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ADHD Assessment in the UK A thorough assessment of your diagnosis is necessary for an accurate diagnosis. This will involve screening questionnaires that are sent out prior to, an interview with you, at least one person who has a good understanding of you since childhood, a review of historical school reports (if available) and a complete psychotherapy consultation. The NHS has specific guidelines for ADHD evaluations. Many people choose to consult an individual healthcare provider to accelerate the process and to avoid long wait lists. What is ADHD assessment? A healthcare professional can listen to your concerns and assist you to get to the bottom of them with an ADHD assessment. You will work with an experienced psychiatrist to find out what's going on and how it is affecting your life. They will evaluate you using a variety of tools, including symptom checklists and behaviour rating scales. They will also consider any family history of mental health issues as well as your previous experiences. The psychiatrist will then be able determine which of the three primary subtypes you might have. The doctor will also determine if there are any other mental or medical conditions that might be similar to the symptoms of ADHD. This is important because when you are misdiagnosed as having ADHD the symptoms might not improve. The specialist will also assess the severity of your symptoms and how they impact your daily activities, using the same criteria that an NHS specialist would use. Make a note in advance of any questions or concerns you might have. This will ensure that all your needs are covered, and that no detail is left unanswered. It's also recommended to take an outline of any particular issues you've been experiencing. Noting them down will aid in remembering them and aid in getting an ADHD diagnosis quicker and more efficient. It is also recommended to bring any relevant documents with you to your appointment. You can bring old work or school report cards or even performance evaluations. You can also help the specialist by bringing in any records you may have that show how ADHD has affected your life. You may be asked to fill out questionnaires for pre-screening prior to your appointment. You can access them when you log in to your portal dashboard. They are generally available for you to fill out prior to your appointment with the psychiatrist. It is recommended to do this as soon as possible, since it can cut down your waiting time. How can I obtain an ADHD assessment? If you or your child are experiencing symptoms of ADHD and you are unable to determine the cause, a diagnosis could be the first step towards getting the help and support you require. In the UK doctors are not able to diagnose ADHD. However, they can refer a patient for assessment to a psychiatrist. The NHS will pay for an ADHD assessment with a psychologist or psychiatrist. It will take between 45 to 90 minutes. You will be asked about your general mental health and the history of mental health of your family and your symptoms. The specialist will also examine any other medical or psychological issues that could be contributing to the symptoms you're experiencing. Your specialist will also ask you if you've ever had similar problems. This is because current diagnostic guidelines suggest that you can only be diagnosed with ADHD as an adult when the symptoms have been present since childhood. If you've experienced these symptoms since adulthood Your doctor will inquire whether your symptoms have improved over time. They will also examine any other factors which can cause your symptoms, such as stress and anxiety. They might also suggest that you enroll in a group-based ADHD education and support program or refer you to other therapies, like cognitive therapy for behavior. If you live in England and are having trouble getting an NHS-funded ADHD assessment, you are able to avail your Right to Choose. You can decide to go private in the event that the NHS wait time is too long or you don't want to wait at all. Private assessments can be more expensive, but will grant you direct access to treatment. Your specialist will provide with a thorough report you can bring to your GP. They will also discuss any medication or other treatment options recommended with you. They can also provide letters of recommendation to your school or workplace when requested. The cost can vary depending on how long it takes to write the letter. What happens during an ADHD assessment? A psychiatric evaluation is the first step in an ADHD assessment. Your doctor will review your symptom history and ask you questions about your health, development, family and lifestyle. They will also send you standard questionnaires. They might also solicit opinions from your teachers, friends coaches, spouses, or even coaches. The interviews aren't designed to criticise, but rather to discover other causes that might be causing symptoms, like anxiety or depressive disorders. During the interview, your doctor will examine any records you bring with you, such as performance evaluations from work or copies of previous psychological test results, or even old school reports. The evaluator may also be able to spend time with someone who is familiar with your life, such as your spouse, sibling, or your parent. This is done to gather information about your childhood, as you might have forgotten certain details or that your behaviours might have changed over time. The psychiatrist will also review the information you gave in response to the standardised questionnaire prior to your appointment to ensure that they can gain an understanding of your symptoms. They will also examine any other information from your past, such as old school records or a medical or neurological exam. This is to ensure that you meet the standardized 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. For adults, this means at least five symptoms that have been established over the same period of time. After they have gathered all the relevant information the doctor will conduct a personal clinical interview with you. They will then consider all the information they've collected and determine if you have the symptoms of ADHD. This process involves evaluating your symptoms using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). If your psychiatrist decides that you do have ADHD, they will submit a report to your GP. The GP will then choose an appropriate treatment plan which could include the use of pharmacological (medication) or psychological therapy (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy). In England, Wales and Northern Ireland you have a legal right to select your preferred healthcare provider, which means you can consult your own private clinician for an ADHD assessment should you not wish to wait for the NHS. What happens after an ADHD assessment? adhd assessment liverpool Iam Psychiatry can have a profound impact on your life. It can allow you to access treatment and help reduce anxiety and self-doubt regarding your symptoms. The first thing you need to do if you suspect you or your child has ADHD is to consult with your GP. They can direct you to a psychologist or psychiatrist who is the only UK healthcare professional qualified to diagnose ADHD. NHS patients might wait for months for a referral. Many prefer to go private. If you've been referred for an assessment, your doctor will interview you or your child in person. The interview will cover subjects like development, health, family history, and lifestyle. The doctor may also request to talk to other people, such as teachers, coaches or daycare providers. This isn't meant to test your answers, but rather to understand how your symptoms impact your child or yourself in different situations. The clinician will also utilize rating scales to determine if you experience specific symptoms, like restlessness or difficulty staying focused. This will identify whether you meet standardized criteria for ADHD. They will also talk about whether there are any other issues that you might have like depression or anxiety disorders. If you have an ancestor with ADHD, it is worth notifying your doctor about this too, as there are genetic influences on whether or not you develop the disorder. Following the psychiatric examination the doctor will draft a detailed report that you can bring to your GP. The report will contain a detailed diagnostic and a recommended treatment. If you've been diagnosed as an adult suffering from ADHD Your GP might suggest you try medication. If the medication is effective 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 a parenting class to learn together how to manage ADHD. This can help improve your relationship with your child, and assist you in becoming more confident and a better parent.