ADHD Diagnosis - The First Step to Finding Out If You Have ADHD
Adults often seek ADHD assessments because they believe that something isn't quite right. They may have concerns about their work or relationships.
According to the current NHS guidelines for England and Wales you are entitled to a diagnosis of ADHD. Your doctor will follow NICE Guidelines and will also seek observer reports from people who know you well, especially as an infant.
What is an ADHD assessment?
You or your child can determine whether they suffer from ADHD by undergoing an ADHD assessment. You will be questioned and diagnosed by a licensed 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 evaluate your symptoms, including checklists and behavior rating scales and also interview people who are familiar with you. They may also request an exam of your body and a medical background to rule out other illnesses that could be similar to ADHD like anxiety or depression.
It is important to be honest during your assessment. If you don't, the evaluator may think you aren't interested in getting diagnosed or that your symptoms aren't all that bad. In the course of your assessment, you'll likely be asked about your family and personal mental health history, as well as any issues at school or at work. You might be asked to fill out the completion of a questionnaire or an assessment of your behavior. You'll also have to be attentive during the examination.
You must exhibit at least six indications of ADHD in two or more areas like school and home and they should interfere with your daily life. These symptoms must have been present in childhood before the age of 12, and are not attributed to other conditions, like depression or anxiety. You could be referred by your GP or an independent psychiatrist that specializes in treating ADHD to receive treatment.
You'll find that waiting times are much shorter if you decide to go private. It's not uncommon to wait for more than a whole year on the NHS and that could be a major blow for those who are struggling. A few people on the NHS waiting lists committed suicide due to the stress and frustration of waiting. Private therapy typically allows you to begin treatment quickly, and most private psychiatrists have years of experience treating adults suffering from ADHD. They are also able to screen for and treat co-morbidities like anxiety or depression.
Why do I need an assessment?
If you suspect that you might be suffering from ADHD or are experiencing issues in your life caused by it, you will need to have an assessment by a professional psychiatrist. This is best done by a qualified psychiatrist who is familiar with neurodevelopmental disorders and ADHD. There are psychologists and psychotherapists that can do this type of assessment. If you are unsure which one to choose the best option is to ask for recommendations from your doctor or another therapist you are familiar with. You can also search on the internet for local professionals with a good reputation. Certain insurance plans also provide lists of professionals who are certified.
The process of obtaining a diagnostic will include questions and a structured discussion with the doctor. The main focus will be on your symptoms within a current work, family and social setting. The psychiatrist will ask about your past symptoms as a child or adolescent. The doctor 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.
Depending on your identity and circumstances, they may request details about your family and friends. It is also not uncommon for them to request that you bring old school reports or other documents to review. This can be a stressful part of the process, as it may be difficult to remember specifics about your struggles in adolescence or childhood.
If you belong to an ethnic minority or gender non-conforming, the process may be more difficult. In the UK for instance there is still an underlying stigma against people of color, GNCs and females being diagnosed with ADHD even though the symptoms are obvious. It isn't easy to obtain an accurate diagnosis. However, GPs may recommend you to a private specialist such as a Priory Hospital or a Wellbeing Centre for an assessment. diagnosed with adhd can also get an agreement on shared-care with your GP to facilitate the process. However it is not the case for all GPs to be able to do this.
How do I obtain an assessment?
Your doctor is your primary health healthcare provider and is best in referring you to an assessment. You can also call a private specialist like Priory, and arrange an appointment. Priory's psychiatrists are experts with decades of experience diagnosing adults with ADHD and are able to provide you with a full range of treatment options.
If your GP decides to refer you for treatment, they'll ask you and a trusted friend or family member to complete some questionnaires before your appointment. These can be found on your portal dashboard and must 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.
If you live in a location that provides this service, your local mental health service usually provides it. They will conduct a comprehensive mental health and psychiatric examination and will also look at other conditions that could be similar to the symptoms of ADHD like depression and anxiety.
Be diagnosed with adhd to be aware of any mental health issues you may have or have experienced in the past. These could impact your ability to be assessed for ADHD. It is also helpful to bring any feedback or reports received from your educational instructors, supervisors and colleagues as well as the specifics of any help you're receiving at home (for example, an GP service or a non-profit organisation like EmployAbility).
Once the psychiatrist has completed their evaluation, they'll discuss their findings with you. If they decide that you have ADHD they'll give you an individual care plan that could include recommendations for medication. The care plan will outline any other assistance they believe you might benefit from, such as a referral to counselling or talk therapy.
We understand 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 determine what assistance might be available to you. This could include a referral to a local ADHD support group or an eligibility test for government-funded schemes like Access to Work.
What happens during an assessment?
A correct diagnosis of ADHD can help you gain control over symptoms, which can cause difficulties in a variety situations ranging from the workplace to home. adhd diagnoses consists of an extensive interview conducted by a skilled professional and various forms of psychometric testing. This information will help determine the underlying causes of the symptoms for the individual and if they are the result of other medical conditions or issues.
A comprehensive assessment 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 impact of ADHD symptoms, the doctor will want to know how the symptoms have impacted their lives in general and in particular settings like work, school and relationships. This will be determined by a definition of impairment which examines whether the individual has lost their job as a result of their difficulties with time management, experienced extreme stress and conflict in their relationship or been put on academic probation for poor grades.
A trained clinical psychologist or psychiatrist qualified to assess ADHD will conduct an interview. Professionals may use different methods and materials, but certain protocols are required to conduct a thorough assessment. This includes a detailed interview and standardized ratings for ADHD and other psychometric tests. In some cases the doctor will conduct several tests that are 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 are unsure of how to find the right health care professional, it's usually best to speak with your physician or visit the local mental health clinic for recommendations. Many support groups for adults suffering from ADHD are also capable of providing information about competent professionals in your area. Some health insurance plans provide a list of qualified professionals sorted by specialty to help you find the best expert for your assessment.