ADHD Diagnosis - The First Step to Finding Out If You Have ADHD
Many adults seek an ADHD assessment because they feel something isn't quite right. They may be concerned about their job or relationships.
According to current NHS guidelines in England and Wales you have a legal right to receive an ADHD diagnosis. Your doctor will adhere to NICE Guidelines and will request observer reports from other people who know you, particularly as you were a child.
What is an ADHD assessment?
Your child or you can find out whether they suffer from ADHD by getting an ADHD assessment. You will be interviewed and diagnosed by a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist. They are the only healthcare professionals in the UK that are certified to diagnose ADHD. They may employ checklists or behavior ratings scales to assess your symptoms. They might also interview people who are familiar with you. They might also request your medical history as well as an examination of your body to rule out any conditions like depression or anxiety disorder that can mimic ADHD.
It's important to be honest and forthright during your assessment. If you're not truthful, the examiner might conclude that you're not serious about obtaining an assessment or that your symptoms don't seem to be that severe. During the evaluation you'll likely be asked about your family and personal history of mental health, as well as any difficulties in school or work. You might be required to fill out a questionnaire or complete an assessment of your behavior and you'll likely be asked be aware of what you're doing during the assessment.
You must display at least six indications of ADHD in two or more areas, such as school or at home and they should interfere with your everyday life. These symptoms must have developed in childhood, before age 12 and cannot be explained by a different disorder, such as anxiety or depression. You may be referred to your GP or an independent psychiatrist that specializes with ADHD for treatment.
Read Home 'll find that waiting times are significantly shorter if you choose to opt for private. On the NHS it's not uncommon to wait over an entire year. This can be extremely stressful for those who are struggling. Some people who were on the NHS waiting list took their own lives due to the stress and frustration of waiting. Private treatment allows you to begin treatment quickly. Private psychiatrists are generally experienced in treating adults with ADHD. They can also screen and treat co-morbidities like anxiety or depression.
Why do I need an assessment?
If you think you may have ADHD or are experiencing issues in your life that are caused by it, you'll need to have an expert mental health assessment. The ideal scenario is that this assessment will be performed by a psychiatrist who has worked with neurodevelopmental issues and ADHD specifically. However, there are also psychologists and psychotherapists that can do this type of assessment. If you're not sure which one to go with the best option is to ask for recommendations from your general practitioner or a therapist you have met. You can also search on the web for professionals in your area with a good reputation. Certain insurance plans also provide lists of professionals who are certified.
A structured interview and questions will form part of the process for a complete diagnosis. The focus will be on your symptoms in a current work, family and social setting. The psychiatrist will ask you about the history of your symptoms as a teenager and child, but will also concentrate on the impact that your symptoms have had on you in adulthood. They will also look for any other mental health issues such as depression or anxiety.
Depending on who you are and the circumstances they may ask for details about your family members and friends. It is also not uncommon for them to request that you bring old school reports or other documents for review. This can be a stressful process since it can be difficult to recall all the details of your childhood or the adolescence.
The process is more difficult if you are an ethnic minority or gender non-conforming (GGN). In the UK for example people of color, GNCs, and females are not diagnosed with ADHD even though their symptoms are obvious. It isn't easy to obtain a proper diagnosis. However, GPs may recommend you to a private doctor such as a Priory Hospital or a Wellbeing Centre to conduct an assessment. You can also get an agreement on shared-care with your GP to simplify the process. However, not all GPs will do this.
How do I obtain an assessment?
Your GP is your primary health care provider and is best in the position to refer you to an assessment. Alternatively, you can contact a private specialist like Priory and schedule an appointment for yourself. Priory's expert psychiatrics have decades of experience diagnosing ADHD for adults and provide a range of treatment options.
If your GP decides that you need to be referred, they'll ask you and a friend or family member (if you have one) to fill out a few questionnaires prior to your appointment. They can be accessed through your portal dashboard. They should be completed within 24 hours prior to the appointment. They are designed to identify behaviors that may be indicative of ADHD. Your GP will then make arrangements for an onward referral to a commissioned adult ADHD service.
If you live in a region that offers this service, the local mental health service typically conducts it. They will conduct a thorough mental and psychiatric examination that includes a review of other disorders like depression and anxiety that can sometimes mimic ADHD symptoms.
It's essential to note any other mental health issues that you're suffering from, or that were previously diagnosed in your family, since they can influence your ability to be evaluated for ADHD. Also, you can include any reports or feedback from your tutors, supervisors, and colleagues. Also, you can provide details of any support you receive at home, like through an GP or a non-profit organisation like EmployAbility.
Once the psychiatrist has completed the assessment, they will go over their findings with you. If they decide that you suffer from ADHD they'll give you an action plan for treatment that could include suggestions for medication. The care plan will also detail any other assistance they believe would be beneficial to you, such as signposting to therapy sessions or coaching.
We know that it can be difficult to access the help you need if your social or health medical needs are complex. That's why we offer a confidential, no-cost call with an assistant psychologist to help discover what assistance may be available to you. This could include the referral to an ADHD support group in your local area or an eligibility test for government funded schemes such as Access to Work.
What happens during an assessment?
A clear diagnosis of ADHD can assist you in controlling symptoms, which can create problems in a variety of situations ranging from the workplace to at home. A thorough interview conducted by an experienced professional and various psychometric tests are typically part of an evaluation. This information can help identify how the symptoms affect the individual and if they are caused by other medical conditions or issues.
A thorough evaluation involves gathering detailed information about the person's history, particularly when the symptoms began and how long they've been present. The specialist will also want to know the effect of ADHD symptoms on the person's life in general, which includes school, work and relationships. This will be determined by a definition of impairment which examines whether the individual has been fired because of their difficulties with time management, suffered from extreme stress and conflict in their marriage, or been put on academic probation for poor grades.
An experienced clinical psychologist or psychiatrist qualified to evaluate ADHD will conduct an interview. Although the professionals can differ in their methods and materials they use Certain protocols are essential for a comprehensive evaluation. This includes a detailed interview and standardized scores for ADHD and other psychometric tests. In certain cases, the specialist will give an array of tests specifically designed to identify ADHD symptoms as well as other conditions such as learning disabilities or anxiety disorders.
Consult your doctor or visiting a local mental health clinic could be beneficial if are unsure of where to start or have questions about the right health care professional. Many support groups for adults with ADHD are also in a position to offer information on qualified professionals in your area. Some health insurance plans have specialists with specializations and can assist you in finding an appropriate specialist for your evaluation.