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 have a right to receive a diagnosis of ADHD. Your specialist will follow NICE Guidelines and will seek observer reports from people who know you well, especially as a child.
What is an ADHD assessment?
You or your child can find out whether they have ADHD through an ADHD assessment. You will be interviewed by a licensed specialist psychiatrist or psychologist who are the only healthcare professionals who are qualified to diagnose ADHD in the UK. They can employ a variety of methods to evaluate your symptoms, such as checklists and scales for assessing behavior, and interview people who know you well. They may also ask for your medical history and a physical examination to rule out conditions such as depression or an anxiety disorder that could mimic ADHD.
It is essential to be honest and forthright when you're evaluating. If you don't, the evaluator may think you aren't serious about being diagnosed or that your symptoms aren't all that bad. In the course of your assessment, you'll likely be asked to share information about your mental health history and those of your family members as well as any issues at school or at work. You may be asked to fill out an assessment questionnaire or a scale of behavior. It is also important to be attentive during the examination.
To be diagnosed, you must have at least six signs of ADHD that manifest in two or more settings such as school and home, and disrupt your life. These symptoms must have developed in the early years of childhood, prior to age 12 and cannot be explained by a disorder, like depression or anxiety. You may be referred to your GP for treatment, or decide to consult an independent psychiatrist who specializes in ADHD.
You'll notice that waiting times are significantly shorter if opting to go private. It's not uncommon for people to wait for more than a whole year on the NHS and that could be a major blow for those who are struggling. Some people on waiting lists have committed suicide because they simply could not bear the stress and anxiety of waiting for an evaluation. Private treatment typically allows you to begin treatment in a short time, and the majority of private psychiatrists have extensive experience 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 you suspect that you might have ADHD or are experiencing issues in your life that are caused by it, you will need an expert mental health assessment. The ideal scenario is that this assessment will be performed by a psychiatrist who has experience working with neurodevelopmental conditions and ADHD specifically. However, there are also psychologists and psychotherapists who are able to perform this type of assessment. If you're unsure of which one to choose, it is often best to ask for recommendations from your doctor or a therapist you know. You can also search the internet to locate professionals in your area with a good reputation. Certain insurance plans offer lists of qualified professionals.
The process of obtaining a clinical diagnosis will include questions and a structured interview with the specialist. The main focus of the interview will be your symptoms within your current family, work and social context. The psychiatrist will inquire about your experiences with symptoms in your adolescent and childhood, but will also concentrate on the impact that your symptoms have had on you in adulthood. They will also test for 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 members and friends. 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 recall all the details of your childhood or your adolescence.
The process is more difficult if you are or belong to a minority group or gender non-conforming (GGN). In the UK for example people of color, GNCs and females are still not diagnosed with ADHD even if their symptoms are obvious. adhd diagnosis in adult can make it harder to be diagnosed but it is also possible for doctors to refer you a private specialist such as a Wellbeing Centre or Priory Hospital to conduct an assessment. It is also possible to obtain a shared care agreement with your GP for medications, which can make the process a lot easier, however not all GPs will do this.
How can I arrange for an assessment to be conducted?
Your primary healthcare provider is your doctor and they are the ideal person to refer you for an evaluation. Alternately, you can call an individual specialist like Priory and organise an appointment on your own. Priory's expert psychiatrists have decades of experience diagnosing adults suffering from ADHD and can offer you a full range of treatment options.
If your GP decides that you need to be referred, they will ask you and a family member or family member (if you have one) to complete a few questionnaires prior to your appointment. They can be accessed via your portal dashboard and should be completed at least 24 hours prior to your appointment. These are designed to identify behavior that could be indicative of ADHD. Your GP will arrange for a referral to an adult ADHD service.
This is typically handled by the local community mental health service, in the event that you are within the catchment area offering this service. They will perform a comprehensive mental and psychiatric evaluation and will also look at other conditions such as depression and anxiety that can sometimes mimic ADHD symptoms.
It is important to disclose any other mental health issues that you have or were previously diagnosed in your family, since these can also influence the ability of you to be evaluated for ADHD. It is also helpful to bring along any feedback or reports received from tutors, supervisors, and work colleagues and also details of any support you're receiving at home (for instance, through a GP service or a non-profit organization such as EmployAbility).
Once the psychiatrist has completed their evaluation, they'll discuss their findings with you. If they conclude that you have ADHD they'll give you an action plan for treatment that could include medication recommendations. The care plan may also outline any other supports that they believe would be beneficial for you, such as signposting to counseling or talk therapies.
We understand that it may be difficult to access the help you need when your health or social care needs are complex. We provide a free, confidential phone consultation with an assistant psychologist to help you discover the available support. This could include a referral to an ADHD support group in your local area or an eligibility test for government-funded programs such as Access to Work.
What happens during the course of a test?
A clear diagnosis of ADHD can aid in reducing symptoms, which can create issues in a variety of settings - from the workplace to at home. An extensive interview with an experienced professional and various psychometric tests are 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 conditions or any other causes.
A thorough evaluation involves gathering information on the person's past, specifically when symptoms first started and the length of time they have been present. In addition to discussing the current effects of ADHD symptoms, the specialist will be interested in how the symptoms have impacted their life in general and in the most important settings like work, school and relationships. This will be dependent on a definition of impairment that will consider whether the person has lost their job as a result of their difficulties with time management, experienced an excessive amount of conflict and stress in their relationship or been put on academic probation due to poor grades.
An interview will be conducted by an experienced psychiatrist or clinical psychologist who is certified to conduct ADHD assessments. While the professionals may vary somewhat in the procedures and the materials they employ, certain protocols are considered essential to conduct a thorough assessment. This includes a thorough interview and standardized scores for ADHD and other psychometric tests. In some instances the specialist will administer an array of tests specifically designed to screen for ADHD symptoms as well as other conditions like anxiety disorders or learning disabilities.
Consult your doctor or calling a local clinic for mental health is a good idea if you are unsure where to begin or have any questions about the right health care professional. Many adult ADHD support groups are able to give you information on qualified professionals in your area. Certain health insurance plans include specialists who are certified and can help you find the right expert for your evaluation.