How to Get an ADHD Assessment on the NHS
There are significant differences in the quality of adult ADHD assessment reports and assessments. This is unacceptable and needs to be addressed.
You will be provided with pre-screening questions to fill out that your psychiatrist will examine prior to you meet. This will ensure that your consultation is smooth and without the need for lengthy appointments.
Signs and symptoms
If you have difficulty staying focused, calming down or controlling your emotions, it's recommended to talk to a doctor to determine if ADHD may be the cause. Around 2.6 million people in the UK suffer from ADHD which is a neurodevelopmental issue that affects how the brain functions. It is essential to be aware that other conditions could be causing you problems. These need to be considered prior to when you are diagnosed with ADHD.
If you go to an ADHD assessment, your specialist will start by asking about the symptoms you're experiencing. They will also ask you how long you've been experiencing the symptoms and how they impact your daily life. They will then assess whether you meet the criteria laid out in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders also called the DSM-5. They will also ask for feedback from those who know you and look at how your symptoms affect your daily functioning.
Psychologists have a lot of experience diagnosing ADHD. They will likely be able to tell you within a few minutes if you fit the criteria. If they're not certain they'll take a full psychiatric history and examine your other health issues. This will include looking at other conditions that may be co-existent with ADHD and those that can lead to a missed diagnosis of ADHD such as anxiety or depression.
If you're struggling to get an ADHD assessment through the NHS, private providers can offer assessments via video calls. These providers are listed on our page Getting an ADHD Assessment. We recommend that you check the waiting times of each one prior to deciding on one. You can ask your GP about this, or call them directly to inquire what their current wait time is for an assessment. Some providers also provide treatment following an assessment, therefore if this is important to you then make sure that they provide this service. Certain providers have contracts to provide this service with local NHS Trusts, so be sure to check with your GP about the arrangements in your area.
Diagnosis
You can ask your GP to refer you to a specialist if you suspect you may have ADHD. It is important to remember that GPs cannot diagnose ADHD - they only relay symptoms and ask a referral to a specialist.
When you go for your assessment, you are likely to have a consultation with a consultant psychiatrist. The specialist will ask questions about your life, medical history and how ADHD symptoms affect your daily life. You may be asked to answer questions or rating scales.
The assessment process is in accordance with the guidelines laid out by NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence). Your doctor will examine your present symptoms and how they affected you as when you were a child. They will also take into account other comorbidities, like anxiety and depression. They will apply these criteria to determine if or not you have ADHD.
Finding out that you have ADHD is a difficult task for many people. This can be because of the stigma that surrounds the condition, as well as an absence of awareness among healthcare professionals. Additionally, those who belong to certain groups, such as those who are a person of color, a woman at birth, or are not native English speakers, may be discriminated against when seeking help for their symptoms.
There is no test to confirm ADHD. If visit here is the cause many people are mistakenly diagnosed with depression or anxiety. This can cause significant difficulties in professional and personal relationships as well as everyday functioning.
The NHS offers the Right to Choose Service for adult ADHD Assessments. If you are dissatisfied with the wait times for your local NHS services, you can choose to go to a different provider through the Right to Choose scheme. We've compiled an inventory of the providers that offer ADHD assessments under this scheme. To find out about waiting times, you should contact the providers.
Treatment
Many treatment options are available for those suffering from ADHD. They can include medication, psychosocial support or both. The best choice will be contingent on the individual's particular needs and circumstances. Medications can help to alleviate symptoms and improve functioning, while psychosocial support can address any co-existing conditions like depression or anxiety.
Someone with ADHD may also benefit from making reasonable adjustments to their environment for example, changing seating arrangements or reducing distractions in the workplace or education environments. This can be done with the guidance of a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist.
In addition to assessing for ADHD and other disorders, the specialist will also look at whether there are any mental health issues, which often occur in conjunction with or appear to mimic ADHD in adults. This is done by reviewing the symptom checklists and seeking feedback from people who know the person well like family members and close friends.
If a doctor believes the person is a candidate for ADHD They will then discuss the options for treatment. The most commonly used treatments are stimulants, which increase concentration and decrease the impulsiveness. They are available as tablets or injections, and can have both long-term and short-term effects.
Other medications may be prescribed for side effects such as eating disorders and sleep disturbances that can be a result of ADHD. Certain people can also benefit from psychosocial treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness, that can help deal with depression or anxiety symptoms.
adhd assessment should take any concerns about possible ADHD seriously, and they are legally bound to refer patients for an assessment and treatment when needed. However, the NHS has a backlog of ADHD assessments which could take as long as eight years to eliminate according to the BBC's investigation using FOI requests. This is an extremely long time to wait for an essential service. Many people choose to take the private assessment route because they can self-refer and have direct access to specialists.
Support
The first step to getting an ADHD assessment through the NHS is to visit your GP. Your concerns should be considered seriously, and they should inquire why you think you have ADHD. They may also ask you to fill out screening tools to determine if you're eligible for an appointment. If your GP accepts to refer you, you will be placed on the NHS waiting lists.
In England The average waiting time for an adult ADHD assessment is two years. The high demand for this service is the reason many areas are struggling with keeping up.
If you are worried about the length of time you will be waiting to be assessed you may consider writing a letter to your GP informing them of the information you require. This will help your doctor be aware of the importance and urgency of the assessment, and ensure that they act on your request. You can download an example letter from ADHD UK here.
Once you've been referred, a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist will invite you for an assessment. During the evaluation they'll discuss your symptoms and look over your mental health history to rule out any other conditions that might be causing your ADHD-related symptoms. They'll also discuss your daily routine and how ADHD impacts your daily routine. The assessment could take between 45 and 90 minutes and can be conducted in person or by video calls.
You may be eligible for medication on the NHS when your GP refers to you for an NHS ADHD Assessment. However this is only possible if you're able to be assessed through the Right to Choose pathway. Self-referral is a possibility if don't want to wait for a GP to refer you, or in the event that you don't have one.
Alternately, you can seek help from your local mental health trust. You can find out which NHS mental health trusts in your area offer ADHD assessments by searching their websites (except for those that don't provide the service) or by contacting them.