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 relationships or work.
According to the current NHS guidelines for England and Wales You have a right to receive a diagnosis of ADHD. Your specialist will follow NICE Guidelines and will also request observer reports from other people who know you well, particularly as an infant.
What is ADHD assessment?
Your child or you can find out whether they have ADHD through an ADHD assessment. You will be interviewed and diagnosed by an accredited psychiatrist or psychologist. They are the only healthcare professionals in the UK that are certified to diagnose ADHD. They may use a number of techniques to determine your symptoms, such as checklists and behavior rating scales, and interview those who know you well. They could also request your medical history as well as an examination of your body to rule out other conditions like depression or anxiety disorder that may be a symptom of ADHD.
It is essential to be honest and open in your evaluation. If you're not truthful, the examiner may conclude that you're not serious about getting diagnosed or that your symptoms aren't to be that severe. In the course of your assessment you'll probably be asked about your family and personal history of mental health and any issues at school or at work. You might be asked to complete an assessment questionnaire or fill out a behavioral rating scale and you'll likely be asked be aware of what you're doing during your assessment.
You must display at least six signs of ADHD in two or more locations like school and home and must be interfering with your daily routine. The symptoms must have begun in your early childhood, prior to the age of 12, and they can't be explained by another disorder, like depression or anxiety. You may be referred to your GP or an independent psychiatrist who is specialized in treating ADHD for treatment.
You'll notice that waiting times are shorter if you choose to go private. On the NHS, it's not unusual to wait for more than a year. This can be devastating for those who are struggling. A few people on the waiting list for NHS took their own lives due to the stress and anxiety of waiting. Private treatment allows you to begin treatment immediately. Private psychiatrists are generally skilled in treating adults suffering from ADHD. They can also look for and treat co-morbidities, such as anxiety or depression.
Why do I need an assessment?
If you believe that you might have ADHD or are experiencing problems in your life due to it, you'll need an expert mental health assessment. This will ideally be done by a specialist psychiatrist who is knowledgeable about neurodevelopmental disorders and ADHD. Psychotherapists and psychologists also perform this type of assessment. If you're not sure of which therapy to pick you could ask your doctor for a recommendation or a counselor you've worked with. You can also search on the internet for professionals near you with a good reputation. Certain insurance plans offer lists of professionals who are certified.
The process of getting a complete diagnostic will include questions and a structured interview with the specialist. The main focus of the interview will be your symptoms within the present work, family and social setting. The psychiatrist will inquire about your experiences with symptoms as a teenager and child, but will also concentrate on the impact your symptoms have had in adulthood. They will also determine whether you have any other mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression.
Depending on who you are and the circumstances, they might ask for details about your family and friends. They may also ask you to bring old school documents or reports to be evaluated. This can be a stressful procedure as it can be difficult to remember all the details of your childhood or adolescence.
The process may be more difficult if you're an ethnic minority or gender non-conforming (GGN). In the UK, for example there is still a prejudice against people of colour GNCs, females and others being diagnosed with ADHD, even if the symptoms are obvious. This can make it more difficult to be diagnosed but it is also possible for GPs to refer you to an individual specialist like a Wellbeing Centre or Priory Hospital to conduct an assessment. You can also sign an agreement on shared-care with your GP to simplify the process. However it is not the case for all GPs to be able to do this.
How can I get an assessment?
Read the Full Report is your GP and they are the best person to refer you for an evaluation. You can also contact a private specialist like Priory and schedule an appointment. Priory's psychiatrists are experts with many years of experience diagnosing adults suffering from ADHD and are able to offer an array of treatment options.
If your GP decides that you should be referred, they'll request you and a friend or family member (if you have one) to complete a few questionnaires prior to your appointment. They can be accessed through your portal dashboard. They should be completed 24 hours before the appointment. They are designed to identify behaviors that may be indicative of ADHD. Your doctor will arrange for a referral to an adult ADHD service.
This is typically handled by the local community mental health team in the event that you reside within a catchment area that is currently providing this service. They will undertake a comprehensive mental health and psychiatric evaluation, including looking at other conditions that may mimic the symptoms of ADHD like depression and anxiety.
You should also provide details of any mental health issues you may have or have experienced in the past. These could affect your ability to get assessed for ADHD. You can also bring any feedback or reports from your educational tutors or supervisors as well as your colleagues. Additionally, you should give details of any assistance that you receive at home, for example through a GP or a non-profit organisation like EmployAbility.
After the psychiatrist has completed their evaluation, they'll discuss their findings with you. If they determine that you have ADHD they'll offer an action plan for treatment that could include recommendations for medication. The care plan will also outline any other assistance they believe you would be able to benefit from, for instance, a referral to counseling or talk therapy.
We recognise that it can be difficult to access the help you require in the event that your social or health care needs are complex. This is 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 local ADHD support group or an eligibility test for government-funded programs like Access to Work.
What happens during the course of a test?
Finding a reliable diagnosis of ADHD is one of the first steps in gaining control over the symptoms that could create significant issues in a variety of settings, from the home to work. An evaluation usually includes an in-depth interview conducted by a skilled professional and various forms of psychometric testing. This information will help determine how the symptoms affect the person and whether they are caused by other medical conditions or issues.
A thorough assessment involves gathering specific information about the person's past, including when symptoms first appeared and the length of time they were in effect. The doctor will also want to know the impact of ADHD symptoms on the individual's life in general, including work, school and relationships. This will be dependent on a definition of impairment which will consider whether the person has lost their job as a result of their difficulty with managing their time, suffered from excessive conflict and distress in their relationship or been put on academic probation for poor grades.
An interview will be conducted by an experienced clinical psychologist or psychiatrist who is certified to conduct ADHD tests. Although the professionals can differ in their methods and the tools they employ, certain protocols are considered essential for a comprehensive evaluation. This includes a thorough interview, standardized ratings for ADHD and other psychometric tests. In certain cases the doctor will conduct an array of tests specifically designed to identify ADHD symptoms as well as other conditions such as learning disabilities or anxiety disorders.
If you're unsure of where to begin or have questions about finding the right health professional, it's often helpful to ask your personal doctor or contact a local mental health clinic for recommendations. Many support groups for adults suffering from ADHD can also be capable of providing information about competent professionals in your area. Some health insurance plans have specialists who are certified and can assist you in finding an appropriate specialist to conduct your assessment.