ADHD Assessment in the UK
A thorough diagnostic assessment is necessary for an accurate diagnosis. This will involve screening questionnaires that are sent out prior to, an interview with you and ideally someone who has been with you since childhood, a review of historical school reports (if available) and a complete psychotherapy consultation.
The NHS has guidelines to follow in order to make an ADHD assessment. Many people opt to go to a private healthcare provider to speed up the process, and avoid lengthy waiting lists.
What is ADHD assessment?
A healthcare professional will listen to your concerns and help you understand them through an ADHD assessment. You will be working with a senior psychiatrist to get to the bottom of what is happening and how it could be impacting on your life. They will assess you using various tools such as symptoms checklists and scales for assessing your behaviour. They will also look at any family history and past experiences with mental health issues. The psychiatrist will then be able to confirm which of the three main subtypes of mental illness you may have.
The doctor will also confirm the absence of any other medical or psychological conditions that might be similar to the symptoms of ADHD. This is crucial because when you are misdiagnosed as having ADHD, your symptoms may not improve. The specialist will also evaluate the severity of the symptoms and how they affect your daily functioning using the same criteria as an NHS specialist.
Make a list ahead of time of any questions or concerns you might have. This will ensure that all of your requirements are met and that no detail is left unanswered. You should also make a note about any difficulties you're having. It is easier to remember these issues better if you write them down. It can also make the process for receiving an ADHD diagnosis more effective.
Bring any relevant documents to your appointment. This could include performance evaluations you receive from your job or old report cards 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 also.
You may also be asked to complete pre-screening questionnaires before your appointment. These can be accessed by logging into your portal dashboard, and will usually be available to fill in before you meet with the psychiatrist. This should be completed as early as possible and will cut down your waiting time.
How can I get an ADHD assessment?
A diagnosis of ADHD could be the first step in getting the help and support you need. In the UK doctors are not able to diagnose ADHD. However, they can refer a patient for assessment to a psychiatrist.
An NHS-funded ADHD assessment will involve an expert psychiatrist or psychologist and typically takes between 45 and 90 minutes. You will be asked questions regarding your mental health as well as your family's mental health history, and the symptoms you are experiencing. The doctor will also examine any other medical or psychological conditions that may be causing the symptoms you're experiencing.
Your doctor will also inquire whether you've had similar issues. This is because the current guidelines for diagnosis suggest that you can only be diagnosed with ADHD as an adult when your symptoms have been present since the age of.
If you've been experiencing these symptoms since becoming an adult your doctor will inquire whether your symptoms have improved over time. They will also examine any other factors that may affect your symptoms, including anxiety and stress. They may also suggest you enroll in an organization-based ADHD education and support program or refer you to other treatments, such as cognitive therapy for behavior.
If you are having difficulty getting an NHS-funded ADHD assessment, you are able to use your Right to Choose when you live in England. You can choose to have your assessment privately when the NHS wait time is too long or you do not want to wait at all. Private assessments are more expensive, but will grant you access to treatment. Your doctor will provide you with a thorough report that you can take to your GP. They will also discuss any medication or other treatment options they recommend to you. If requested, they will also send a recommendation letter to your school or work place. It could be an additional charge based on the amount of time it takes to prepare the letter.
What happens during an ADHD assessment?
A psychiatric examination is the first step in an ADHD assessment. Your doctor will ask you questions regarding your health, lifestyle, family, and development. They will also use standard questionnaires which will be sent to you in advance. They might also request opinions from your teachers, friends coaches, spouses, or even coaches. Interviews aren't intended to criticize, but to identify other factors which could be causing symptoms like anxiety or depressive disorders.
During the appointment, your doctor will review any documents that you bring, such as the results of your work performance as well as copies of your previous psychological test results, or even old school reports. The examiner may also visit with someone who knows you well such as your spouse, sibling or even your parent. are adhd assessments covered by insurance is to gather information about your childhood, because you may have forgotten certain details or that your behaviours might have changed over time.
The psychiatrist will also review any information you have provided in the standardised questionnaires prior your appointment, so that they have an overview of your symptoms. They will also review any other data from your past such as old school records or a medical or neurological examination. This is to ensure 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 show at least five symptoms that have been established during the same time frame.
Your psychiatrist will then conduct a medical interview in your presence after collecting all relevant information. The psychiatrist will review the information collected to determine if you have ADHD symptoms. This means evaluating your symptoms using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5).
If your psychiatrist determines that you have ADHD, they will submit a report to your GP. The doctor will then decide on a treatment plan that may include pharmacological therapy (medication) and psychological therapy (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy). In England, Wales and Northern Ireland you have a legal right to choose your individual healthcare provider. This means that you can access your own private doctor for an ADHD assessment should you not wish to wait for the NHS.
What happens after a ADHD assessment?
A professional ADHD diagnosis could change your life. It can assist you in obtaining treatment, and it could reduce the feeling of confusion and self-doubt about your symptoms.
If you suspect that your child or you may suffer from ADHD, the first step is to discuss it 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 are able to wait for months for an appointment, which is why many choose to use private instead.
If you've been referred to an assessment, your doctor will meet with you or your child in person. The interview will cover topics like development, health, family history, and lifestyle. The physician may also want to speak with other people, like coaches, teachers or daycare providers. This is not a way to verify your answers, but rather to discover how your symptoms affect your child or you in different situations.
The clinician will also use rating scales to determine how often you experience certain symptoms, like restlessness or difficulty staying focused. This will help determine if you are in line with the criteria for ADHD. They will also discuss whether you have other issues, such as depression and anxiety disorders. It is important to tell your physician if there is a any family history of ADHD in your family. Genetics can affect whether you develop the condition.
After the psychiatric evaluation the doctor will draft a detailed report for you to take to your GP. This will include a detailed diagnosis as well as a treatment recommendation.
If you are an adult who has been diagnosed with ADHD Your GP might suggest a trial of medication. If the medication is effective it is important to inform your insurance company and DVLA, because you will need to update your driving license. Your therapist might suggest that you and your child take an educational class for parents to learn together how to manage ADHD. This will help you improve your relationship with the child and help you become an even more confident parent.