polyclinic referral) or shortest wait (private clinic, book directly).
3. 3Get quotes in writing from one or two providers, and confirm what's included.
4. 4Check your ISP policy wording if you have one, for any outpatient specialist cover.