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ADHD Assessment in the UK A full diagnostic assessment is essential for accurate diagnosis. This will include screening questions that are sent out in advance and an interview with you and, ideally, someone you know well from your childhood, a review of old school reports (if they are available) as well as a thorough consultation. The NHS has specific guidelines for ADHD evaluations. Many people prefer to go to an individual healthcare provider to accelerate the process and avoid long 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 qualified psychiatrist to find out what's happening and how it may be affecting your life. They will assess you by using various tools including symptom checklists and scales for assessing your behaviour. They will also consider any family history of mental health issues as well as your past experiences. The psychiatrist will then be able to determine which of the three primary subtypes you might have. The doctor will also confirm the absence of any other mental or medical conditions that might cause similar symptoms to ADHD. This is crucial because if you are misdiagnosed with ADHD your symptoms may not improve. The specialist will also evaluate the severity of the symptoms and how these affect your daily activities with the same criteria as an NHS specialist. It is an excellent idea to create your list of concerns or questions you may have prior to the time. This will ensure that all your needs are addressed and that nothing is missed. It is also recommended to take notes of any particular issues you've been experiencing. You can remember these things better by writing them down. This will help in getting an ADHD diagnosis more efficient. It is recommended that you bring any relevant documentation with you to your appointment. This could include performance evaluations from your work or old report cards from school. You can also help the specialist by bringing in any documents you have that show how ADHD has affected your life. You may be asked to fill out screening questions prior to your appointment. These can be completed by logging into your portal dashboard, and will usually be available to fill in before you meet with your psychiatrist. You should do this as soon as you can because it will reduce your wait time. How can I obtain an ADHD evaluation? If you or your child is experiencing symptoms of ADHD and you are unable to determine the cause, a diagnosis could be the first step in receiving the help and support you require. In the UK the GP cannot diagnose ADHD but they can refer an assessment to a psychologist or psychiatrist who are the only healthcare professionals in the country who are qualified to diagnose the condition (and prescribe medication if necessary). The NHS will fund an ADHD assessment by a psychologist or psychiatrist. This will take between 45 to 90 minutes. You will be asked about your general mental health, the mental health history of your family members and your symptoms. The specialist will also look at any other psychological or medical conditions that may contribute to the symptoms you are experiencing. In addition to assessing your current symptoms, your specialist will also inquire if you've had these same problems in the past. Current guidelines for diagnosing ADHD state that ADHD can only be diagnosed at the age of an adult if symptoms have been present since childhood. If you've had these symptoms since you were a teenager your doctor will inquire whether your symptoms have improved over time. They will also consider any other factors which can affect your symptoms, like anxiety and stress. They may also recommend that you participate in a group-based ADHD support and education programme or suggest alternative therapies like cognitive behavior therapy. If you live in England and are having difficulties getting a NHS-funded ADHD assessment, you are able to make use of your Right to Choose. This means you can opt to have a private assessment if are satisfied with the waiting time for an NHS assessment or if you'd like to avoid waiting for an assessment altogether. Private assessments are more expensive, however, they offer direct treatment. Your specialist will provide you with a thorough report that you can take to your GP. They will also discuss any medications or other treatment options they recommend to you. They can also provide recommendations to your workplace or school when requested. This could be an additional cost dependent on the amount of time taken to prepare the letter. What happens during a ADHD assessment? An ADHD evaluation begins with a psychiatric consultation. Your doctor will ask you questions about your health, lifestyle family, development, and lifestyle. They will also use standardised questionnaires which will be sent to you in advance. They might also solicit opinions from your teachers, friends, coaches, or spouses. The interviews are not designed to slam you, but rather to help identify other causes that may be causing your symptoms, like anxiety or depression. During the interview, your doctor may review any documents you bring with them, like copies of your previous psychological tests or old school reports. The assessor will also spend time talking to the person who knows you best like a spouse, sibling or parent. This is done to gather information about your childhood as you might have forgotten specific details or that your behaviours may have changed over time. The psychiatrist will also go over the information you gave on the standardised questions prior to your appointment to ensure that they can get an accurate understanding of your symptoms. They will also examine any other information from your past, such as school records from the past or a neurological or medical examination. This is to make sure that you meet the standard 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 have at least five signs that have been identified during the same time frame. Your doctor will then conduct a medical interview in person with you after collecting all relevant details. The psychiatrist will review all the information gathered to determine if you are suffering from ADHD symptoms. This means evaluating your symptoms using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). If your psychiatrist concludes that you suffer from ADHD If your psychiatrist determines that you suffer from ADHD, he/she will submit a report to your GP. The GP will decide on a treatment plan that may include pharmacological treatment (medication) and psychological therapy (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy). In England, Wales and Northern Ireland you have a legal right to select your individual healthcare provider. click here for info means that you can visit your private clinician to get an ADHD assessment should you not wish to wait for the NHS. What happens after an ADHD assessment? The process of getting a professional ADHD diagnosis can have a profound impact on your life. It can allow you to access treatment, and it could also reduce feelings of confusion and self-doubt about your symptoms. If you suspect that your child or you have ADHD, the first step is to discuss it with a GP. They may refer you to a specialist psychologist or psychiatrist, who are the only healthcare professionals certified in the UK to diagnose ADHD. NHS patients might be waiting for months to receive a referral. Many opt to go through private. After you have been referred to an assessment, you or your child will be interviewed in person by your physician. The interview will include subjects like development, health, family history, as well as lifestyle. The doctor may also request to talk to others, such as coaches, teachers, or daycare providers. This is not to check your answers, but rather to discover what your symptoms can do to your child or different situations. The doctor may also use rating scales to determine how often you experience specific symptoms, like restlessness or difficulty staying focused. This will identify whether you meet the standard criteria for ADHD. They will also discuss whether you have other problems, such as anxiety or depression. If you have an ancestor with ADHD it is important to telling your physician about this also, since there are genetic influences on the likelihood of developing the condition. After the psychiatric evaluation, your clinician will write up a comprehensive report that you can bring to your GP. It will include a complete diagnosis and treatment recommendation. If you have been diagnosed as an adult suffering from ADHD If you have been diagnosed as an adult with ADHD, your GP may recommend that you try medication. If the medication works you should inform the DVLA and your insurance company, as you will need to renew your driver's license. Your therapist may recommend that you and your child take an educational class for parents to learn together how to manage ADHD. This will improve your relationship with your child, and assist you in becoming a more confident and understanding parent.