Why We Do We Love How To Get Diagnosed With ADHD (And You Should Too!)
How to Get Diagnosed With ADHD in the UK
If you suspect that you may have ADHD If you suspect that you have ADHD, speak to your GP. They will be attentive and refer you to an NHS ADHD assessment.
You could be eligible for Access to Work, which could open the door to employment. Due to the shortage of medications and delays in receiving a diagnosis and starting treatment.
1. Speak to your doctor
If you suspect that you or a child may have ADHD usually seek out their doctor first. They will be very attentive to your concerns and send you to a specialist to conduct an assessment. Depending on where you live, it may be free or you could have to pay a fee. More details can be found on the NHS website.
It isn't easy to accept a diagnosis of ADHD especially when your symptoms aren't able to be considered serious. Full Document is important to remember that approximately 2.6 millions people in the UK suffer from ADHD. A diagnosis can help you understand why you or your child may struggle to stay focus or executing impulses.
A specialist will determine if you or your child suffers from ADHD based on observations or discussions that they conduct with you, your children, and any other people who know you. They will also take into consideration how long the ADHD-related issues have been present in your child or you and how they impact your daily life. They will also consider whether your child's or your symptoms are more easily explained by a different disorder (such as anxiety or dyslexia).
If you have a GP who doesn't consider ADHD seriously, we suggest seeking out an alternative one. It can be difficult to ask for a referral but it's worth it. You can download and print out guides from ADHD UK to help you consult your GP.
The process of assessment should be completed quickly once you've been referred. Doctors will want to know the details about your child's symptoms, and the specialist will conduct 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 look to see whether you or your child experienced these symptoms in the past, so they can compare. This is important since only a psychiatrist or psychologist can diagnose ADHD.
2. Schedule an appointment with a specialist
There are many NHS specialist centres that are able to conduct ADHD assessments. You'll need to request for an appointment from your GP. You'll probably need to fill out forms and questionnaires prior to your appointment. They can take a long time to fill out, so try to do them in advance of your appointment if you can.
Your specialist will examine your symptoms in the context of current diagnostic guidelines for adult patients. They may request your work or school documents or talk to your parents, teachers, or day care providers about how you were as an infant. It is important to remember that ADHD is not just a behaviour problem - it is also related to the way your brain functions. Your specialist will be looking at the entire picture of how you are functioning and may also want to check for other mental health issues like depression or anxiety.
If you're an adult, your specialist will also be interested in knowing how long your ADHD symptoms have been affecting you. In the past, there was a belief that ADHD only affects children, but now we know better. ADHD symptoms can persist well into adulthood and remain a part of your life.
You will be given medication, whether you are an adult or not. It is important to know that when you're diagnosed by a private doctor and you're prescribed medication, it will first be provided by the NHS. The private clinician will be able to assist you with this, and usually provide your GP with the necessary paperwork to sign an agreement for shared care so that you pay only the NHS prescription fee.
If you're in England, you are legally entitled to choose your doctor and mental health team. If you think that waiting for an NHS assessment are too long, you can make an appointment on the internet with a specialist in your area. This is often a quicker option than visiting your GP, and can be cheaper too.
3. Ask diagnosis adhd for an appointment
If you suspect that you or your child may be suffering from ADHD the first step to do is talk to your GP. While they may not be in a position to diagnose you with ADHD in a formal manner, they will be able to take your concerns seriously. They will ask you about how it has affected you and your family. They should then refer you to a specialist for assessment and treatment. If they are on a long waiting list, there's information on our Getting an ADHD Assessment page about how to speed things up.
Once you have been identified and accepted, you will receive an appointment to see an Psychologist for assessment and diagnosis. This is because a clinical diagnosis from a psychiatrist is the sole way to access medication through the NHS, and to qualify for things like reasonable adjustments and DSA assistance.
During this visit the psychiatrist will look at your symptoms and assess whether they fit the criteria for ADHD. They will then make a decision about which of the three subtypes you have (inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive or combined). In some cases, they might need to determine if they have any other medical conditions before making their choice, like anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder. They might also need to rule out any drug or alcohol misuse.
If they decide that you suffer from ADHD they will send a form to your GP for an Shared Care Agreement. This means that your clinician will be able to prescribe you ADHD medications through the NHS. Your GP will renew your prescriptions. The majority of people find that a combination of medications and CBT therapy is most efficient, but every person is different.
It is important to know that if you reside in England you have the legal right to choose the healthcare provider to whom your doctor will recommend you for an NHS assessment or treatment. adult adhd diagnosis is known as 'Right to Choose'and applies to both adults and children. If you aren't sure which one to go with or if you feel the NHS waiting times are too long, then you can choose one of the alternative providers that offer NHS assessments in England. You can find out which ones you can use by visiting the Psychiatry-UK website which has a very helpful guide on how to do this.
4. Book an assessment with an expert
There are a variety of specialist services which can offer ADHD assessment and treatment in the UK. You can request your GP for a referral to these or call them directly. You can request an appointment for a diagnostic examination by phone or video with the majority of private providers. They will require you to provide information about your symptoms and how they impact your daily life, as well as information about any relevant medical history. They will be looking to find out whether any family members suffer from ADHD.
Your psychiatrist will guide you through the process of assessment. They will talk about how your issues have affected your life and how they have changed over time. You will be asked about your childhood and your strategies for coping. This information will be used to determine if you suffer from ADHD symptoms.
You can book an appointment with a psychiatrist if you do not know a physician who will send you to a psychiatrist. This is slightly more expensive however it will provide you the fastest way to receive a diagnosis. Your psychiatrist will be able to refer you to the NHS for follow-up treatment if required.
A good psychiatrist can tell pretty quickly if you have ADHD. If they are in doubt, they can gather more evidence by asking questions or talking to someone who knows you well. They will also consider other health conditions that can hinder your ability to concentrate, such as addiction disorders or depression.
The majority of ADHD diagnoses are made in adults, not in children. This is because the majority of symptoms only appear as adults and can cause more issues as you get older and face more challenges. This is particularly true if you did not get the right assistance as a child.
Sometimes it's difficult to get an diagnosis, especially when you belong to an ethnic minority or gender non-conforming. Some mental health professionals have preconceived notions about what an individual with ADHD is like and make assumptions about your behaviour without properly assessing the signs.