ADHD Assessment in the UK
A thorough assessment of your diagnosis is required for a correct diagnosis. This includes screening questionnaires that are sent out prior to, an interview with you, ideally someone who has a good understanding of you since childhood, analysis of historic school reports (if available) and a full mental health consultation.
The NHS has guidelines to follow in order to make an ADHD assessment. Many people prefer to visit a private healthcare provider in order to expedite the process and avoid long waiting lists.
What is ADHD assessment?
A healthcare professional will listen to your concerns and help you get to the bottom of them with an ADHD assessment. You will be working with a psychiatrist who is senior to discover the root of what is happening and how it is impacting your life. They will evaluate your condition using a variety of tools, including symptom checklists or behaviour rating scales. They will also look at the family history of your parents and any previous experiences of mental health problems. The psychiatrist will then be able to determine the existence of any of the three major subtypes of mental illness you may have.
The doctor will also rule out any other mental or medical conditions that may mimic the symptoms ADHD. This is important because if you are misdiagnosed with ADHD, your symptoms may not improve. The expert will also assess the severity of the symptoms and how these affect your daily activities 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 your requirements are satisfied and that no need is left unanswered. You should also make a note about any difficulties you're experiencing. You will be able to remember these issues better if you write them down. It will help in getting an ADHD diagnosis more efficient.
It is also recommended to bring any relevant documentation with you to your appointment. This could include any performance evaluations from your job or old reports from school. If you have any health or educational records that could be used to show the impact of ADHD on your life, these records are useful for the specialist to have on hand as well.
You might be asked to fill in pre-screening questions before your appointment. You can access them by logging in to your portal dashboard. They are generally available to fill out before meeting with your psychiatrist. You should do this as soon as you can, as it can reduce your waiting time.
How can I get an ADHD evaluation?
If you or your child are suffering from symptoms of ADHD being diagnosed could be the first step towards receiving the help and support you need. In the UK doctors are unable to diagnose ADHD. However, they can refer a patient for assessment to a psychiatrist.
An NHS-funded ADHD assessment will be with an expert psychologist or psychiatrist. It will usually take 45-90 minutes. You will be asked questions about your general mental health as well as the history of mental health of your family and your symptoms. The specialist will also look at any other psychological or medical conditions that may be causing the symptoms you're experiencing.
In adhd assessments to examining your current symptoms, your specialist will also inquire if you've experienced similar issues in the past. This is because the current guidelines for diagnosis suggest that you can only be diagnosed with ADHD at the age of adulthood when the symptoms have been present since childhood.
If you've had these symptoms since becoming an adult your doctor will inquire whether your symptoms have improved over time. They will also look into any other factors that may affect your symptoms, like stress and anxiety. They may also recommend that you take a group-based ADHD support and education programme or suggest alternative treatments such as cognitive behaviour therapy.
If you reside in England and are having difficulties getting a NHS-funded ADHD assessment, you can avail your Right to Choose. You can opt to take a private assessment if the NHS wait time is too long or you don't want to wait around at all. Private assessments are more expensive, but will grant you access to treatment. Your specialist will prepare a comprehensive report for you to present to your GP and will discuss any recommended medication or other treatment options with you. If requested, they will also provide recommendation letter to your workplace or school. This could be an additional charge dependent on the amount of time it takes to prepare the letter.
What happens during an ADHD assessment?
An ADHD evaluation begins with a psychiatric interview. Your doctor will review your symptom history and ask questions regarding your development, health, family and lifestyle. They will also provide you with standard questionnaires. They will also interview other people, like spouses, siblings or parents as well as ask your friends and teachers to share their thoughts as well. The interviews are not designed to slam you, but to help identify other factors that could be causing your symptoms, like anxiety or depression.
During the interview, your doctor will look at any records you bring with you like evaluations of your performance at work or copies of previous psychological tests or even old school reports. The examiner may also be able to spend time with someone who is familiar with your life such as your spouse, sibling or even your parent. This is to gather information about your childhood experiences, as you might have forgotten some particulars or your behavior may have changed as you grew older.
The psychiatrist will also review any information you provided in response to the standardised questionnaire prior to your appointment to ensure that they can get a better understanding of your symptoms. They will also examine any other data from the past, such as old school reports or an examination for neurodevelopment or medical. This is to make sure that you meet standardized 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 exhibit at least five symptoms that have been established during the same time frame.
Your doctor will then conduct a clinical interview in your presence after collecting all relevant information. They will then review all the information they have collected and determine whether or not you have the symptoms of ADHD. This means evaluating your symptoms by using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5).
If your doctor determines that you do have ADHD, they will write a report for your GP. The GP will decide on the best treatment plan, which could include the use of pharmacological therapy (medication) and psychological therapy (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy). In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, you have the option of choosing your healthcare provider. If you don't want to wait until you receive an ADHD assessment from the NHS, you can see your own private clinician.
What happens after an ADHD assessment?
A professional ADHD diagnosis can transform your life. It can allow you to access treatment, and it could also reduce feelings of doubt and confusion about your symptoms.
Related Web Page to do if you suspect you or your child may have ADHD is to talk to an GP. They may refer you to a specialist psychiatrist or psychologist, who are the only healthcare professionals who are certified in the UK to diagnose ADHD. NHS patients might be waiting for months to receive a referral. Many choose to go through private.
Once you have been referred to an assessment, your doctor will meet with you or your child in person. The interview will cover subjects like development, health and family history, as well as lifestyle. The clinician may ask to speak to other people such as teachers or daycare providers. This is not an attempt to check your answers but to learn what your symptoms can do to your child or you in different situations.
The doctor may also utilize rating scales to determine how often you experience specific symptoms like restlessness and difficulty staying focused. This will determine if you meet the standardized criteria for ADHD. They will also talk about whether there are any other issues that you might have, such as depression or anxiety disorders. It is crucial to inform your physician if there is a a history of ADHD in your family. Genetics can affect whether you develop the condition.
Your clinician will prepare an extensive report you can take to your GP after the psychiatric evaluation. The report will include a thorough diagnosis and a treatment recommendation.
If you've been diagnosed as an adult with ADHD, your GP might suggest you try medication. If the medication is successful you should inform the DVLA and your insurance company, as you'll have to renew your driver's license. If you're parents of a child who has been diagnosed with ADHD or ADD, your therapist could recommend that you attend a group for parents to learn how to manage the disorder with your child. This will improve your relationship with your child and assist you in becoming an empathetic and confident parent.