ADHD Diagnosis - The First Step to Finding Out If You Have ADHD
Many adults are seeking an ADHD assessment because they feel that something is not quite right. They may be concerned about their work or relationships.
According to the current NHS guidelines for England and Wales, you are entitled to be diagnosed with ADHD. Your doctor will follow NICE Guidelines and will also seek observer reports from people who know you, particularly as a child.
What is ADHD assessment?
You or your child can find out whether they suffer from ADHD by getting an ADHD assessment. You will be interviewed by an accredited specialist psychiatrist or psychologist who are the only healthcare professionals certified to diagnose ADHD in the UK. They can employ a variety of techniques to determine your symptoms, such as checklists and behavior rating scales, and interview people who are familiar with you. They may also ask for your medical history and a physical examination to rule out any conditions such as depression or an anxiety disorder that may be a symptom of ADHD.
It is important to be honest during your assessment. If you're not honest, the person evaluating you might conclude that you're not really serious about getting an assessment or that your symptoms aren't to be that severe. During the assessment you will likely be asked to provide details about your mental health history and those of your family members, as well any difficulties at school or at work. You may be asked for the completion of a questionnaire or a behavioral scale. You'll also have to be attentive during the assessment.
To be diagnosed, you must have at least six signs of ADHD that are present in more than one place such as school and home, and disrupt your life. These symptoms must have appeared in childhood before 12 years of age and cannot be explained by other conditions, like anxiety or depression. You could be referred by your GP or an independent psychiatrist who specializes in treating ADHD to receive treatment.
If you decide to take the private route, you'll likely find that the wait time is significantly less than the NHS. On the NHS it's not uncommon to wait for more than an entire year. This can be extremely stressful for those who are struggling. Some of those on the NHS waiting lists committed suicide due to the stress and frustration of waiting. Private treatment allows you to start treatment as quickly as possible. Private psychiatrists are generally adept at treating adults with ADHD. They are also able to screen for and treat co-morbidities like anxiety or depression.
Why do I require an assessment?
If adhd diagnosed suspect that you may have ADHD or are experiencing problems 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 done by a psychiatrist who has experience working with neurodevelopmental disorders and ADHD specifically. Psychotherapists and psychologists can also perform this type of assessment. If you're unsure of which therapist to choose you could ask your doctor to recommend a therapy provider you've met. You can also use the internet to find professionals in your area with an excellent reputation. Certain insurance plans also offer lists of professional who are qualified.
A structured interview and questions will form part of the process for a complete diagnosis. The primary focus will be on your symptoms within a current work, family and social context. The psychiatrist will ask about your previous symptoms as when you were a teenager or child. The doctor will also focus on the effects of your symptoms into adulthood. They will also check whether you have any other mental health problems such as anxiety or depression.
Depending on the professional and the conditions, they might seek information from close friends and family members. It is not unusual for them to ask you to bring old school reports or other documents to review. This can be a difficult process as it is difficult to remember all the details of your childhood or adolescence.
The process can be more difficult if you are a minority group and/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 evident. This makes it difficult to be diagnosed, but it is possible for doctors to refer you an individual specialist like a Wellbeing Centre or Priory Hospital for an assessment. You can also get a shared-care agreement with your GP to facilitate the process. However there are a few GPs who will take this step.
How can I get an assessment done?
Your GP is your primary health care provider and is the best in referring you to an assessment. Alternatively, you can contact a private specialist like Priory and organise an appointment on your own. Priory's specialist psychiatrists have decades of experience diagnosing ADHD in adults and can provide a range of treatment options.
If your GP decides to refer you for treatment, they'll request you and a close friend or family member to fill out some questionnaires prior your appointment. These can be found on your portal dashboard. They must be completed at a minimum of 24 hours prior to the appointment. These are designed to highlight the behaviors that could indicate ADHD. Your GP will arrange for an appointment with an adult ADHD service.
If you live in an area that offers this service, the local mental health team usually provides it. They will conduct a comprehensive mental health and psychiatric assessment and will also look at other conditions that could be similar to the symptoms of ADHD like anxiety and depression.
It is also important to provide details of any mental health issues that you might have or have had in the past. These can affect your ability to get assessed for ADHD. It's also beneficial to bring along any reports or feedback from instructors, supervisors and colleagues and also details of any assistance you receive at home (for example, a GP service or a non-profit organisation such as EmployAbility).
The psychiatrist will share their findings with your after they've completed the assessment. If they decide that you have ADHD they will provide a plan of care which may include medication recommendations. The care plan will also detail any other assistance they believe would be beneficial for you, such as providing you with information on talk therapies or coaching.
We understand that it can be difficult to get the assistance you require if your health or social healthcare needs are complex. We provide a free, confidential phone consultation with an assistant psychologist to help you find out the available support. This could include the referral to an ADHD support group in your local area or an eligibility check for government-funded schemes such as Access to Work.
What happens during an assessment?
A proper diagnosis of ADHD can help you gain control over symptoms, which can create difficulties in a variety settings - from the workplace to your home. A thorough interview conducted by an experienced professional and a variety of psychometric tests is usually part of an assessment. This information can be used to determine the extent to which symptoms affect a person and if they are caused by medical issues or other conditions.
A thorough assessment involves collecting detailed information about the person's previous experiences, including the date when symptoms first began to manifest and the time they were in effect. The specialist will also need to know the effect of ADHD symptoms on the individual's life in general, including school, work and relationships. This will be based on a definition of impairment which will consider whether the person has lost their job as a result of their trouble with time management, experienced an excessive amount of conflict and stress in their marriage or been placed on academic probation due to poor grades.
A qualified psychiatrist or psychologist certified to assess ADHD will conduct an interview. Professionals can use a variety of techniques and materials, however certain protocols are necessary for a comprehensive assessment. These include a detailed clinical interview, standardized rating scales for ADHD and various other types of psychometric testing. In certain cases the doctor will conduct an array of tests that are specifically designed to detect ADHD symptoms and other conditions, such as learning disabilities or anxiety disorders.
A consultation with your doctor or calling a local clinic for mental health can be helpful if you are unsure where to begin or have any questions about the right health professional. Many support groups for adults with ADHD can also be able to provide information about highly qualified professionals in your region. Some health insurance plans list specialists who are certified and can assist you in finding the right specialist for your evaluation.