ADHD Diagnosis - The First Step to Finding Out If You Have ADHD
Many adults are seeking an ADHD assessment because they believe something isn't quite right. They may be concerned about their work or relationships.
Under current NHS guidelines in England and Wales you are legally entitled to an ADHD diagnosis. Your specialist will adhere to NICE guidelines and will also seek out observer reports from people who know you, especially as a child.
What is ADHD assessment?
Your child or you can find out if they have ADHD by undergoing an ADHD assessment. You will be interviewed and diagnosed by an accredited psychiatrist or psychologist. They are the only healthcare professionals in the UK that are certified to diagnose ADHD. They may use checklists and behavior ratings scales to evaluate your symptoms. They might also interview people who know your condition. They could also request your medical history as well as a physical examination to rule out conditions like depression or anxiety disorder that may be a symptom of ADHD.
It's important to be honest and forthright when you're evaluating. If you're not truthful, the examiner might think that you're not really serious about getting a diagnosis or that your symptoms aren't that severe. During the assessment you will likely be asked to provide information about your mental health history and that of your family and any issues at school or at work. You might be asked to fill out an assessment questionnaire or a behavioral scale. You'll also need to pay attention to the test.
To get a diagnosis, you must have at least six symptoms of ADHD that appear in two or more settings like home and school, and interfere with your life. These symptoms must have been present in the early years of your life before the age of 12, and cannot be explained by other disorders, such as anxiety or depression. You may be referred to your GP for treatment, or you could decide to consult an independent psychiatrist who specializes in ADHD.
If you choose to take the private route, you'll likely find that the wait time is much shorter than on the NHS. It's not uncommon to have to wait more than a year for an assessment on the NHS and it can be a huge blow to those who are struggling in the meantime. Some of those on the waiting list for NHS committed suicide due to the stress and frustration of waiting. Private treatment lets you begin treatment quickly. Most private psychiatrists are experienced in treating adults with ADHD. They can also screen and treat co-morbidities such as depression or an anxiety disorder.
Why do I require an assessment?
If you think you may have ADHD, or are experiencing problems in your daily routine that could be due to it, you should undergo an expert mental assessment. This will ideally be done by an experienced psychiatrist who is familiar with neurodevelopmental disorders and ADHD. However, there are also psychotherapists and psychologists who can do this type of assessment. If you're not sure of which therapy to pick, you can ask your physician to recommend a therapy provider you've met. You can also use the internet to find specialists in your area that have an excellent reputation. Certain insurance plans also offer lists of qualified professionals.
The process of a full clinical diagnosis will include questions and a structured discussion with the specialist. The primary focus will be on your symptoms in your current family, work and social context. The psychiatrist will ask about your previous symptoms as a child or adolescent. The doctor will also focus on the effects of your symptoms into adulthood. They will also look for other mental health problems such as anxiety or depression.
Depending on who you are and the circumstances, they may request details about your family members and friends. You might also be asked to bring old school documents or reports to be evaluated. This can be a stressful part of the process as it can be difficult to remember details concerning your experiences during your childhood or adolescence.
The process can be more difficult if you are or belong to a minority group or gender non-conforming (GGN). In the UK for instance people of color, GNCs and females are still not diagnosed with ADHD even though their symptoms are obvious. This can make it harder to get a diagnosis, but it is possible for doctors to refer you to a private specialist such as a Wellbeing Centre or Priory Hospital to conduct an assessment. It is also possible to sign a shared-care agreement with your GP for your medication, which could make the process easier, however not all GPs are willing to do this.
How do I arrange for an assessment to be conducted?
Your primary healthcare provider is your doctor and he or she is the best person to refer you to an evaluation. You can also contact a private specialist such as Priory and schedule an appointment. Priory's specialist psychiatrists have decades of experience diagnosing ADHD in adults and offer a range of treatment options.
If your GP decides to refer you for treatment, they'll request you and a close family member or friend to fill out a few questionnaires prior to your appointment. These can be found on your portal dashboard. They must be completed at least 24 hours before the consultation. These are designed to highlight the behaviors that could indicate ADHD. Your GP will then arrange for an onward referral to an adult ADHD service.
If you reside in a region that offers this service, your local mental health service will usually conduct it. adult adhd diagnosis uk will perform a comprehensive mental and psychiatric evaluation that includes a review of other conditions such as depression and anxiety that can sometimes mimic ADHD symptoms.
It is also important to provide details of any mental health issues you might have experienced or had in the past. These can affect the ability of you to be evaluated for ADHD. Also, you can include any reports or feedback from your teachers or supervisors as well as your colleagues. Additionally, you can provide information about any help that you receive at home, like through your GP or a non-profit organisation like EmployAbility.
The psychiatrist will share their findings with your after they've completed their assessment. If they decide that you have ADHD they'll give you an action plan for treatment that could include suggestions for medication. The care plan will outline any other supports that they feel would be helpful to you, such as signposting to counseling or talk therapies.
We understand that it can be difficult to access the assistance you require when your health or social care needs are complex. This is why we offer a free, confidential call with an assistant psychologist to help determine what assistance might be available to you. This could include the referral to an ADHD support group in your local area or an assessment of eligibility for government-funded schemes like Access to Work.
What happens during an assessment?
Finding a reliable diagnosis of ADHD is among the first steps towards gaining control over symptoms that can create significant issues in a variety of settings, from the home to work. A thorough interview conducted by a professional with experience and a variety of psychometric tests are usually part of an assessment. This information can help identify the underlying causes of the symptoms for the person and whether they are the result of other medical conditions or issues.
A thorough evaluation involves gathering specific information about the person's previous experiences, including the time when symptoms first started to manifest and how long they last. In addition to analyzing the current effects of ADHD symptoms, the specialist will be interested in how the symptoms have affected their lives in general and in the most important settings like school, work and relationships. This will be determined by a definition of impairment which examines whether the individual has been fired because of their difficulty with managing their time, suffered from extreme stress and conflict in their relationship or been put on academic probation for poor grades.
A qualified clinical psychologist or psychiatrist qualified to evaluate ADHD will conduct an interview. While professionals may differ somewhat in the procedures and the tools they employ, certain protocols are considered essential for a thorough evaluation. This includes a detailed interview and standardized ratings for ADHD and other psychometric tests. In some cases the specialist will administer several tests specifically designed to detect ADHD symptoms as well as other conditions like learning disabilities or anxiety disorders.
If you're not sure where to begin or have questions about finding the right health care professional, it's often helpful to ask your personal doctor or contact an area mental health clinic for recommendations. Many adult ADHD support groups are in a position to provide you with information on qualified professionals close to you. Certain health insurance plans include qualified professionals by specialty and can assist you in finding an appropriate specialist for your evaluation.