ADHD Assessment in the UK
A thorough diagnostic assessment is required for a correct diagnosis. This includes screening questions sent out in advance and an interview with you and ideally someone you know well from your childhood, analysis of school reports from the past (if they are available), and a full consultation.
The NHS has guidelines that must be followed in order to make an ADHD assessment. However, many opt to go through an individual healthcare provider to speed up the process and avoid long waiting lists.
What is an ADHD assessment?
An ADHD assessment is a chance for medical professionals to listen to you and help you understand your difficulties. You will work with an experienced psychiatrist to find out what's happening and how it could be impacting your life. They will evaluate you using a variety of tools, including symptoms checklists and scales of behaviour. They will also take into account any family history of mental health issues and your previous experiences. The psychiatrist will then be able to determine which of the three main subtypes you may have.
The doctor will also rule out any other mental or medical disorders that could be similar to the symptoms ADHD. This is important as if you are misdiagnosed with ADHD your symptoms may not improve. The specialist will also consider the severity of your symptoms and how they affect your daily functioning, using the same criteria an NHS specialist would employ.
Prepare a list in advance of any questions or concerns you may have. This will help ensure that all your needs are covered, and that nothing is missed. It is also a good idea to make notes of any particular difficulties you have been experiencing. You can remember these things better when you record them. This will also make the process for receiving an ADHD diagnosis more effective.
You should also bring any relevant documentation with you to your appointment. This could include performance evaluations from your job or old reports from school. If you have any medical or educational records that can be used to illustrate the effect of ADHD on your life, these records are useful for the specialist to have as well.
You may be asked to fill out pre-screening questions before your appointment. These can be completed through your portal dashboard, and are usually available to fill out before you meet with your psychiatrist. It is recommended to fill in the form as soon as you can and will cut down the time you wait.
How can I get an ADHD assessment?
If you or your child is suffering from symptoms of ADHD being diagnosed could be the first step towards receiving the help and support you require. In the UK, doctors cannot diagnose ADHD. However, they can refer a patient to a psychiatrist.
An NHS-funded ADHD assessment will involve a specialist psychologist or psychiatrist and typically lasts between 45 and 90 minutes. You will be asked about your general mental health, the mental health history of your family members and your symptoms. The specialist will also assess any other medical or psychological conditions that could be contributing to the symptoms you are experiencing.
In addition to examining your present symptoms, your doctor will also inquire if you've had these same problems in the past. The current diagnostic guidelines state that ADHD can only be diagnosed at the age of an adult if symptoms have been evident since childhood.
If you've had these symptoms as an adult your doctor will ask if your problems have improved or worsened over time. They will also consider any other factors that may affect your symptoms, like stress and anxiety. They may also suggest that you enroll in an organization-based ADHD education and support programme or refer you to other therapies, like cognitive behavior therapy.
If you are having difficulty getting an NHS-funded ADHD assessment, you can use your Right to Choose If you reside in England. You can choose to take a private assessment in the event that the NHS wait time is too long or you do not want to wait at all. Private assessments are more expensive, but they give you direct treatment. Your specialist will write a comprehensive report that you can take to your GP and will go over any recommended medication or other treatment options with you. They will also provide recommendation letters to your school or workplace when requested. The cost will vary based on how long it takes to write the letter.
What happens during an ADHD assessment?
An ADHD evaluation begins with a psychiatric interview. Your doctor will ask you questions regarding your health, lifestyle as well as your family and development. They will also use standard questionnaires that will be sent to you prior to your appointment. They may also interview other people, like siblings, parents, or spouses and may also ask friends and teachers to share their thoughts as well. The interviews are not designed to criticise you, but to identify other causes that could be causing your symptoms, for example anxiety or depression.
During this interview your doctor will take a look at any records you bring with you, such as evaluations of your performance at work as well as copies of your previous psychological test results, or even old school reports. The assessor will also spend time talking to the person who is the closest to you for example, your spouse, sibling or parent. This is mostly to gather information on your childhood experiences as you might have forgotten certain details or the behaviours might have changed as you grew older.
The psychiatrist will also go over any information you provided on the standardised questions prior to your appointment so that they can get an accurate understanding of your symptoms. They will also look at any other historical data like old school records or a medical or neurological examination. This is to make sure that you meet the standard criteria for ADHD. For children, this is at least six established ADHD behaviors in one of the two categories of inattention or hyperactivity/impulsivity over a period of six months. Adults must show at least five symptoms established within the same timeframe.
Your doctor will then conduct a psychiatric interview in person with you after gathering all relevant information. They will then review all the information they've collected and determine if you are suffering from symptoms of ADHD. This usually involves looking through the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-V) rating scales to determine if your symptoms fit the criteria.
If your doctor determines that you have ADHD, they will write a report for your GP. The GP will then choose an appropriate treatment plan, which may involve medication (medication) or psychological therapy (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy). In England, Wales and Northern Ireland you have the legal right to select your individual healthcare provider. This means that you can consult your own private clinician to get an ADHD assessment in the event that you don't want to wait for the NHS.
What happens after an ADHD assessment?
A professional ADHD diagnosis could change your life. It can allow you to access treatment, and it could reduce the feeling of anxiety and self-doubt regarding your symptoms.
If you suspect that your child or you may suffer from ADHD, the first step is to speak with your GP. They may refer you to a specialist psychiatrist or psychologist who are the only healthcare professionals qualified in the UK to diagnose ADHD. NHS patients can wait for months for a referral, so many choose to go private instead.
Once you have been referred to an assessment, your doctor will interview you or your child in person. The interview will cover issues like development, health, family history, as well as lifestyle. The doctor may also ask you to speak to other individuals such as teachers or daycare providers. This is not an attempt to check your answers, but rather to discover what your symptoms can do to your child or you in different situations.
adhd assessment cost uk will also use rating scales to determine if you experience specific symptoms like restlessness and difficulty staying focused. This will help determine if you are in line with the criteria for ADHD. They will also talk about whether there are any other issues that you may be suffering from, such as depression or anxiety disorders. If you have an ancestor with ADHD it is important to telling your physician about this also, since there are genetic influences on the likelihood of developing the disorder.
Your doctor will prepare a comprehensive report that you can take to your GP following the psychiatric assessment. This will include a detailed diagnosis and treatment recommendation.
If you have been diagnosed as an adult suffering from ADHD If you have been diagnosed as an adult with ADHD, your GP might suggest you take a medication. If the medication works you must inform your insurance company and the DVLA as you will need to update your driving licence. Your therapist may suggest that you and your child take a parenting class to study together how to manage ADHD. This will improve your relationship with your child and help you become more confident and a better parent.