ADHD Diagnosis - The First Step to Finding Out If You Have ADHD
Many adults seek an ADHD assessment because they feel that something isn't quite right. They might be concerned about their job or relationships.
According to the current NHS guidelines for England and Wales you have a right to be diagnosed with ADHD. Your doctor will adhere to NICE Guidelines and will request observer reports from other people who know you well, particularly as a child.
What is ADHD assessment?
Achieving an ADHD assessment is the first step towards finding out if you or your child is suffering from this condition. You will be interviewed and diagnosed by an accredited psychologist or psychiatrist. They are the only healthcare professionals in the UK that are certified to diagnose ADHD. They can employ a variety of methods to assess your symptoms, including checklists and scales for assessing behavior, and interview people who are familiar with you. They may also ask for your medical history and an examination of your body to rule out conditions such as depression or an anxiety disorder that can mimic ADHD.
It is crucial to be honest during your assessment. If you're not truthful, the examiner may conclude that you're not serious about getting an assessment or that your symptoms don't seem that severe. In the course of your assessment you'll probably be asked about your family and personal history of mental health, 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. You'll also have to pay attention during the examination.
To qualify for a diagnosis, you must have at least six symptoms of ADHD that appear in two or more settings like school and home and disrupt your life. These symptoms must have started in the early years of childhood, prior to age 12 and cannot be explained by a disorder, like anxiety or depression. You could be referred to your GP or an independent psychiatrist who is specialized with ADHD for treatment.
If you choose to take the private route, you'll likely find that the wait time is significantly less than the NHS. It's not uncommon to wait for more than a year for an assessment on the NHS and it could be a major blow for those who are struggling to cope. A few people on the NHS waiting list committed suicide as a result of the stress and frustration of waiting. Private treatment lets you begin treatment immediately. The majority of private psychiatrists are experienced in treating adults with ADHD. They can also screen and treat co-morbidities like anxiety disorders 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'll need to have an expert mental health assessment. The ideal scenario is that this assessment will be done by a psychiatrist who has experience in working with neurodevelopmental conditions and ADHD specifically. However, there are psychologists and psychotherapists who can do this type of assessment. If you're unsure of which one to choose the best option is to ask for recommendations from your doctor or a therapist you are familiar with. You can also use the internet to find specialists in your area that have a good reputation. Some insurance plans have lists of qualified professionals.
A structured interview and questions will be a part of the process for a complete diagnosis. The focus will be on your symptoms within a current work, family and social context. The psychiatrist will ask about your symptoms from when you were when you were a teenager or child. He will also focus on the impact of your symptoms in adulthood. They will also test for other mental health problems such as anxiety or depression.
Based on the professional and circumstances, they will sometimes ask for information from your close friends and family members. They may also ask you to bring old school documents or reports to be reviewed. This can be a difficult process since it can be difficult to recall all the details of your childhood or the adolescence.
If you are part of the minority group or are gender non-conforming, the process can be more challenging. In the UK for instance people of color, GNCs and females aren't diagnosed with ADHD even though their symptoms are evident. This can make it harder to be diagnosed but it is also possible for GPs to refer you to a private specialist such as a Wellbeing Centre or Priory Hospital for an assessment. You can also sign a shared-care agreement with your GP to make the process easier. However, not all GPs will take this step.
How can I get an assessment?
Your physician is your primary healthcare provider and is best in referring you to an assessment. You can also call an individual specialist, like Priory and schedule an appointment. Priory's highly trained psychiatrists have years of experience diagnosing people with ADHD and are able to offer a full 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. These can be found on your portal dashboard and should be completed at least 24 hours before the consultation. These are designed to identify behavior that could be indicative of ADHD. Your GP will then make arrangements for an onward referral to an adult ADHD service.
If you reside in a region that offers this service, your local mental health team typically conducts it. They will conduct a comprehensive mental health and psychiatric assessment as well as examining other conditions that could be similar to the symptoms of ADHD like depression and anxiety.
It's important to mention any other mental health problems that you have or were previously diagnosed in your family, as these could impact the ability of you to be evaluated for ADHD. Also, you can provide any feedback or reports from your tutors or supervisors as well as your colleagues. Additionally, you can provide information about any help that you receive at home, for example through a GP or a non-profit organization such as EmployAbility.
The psychiatrist will discuss their findings with you after they've completed their assessment. If they determine that you suffer from ADHD they'll give you an action plan for treatment that could include suggestions for medication. The care plan will include any other assistance they believe you might appreciate, for example, a referral to talk therapy or coaching.
We understand that it may be difficult to access the assistance you require if your social or health care needs are complicated. We offer a confidential, no-cost phone consultation with an assistant psychologist to help you determine the available support. This could include the referral to local ADHD support group or an eligibility check for government-funded schemes such as Access to Work.
What happens during the course of a test?
A proper diagnosis of ADHD can assist you in controlling symptoms, which can cause issues in a variety of settings - from the workplace to home. A typical evaluation consists of an in-depth interview conducted by an experienced professional and a variety of psychometric testing. This information can help identify how the symptoms affect the person and whether they are a result of other conditions or medical issues.
A comprehensive assessment involves collecting detailed information about the person's background, especially when the symptoms began and the length of time they have been present. In addition to discussing the impact of ADHD symptoms, the professional will want to know how the symptoms have impacted their lives in general as well as in major settings such as work, school and relationships. This will be dependent on the definition of impairment that will consider whether the person has been fired because of their difficulty with time management, experienced excessive conflict and distress in their marriage or been placed on academic probation due to poor grades.
An interview will be conducted by a skilled psychiatrist or clinical psychologist who is qualified to perform ADHD assessments. Professionals may use different materials and procedures, but certain protocols are necessary to conduct a thorough assessment. This includes a detailed interview, standardized ratings for ADHD and other psychometric tests. In adhd diagnosis in adult will conduct a series of tests that are designed to test for ADHD and other disorders like learning disabilities or anxiety disorders.
Consult your doctor or contacting a local mental clinic can be helpful if you aren't sure where to start or have questions regarding the right health care professional. Many support groups for adults with ADHD can also be capable of providing information about competent professionals in your area. Some health insurance plans list specialists with specializations and can assist you in finding an appropriate expert for your evaluation.