ADHD Assessment in the UK
A thorough assessment of your diagnosis is necessary for an accurate diagnosis. This will involve screening questionnaires distributed prior to, an interview with you, at least one person who knows you well from childhood, a review of historical school reports (if available) and a full psychiatric consultation.
The NHS has specific guidelines for ADHD evaluations. However, many individuals choose to consult private healthcare providers to expedite the process and avoid lengthy waiting lists.
What is an ADHD assessment?
An ADHD assessment is an opportunity for a healthcare professional to listen to you and comprehend your challenges. You will be working with a seasoned psychiatrist to discover what's going on and how it may be impacting your daily life. They will assess you by using a variety of tools, including symptoms checklists and scales for assessing your behaviour. They will also take into account any family history of mental health problems and your past experiences. The psychiatrist will then be able to confirm which of three major subtypes that you may have.
The doctor will also rule out any other medical or mental disorders that could be similar to the symptoms of ADHD. This is important as if you are misdiagnosed with ADHD, your symptoms may not improve. The expert will also assess the severity of the symptoms and how they affect your daily life by using the same criteria as an NHS specialist.
Make a list ahead of time of any concerns or questions you may have. This will ensure that all your requirements are met and that nothing is missed. You should also take notes of any issues you're experiencing. You will be able to remember these issues better when you record them. This will also make the process of getting an ADHD diagnosis more effective.
Bring description here to your appointment. You may bring old school or work report cards or even performance assessments. You can also assist the specialist by bringing in any records you may have that prove how ADHD has affected your life.
You may be asked to fill in pre-screening questions prior to your appointment. You can access them by logging into your portal dashboard. They are usually available for you to fill out before meeting with the psychiatrist. This should be completed as early as possible and will cut down the time you wait.
How can I obtain an ADHD assessment?
A diagnosis of ADHD is often the first step in getting the assistance 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 be with a specialist psychiatrist or psychologist and typically takes between 45 and 90 minutes. You will be asked questions about your mental health in general and the history of mental health of your family members and your symptoms. The doctor will also take into consideration any other psychological or medical issues that could contribute to your symptoms.
In addition to assessing your current symptoms, your doctor will ask if you have had these same problems in the past. The current diagnostic guidelines stipulate that ADHD is only diagnosed at the age of an adult if symptoms have been evident since childhood.
If you've experienced these symptoms since adulthood your doctor will inquire whether your symptoms have improved over time. They will also examine any other factors that may affect your symptoms, like stress and anxiety. They might also suggest that you join a group-based ADHD education and support programme or suggest other therapies, like cognitive behavior therapy.
If you live in England and are having difficulties getting an NHS-funded ADHD assessment, you are able to avail your Right to Choose. This means you can opt to go private if you are satisfied with the waiting time for an NHS assessment or if you'd like to avoid waiting for an assessment altogether. Private assessments can be more expensive but will give you direct access to treatment. Your specialist will provide you with a detailed report that you can take to your GP. They will also discuss any medication or other treatment options with you. If you request, they'll also provide recommendation letter to your school or work place. The cost can vary depending on the amount of time required to prepare the letter.
What happens during an ADHD assessment?
An ADHD assessment starts with a psychiatric interview. Your doctor will ask questions regarding your lifestyle, health as well as your family and development. They will also use standardised questionnaires that will be mailed to you beforehand. They may also ask for opinions from friends, teachers coaches, spouses, or even coaches. The interviews are not designed to judge you, but to identify other causes that could be causing your symptoms, such as depression or anxiety.
During this interview your doctor will take a review any documents that you bring like performance evaluations from work as well as copies of your previous psychological test results, or even old school reports. The evaluator may also spend some time with someone who is familiar with your life like your spouse, sibling, or even your parent. This is to gather information on your childhood experiences as you may have forgotten some details or the behaviours might have changed as you grew older.
The psychiatrist will also review any information you've given on the standardised questionnaires before your appointment, so that they have a complete picture of your symptoms. They will also look at any other data from your past such as old school records or a medical or neurological exam. This is to ensure 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 have at least five signs that have been identified over the same time period.
After they have gathered all the relevant information the psychiatrist will conduct an in-person clinical interview with you. The psychiatrist will go over all the information collected to determine if you are suffering from ADHD symptoms. This is usually done by reading through the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fifth Edition (DSM-V) rating scales to determine if your symptoms meet the criteria.
If your psychiatrist decides that you have ADHD They will write a report for your GP. The doctor will then choose the most appropriate treatment plan, which may involve pharmacological (medication) or psychological therapy (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy). In England, Wales and Northern Ireland you have a legal right to select your preferred healthcare provider, which means you can consult your own private clinician for an ADHD assessment in the event that you don't want to wait for the NHS.
What happens after an ADHD assessment?
Getting a professional ADHD diagnosis can be life-changing. It can help you get treatment and decrease feelings of confusion or self-doubt.
The first thing you need to do if you suspect that you or your child may have ADHD is to talk to a GP. They can refer you to a specialist psychiatrist or psychologist who are the only healthcare professionals certified in the UK to diagnose ADHD. NHS patients may be waiting for months to receive an appointment. Many prefer to go private.
If you've been referred to an assessment, you or your child will be interviewed in person by your clinician. The interview will cover topics like development, health, family history, and lifestyle. The doctor may also request to talk to other people, like coaches, teachers or daycare providers. This isn't meant to test your answers, but rather to discover more about how your symptoms impact you or your child in various situations.
The doctor will employ scales of rating to determine the frequency of specific symptoms, such as trouble staying focused or restlessness. This will identify whether you meet the standardized criteria for ADHD. They will also inquire whether you have other issues, like anxiety or depression. It is important to tell your doctor if you have a family history of ADHD in your family. Genetics can influence whether you develop the disorder.
Your doctor will write a comprehensive report that you can take to your GP after the psychiatric evaluation. It will include a complete diagnosis and a treatment recommendation.
If you are an adult who has been diagnosed with ADHD If you are diagnosed with ADHD, your GP might suggest a trial of medication. If the medication works it is important to inform your insurance company as well as the DVLA, because you will need to update your driving licence. If you are parents of children who have been diagnosed with ADHD, your therapist might suggest attending a group for parents to learn how to manage the disorder together. This will help you improve your relationship with your child and make you more secure as a parent.