Should You Report Boredom During ADHD Assessment? 

Many people preparing for an ADHD assessment wonder whether to mention boredom as one of their challenges. It might seem like a small detail, but describing how boredom affects your attention, emotions, and daily life can actually be a valuable part of your assessment. 

According to Frontiers in Psychiatry (2024), boredom is closely linked to core ADHD traits such as inattention, impulsivity, and emotional dysregulation (Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2024). People with ADHD experience boredom more intensely than others because of how their brains process reward and stimulation. For many, boredom feels physically uncomfortable and leads to quick shifts in focus or impulsive behaviour as the mind searches for engagement. 

Why Boredom Matters in Diagnosis 

NICE guidance explains that ADHD is characterised by persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that interfere with daily functioning (NICE NG87). Understanding how boredom fits into those patterns helps clinicians see the full picture. Describing moments when you lose focus during repetitive or low-stimulation tasks can reveal how your attention system reacts to different situations. 

The Royal College of Psychiatrists also highlights that emotional reactions to boredom can provide clues about delay aversion—a common feature of ADHD that describes discomfort with waiting or inactivity (RCPsych CR235, 2023). These details can help clinicians differentiate ADHD from other conditions such as anxiety or depression, which affect motivation in different ways. 

How to Talk About It During Assessment 

When you attend your ADHD assessment, it helps to give real examples of how boredom affects your day-to-day life. For instance: 

• Struggling to finish paperwork or repetitive admin tasks 

• Switching between multiple projects or hobbies 

• Feeling restless or frustrated when waiting in queues or meetings 

• Losing focus on conversations or tasks that feel uninteresting 

Clinicians value these insights because they show how your brain seeks stimulation and how that impacts your work, relationships, and wellbeing. NHS guidance notes that such behavioural patterns often provide stronger diagnostic evidence than memory-based descriptions alone (NHS ADHD in Adults). 

The Next Step 

If you are preparing for an ADHD assessment or want to understand how to describe your symptoms clearly, you can learn more through ADHD Certify, a trusted UK-based provider offering affordable online ADHD assessments for both adults and children. 

Takeaway 

Yes, you should mention boredom during an ADHD assessment. It helps clinicians understand how your brain responds to low-stimulation situations and can reveal key patterns that support accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.