How to Get adhd diagnosis in adults uk With ADHD in the UK
Consult your doctor if you suspect that you may be suffering from ADHD. They must be attentive and recommend an NHS ADHD assessment.
You may be eligible to receive Access to Work, which could allow you to gain employment. Due to medication shortages and delays in getting a diagnosis and starting treatment.
1. Talk to your GP
If you suspect that you or a child may have ADHD are likely to seek out their doctor first. They will be attentive and send you to an expert for an assessment. Depending on the area you live in, it may be free or you may be required to pay. More information is available on the NHS website.
Getting diagnosed with ADHD can be a stressful experience particularly when you don't feel that your symptoms are being taken seriously. It is important to remember that around 2.6 millions people in the UK suffer from ADHD. A diagnosis can help you understand why you or your child may have difficulty staying focused or acting upon impulses.
A specialist will determine if you or your child suffers from ADHD through observations as well as discussions and questionnaires that they conduct with you, your children, and anyone else who is familiar with you. They will also look at how long the ADHD-related issues have been present in your child or you and how they impact your life. They will also look at whether your your child's issues could be better explained by another condition (such as dyslexia, autism anxiety, or behavior issues).
If you have an GP who doesn't take ADHD seriously, we recommend trying to get a different one. It can be a challenge however, it's worth asking for an appointment with. You can download and print out guides from ADHD UK to help you talk to your GP.
Once you have been referred to an assessment the process should be completed quickly. GPs will ask for details about your child's symptoms. Then, the specialist should carry out an interview, questionnaire, and medical examination. They will be looking at whether the presenting symptoms are mainly inattention or hyperactivity/impulsivity, and how much they impact your or your child's life. They will also check if you or your child have experienced these symptoms in the past so they can compare. This is important since only a psychiatrist or psychologist can diagnose ADHD.
2. Make an appointment with an expert
There are many NHS specialization centers which can perform ADHD assessments. You'll need to consult your GP to refer you to one of these. You'll probably have to fill out forms and questionnaires prior your appointment. They may take a while to complete, so it's best to do them before your appointment.
Your physician will assess your symptoms in the context of current guidelines for diagnosing adult patients. They may request your work or school documents or talk to your parents, teachers, or day care providers about your experiences as when you were a child. It is important to keep in mind that ADHD is not just a behaviour problem It's also related to the way that your brain works. Your doctor will assess your general functioning and may also want to examine other mental health issues like anxiety or depression.
If you're an adult, your doctor will also be interested in knowing how long your ADHD symptoms have been in your life. In the past, it was believed that ADHD only affected children. But now we are aware of the contrary. ADHD symptoms can last into adulthood, and will still have an impact on your life.
No matter if you're an adult or child, you will usually be offered medication as part of your treatment plan. It's worth noting that if you are diagnosed privately then you'll initially receive your medication on the NHS. The private doctor will be able to help you with this and provide your GP documentation for a shared-care arrangement which will allow you to pay the NHS prescription fee.
If you're in England, you are legally entitled to choose your doctor and mental health team. So, if you decide that waiting time for an NHS assessment are too long, you can book a private appointment online with a specialist in your region. This is often a quicker method than going to your GP and is an economical alternative too.
3. Have your GP to refer you
Talk with your GP in the event that you suspect you or your child could have ADHD. They will not be able to identify you as having ADHD, but they should be attentive to your concerns and ask how it's been affecting you and your family. Then, they'll refer you to an specialist for evaluation and treatment. On our page, Getting an ADHD Assessment, we provide advice on how to accelerate the process if they have a lengthy waiting list.
Once you've been referred to a psychiatrist, you will be scheduled for assessment and diagnosis. This is because a medical diagnosis from a psychiatrist is the sole way to obtain medication through the NHS, and to qualify for things like reasonable adjustments and DSA assistance.
During the appointment, a psychiatrist will assess your symptoms to determine whether they satisfy the ADHD criteria. They will then make a decision about which of the three subtypes you have (inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive or combined). In certain cases they may need to rule out other conditions before making their decision, like anxiety, depression or bipolar disorder. They might also have to exclude any drug or alcohol misuse.
If they decide that you suffer from ADHD they will write to your GP with a request to sign a 'Shared-Care Agreement'. This means that your doctor will be able to prescribe you ADHD medication on the NHS. Your GP will then renew your prescriptions. Most people are able to determine that a combination of medication and CBT therapy is most efficient, however everyone is different.
It is crucial to understand that if you are a resident of England you have the legal right to choose the healthcare provider to whom your doctor will refer you for an NHS assessment or treatment. This is known as the "Right to Choose and applies to both adults and children. If you're unsure of which provider to select or if the NHS wait times seem too long, you can choose one of the other providers that provide NHS assessments in England. You can determine which ones by visiting the Psychiatry-UK website which provides a helpful guide about how to do this.
4. Request an assessment with an expert
There are many specialist services that can provide ADHD assessment and treatment in the UK. You can request your GP for an appointment with these services, or contact them directly. You can book a diagnostic assessment via video or phone call with most private providers. They will require you to provide details about your symptoms and how they impact your daily life, along with details of any relevant medical history. They will want to know if any of your family members suffer from ADHD.
Your psychiatrist will be able to talk you through the process of assessment. They will talk about your symptoms and how they have changed with time. You will be asked about your childhood and coping strategies. They will analyze this information to determine whether or not you have symptoms of ADHD.
If you don't have a GP who will recommend you for an ADHD assessment, you can always find one yourself by booking an appointment with a private psychiatrist. It is more expensive but you will get the diagnosis faster. If necessary, your psychiatrist can refer you to NHS for further treatment.
A qualified psychiatrist will be able to determine very quickly if you suffer from ADHD. If they are unsure, they can confirm this by asking questions or speaking to someone who is familiar with you. They may also look into other health conditions which can affect your ability to focus, such as addiction and depression.
Most ADHD diagnoses are made in adults, not in children. This is due to the fact that most of the symptoms are only visible in adults, and they can cause more problems as you get older and encounter more challenges. This is especially true if your did not get the right assistance as a child.
Sometimes it is difficult to receive the diagnosis, especially in the case of an ethnically diverse group or gender non-conforming. Some mental health professionals have preconceived ideas about what someone with ADHD is like and make assumptions about your behaviour without properly assessing the signs.