ADHD Diagnosis - The First Step to Finding Out If You Have ADHD
Many adults seek an ADHD assessment because they feel something is not quite right. They may have concerns about their work or relationships.
According to the current NHS guidelines for England and Wales You have a right to be diagnosed with ADHD. Your doctor will follow NICE guidelines and may seek out observer reports from others who know you, particularly as an infant.
What is an ADHD assessment?
Achieving an ADHD assessment is the first step towards discovering whether you or your child is suffering from this condition. You will be questioned 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 a variety of methods to evaluate your symptoms, including checklists and scales for assessing behavior and also interview people who know you well. 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 crucial to be honest and candid in your evaluation. If you're not honest, the person evaluating you might think that you're not serious about getting a diagnosis or that your symptoms don't seem that severe. In the course of your assessment you'll likely be asked about your family and personal mental health history, as well as any problems at school or work. You might be asked to fill out a questionnaire or to complete a behavioral scale. It is also important to pay attention during the examination.
You must show at least six indicators of ADHD in two or more places, such as school and at home and must be interfering with your daily life. These symptoms must have manifested in childhood before the age of 12 and are not attributed to other disorders, such as anxiety or depression. You could be referred back to your GP to seek treatment, or you could opt to consult an independent psychiatrist that specializes in ADHD.
You'll notice that waiting times are significantly shorter if you decide to opt for private. On the NHS it's not uncommon to wait more than one year. This can be extremely stressful for those who are struggling. Some of those on waiting lists have committed suicide due to the fact that they could not bear the stress and anxiety of waiting for an assessment. The private route typically allows you to begin treatment in a short time, and the majority of private psychiatrists have a lot of experience in treating adults with ADHD. They can also screen and treat co-morbidities like depression or an anxiety disorder.
Why do I need an assessment?
If you suspect that you may have ADHD or are experiencing issues in your life that are caused by it, you'll need to have an assessment by a professional psychiatrist. This is best done by a specialist psychiatrist who is well-versed in neurodevelopmental disorders and ADHD. Psychotherapists and psychologists can also conduct this kind of assessment. If you're unsure of which one to pick it is best to seek recommendations from your doctor or a therapist you are familiar with. You can also search the internet to find specialists in your area that have an excellent reputation. Some insurance plans also provide lists of professionals who are certified.
A structured interview and questions will form part of the process for an accurate diagnosis. The focus of the interview will be your symptoms in a current work, family and social context. The psychiatrist will ask about your symptoms from when you were a child or adolescent. The doctor will also focus on the effects of your symptoms into adulthood. They will also look for any other mental health issues such as depression or anxiety.
Based on the professional and the circumstances, they will sometimes request information from your close family and friends. It is not unusual for them to ask you to bring old school reports or other documents for review. This could be a stressful aspect of the process, since it is difficult to remember details about your struggles in childhood or adolescence.
If you are part of a minority group or gender non-conforming, the process can be more difficult. In the UK, for example there is an underlying stigma against people of color, GNCs and females being diagnosed with ADHD even though the symptoms are obvious. It isn't always easy to get a proper diagnosis. However, GPs may refer you to a private doctor such as a Priory Hospital or a Wellbeing Centre for an assessment. It is also possible to obtain an agreement for shared care with your GP for medication which can make the process a lot easier, however not all GPs are willing accept this.
How do I arrange for an assessment to be conducted?
Your GP is your primary health care provider and is best placed to refer you for an assessment. Alternately, you can call a private specialist such as Priory and schedule an appointment yourself. Priory's expert psychiatrics have years of experience in diagnosing ADHD for adults and offer a range of treatment options.
If your GP decides that you should be referred to a specialist, they will ask 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 must be completed at least 24 hours prior to the consultation. adhd diagnose are designed to highlight behaviors that may indicate ADHD. Your doctor will make the referral to an adult ADHD service.
This is usually carried out 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 conduct a thorough mental and psychiatric evaluation, including a look at other disorders like anxiety and depression that may sometimes resemble ADHD symptoms.
It is also important to mention any mental health issues you might have experienced or had in the past. These can affect your ability to get assessed for ADHD. It is also helpful to bring along any feedback or reports received from your educational tutors, supervisors, and work colleagues as well as the details of any support you receive at home (for example, through a GP service or a non-profit organisation like EmployAbility).
Once the psychiatrist has completed the assessment, they will discuss their findings with you. If they determine that you suffer from ADHD, they'll provide a care plan that may include recommendations for medication. The care plan will detail any other assistance they think would be beneficial for you, like signposting to talk therapies or coaching.
We recognise that it can be difficult to access the support you need when your health or social needs are complicated. We offer a confidential, free call with an assistant psychologist to help you discover what support is available. This could include a referral to an ADHD support group in your local area or an assessment of eligibility for government-funded schemes like Access to Work.
What happens during an assessment?
A proper diagnosis of ADHD can help you gain control over symptoms that can cause 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 usually part of an evaluation. This information can help identify how the symptoms affect the individual and if they are a result of other conditions or medical issues.
A thorough assessment requires collecting detailed information about the person's background, especially when the symptoms began and how long they've been present. The doctor will also want to understand the impact 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 been fired because of their difficulty with time management, suffered from excessive conflict and distress in their marriage or been put on academic probation for poor grades.
An interview will be conducted by a skilled psychiatrist or psychologist who is certified to conduct ADHD tests. Professionals can use a variety of materials and procedures, but certain protocols are essential for a comprehensive assessment. This includes a thorough interview and standardized scores for ADHD and other psychometric tests. In certain cases specialists will conduct a series of tests designed to screen for ADHD and other disorders like learning disabilities or anxiety disorders.
Consult your doctor or visiting a local mental health clinic is a good idea if you aren't sure where to start or have questions about the right health care professional. Many support groups for adults suffering from ADHD will also be capable of providing information about qualified professionals in your area. Certain health insurance plans offer an inventory of professionals who are qualified that are sorted by specialization to help you find the best professional for your evaluation.