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ADHD Assessment in the UK A thorough diagnostic assessment is necessary for an accurate diagnosis. This will involve screening questionnaires distributed prior to as well as an interview with you, an individual who has been with you since childhood, a review of historical school reports (if available) and a full psychiatric consultation. The NHS has specific guidelines for ADHD assessments. Many people prefer to visit a private healthcare provider in order to speed up the process, and avoid lengthy waiting lists. What is ADHD assessment? An ADHD assessment is a chance for medical professionals to listen to you and help you understand your issues. You will meet with a senior psychiatrist to discover the root of the issue and how it is impacting on your life. They will evaluate you with a variety of tools including symptom checklists and 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 confirm which of the three primary subtypes you might have. The specialist will also rule out any other mental or medical conditions that might cause similar symptoms to ADHD. This is crucial because if a condition is mistaken for ADHD, you could be treated incorrectly and the symptoms of your ADHD might not improve. The expert will also assess the severity of the symptoms and how these affect your daily life using the same criteria as an NHS specialist. It is a good idea to prepare your list of questions or concerns you may have prior to the time. This will ensure that your requirements are met and that nothing is overlooked. It's also a good idea to make a note of any specific problems you've experienced. You can remember these things better when you record them. It can also make the process of receiving an ADHD diagnosis more efficient. Bring any relevant paperwork to your appointment. You may bring old school or work report cards or even performance assessments. If you have any medical or educational records that could be used to demonstrate the impact of ADHD on your life, they can be beneficial for the doctor to have also. You might be required to fill out questionnaires for pre-screening prior to your appointment. You can access them by logging in to your portal dashboard. They are generally available for you to complete prior to meeting with your psychiatrist. This should be done as early as possible and will cut down your waiting time. How can I get an ADHD evaluation? If you or your child is experiencing symptoms of ADHD, a diagnosis may be the first step to getting the help and assistance you require. In the UK doctors are not able to diagnose ADHD but can refer for an assessment to a psychologist or psychiatrist who are the only healthcare professionals in the country who are qualified to determine the diagnosis (and prescribe medication if necessary). The NHS will cover an ADHD assessment with a psychologist or psychiatrist. It will take between 45 to 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 issues that could be contributing to the symptoms you're experiencing. Your doctor will also ask you if you've ever had similar issues. 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 the age of. If you've experienced these symptoms in your adult life your doctor will ask whether your issues have changed or worsened over the course of time. They will also examine any other factors that may affect your symptoms, like stress and anxiety. They might also suggest that you join a group-based ADHD education and support programme or suggest other therapies, like cognitive behavior therapy. If you live in England and are having difficulty getting an NHS-funded ADHD assessment, you are able to benefit from your Right to Choose. You can choose to go private in the event that the NHS wait time is too long or you don't want to wait at all. Private assessments are more costly, but they give you direct treatment. Your specialist will provide with a comprehensive report that you can present to your GP. They will also discuss any other treatment options with you. If requested, they will also provide recommendation letter to your workplace or school. It could be an additional cost depending on the length of time required to write the letter. What happens during an ADHD assessment? A psychiatric examination is the first step in an ADHD assessment. Your doctor will review your symptom history and ask you questions about your development, health, family and lifestyle. They will also send you standardised questionnaires. They might also request opinions from your teachers, friends, coaches, or spouses. The interviews are not designed to criticise you, but to identify other causes that could be contributing to your symptoms, like anxiety or depression. During the interview, your doctor may review any documents you bring in, like copies of your previous psychological tests or old school reports. The assessor will also spend time talking with the person who knows you best for example, a spouse, sibling or parent. This is mostly to collect information about your childhood experiences, since you might have forgotten certain specifics or your behaviours may have changed as you got older. The psychiatrist will also look over any information you have provided on the standardised questions before your appointment so that they will have a better understanding of your symptoms. They will also examine any other information from your past like old school reports or a medical or neurodevelopmental exam. This is to determine if 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 established over the same time period. Once how to get assessed for adhd uk have gathered all the relevant details, your psychiatrist will conduct an in-person clinical interview with you. They will then consider all the information they have gathered and determine if you are suffering from symptoms of ADHD. This usually involves reading through the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-V) rating scales to determine if your symptoms fit the criteria. If your psychiatrist decides that you have ADHD, they will prepare a report for your GP. The GP will then determine the most appropriate treatment plan which could include the use of pharmacological (medication) or 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 consult your own private doctor. What happens following an ADHD assessment? A professional ADHD diagnosis can have a profound impact on your life. It can assist you in obtaining treatment, and it could reduce the feeling of anxiety and self-doubt regarding your symptoms. If you suspect that you or your child may suffer from ADHD The first step is to speak with an GP. They may refer you to a specialist psychiatrist or psychologist who are the only healthcare professionals certified in the UK to diagnose ADHD. NHS patients are able to wait for months to get an appointment, which is why many choose to use private instead. Once you have been referred for an assessment, the doctor will interview you or your child in person. The interview will cover topics like development, health family history, development, and lifestyle. The physician may also want to talk to others, such as teachers, coaches or daycare providers. This isn't to check your answers, but rather to learn more about how your symptoms affect you or your child in different situations. The doctor will also utilize rating scales to determine how often you experience certain symptoms, such as restlessness and trouble staying focused. This will determine if have the standard criteria for ADHD. They will also discuss whether you suffer from any other issues, such as depression and anxiety disorders. If you have an ancestral history of ADHD, it is worth notifying your doctor about this also, since there are genetic influences that affect the likelihood of developing the condition. After the psychiatric assessment, your clinician will draft a detailed report that you can take to your GP. It will include a complete diagnosis and treatment recommendation. If you are an adult who has been diagnosed with ADHD, your GP might suggest a trial of medication. If the medication works, you need to tell your insurance company and the DVLA in order to need to update your driving license. Your therapist may recommend that you and your child take a parenting class to learn together how to manage ADHD. This will help you improve your relationship with the child and help you become a more confident parent.