How to Get Diagnosed With ADHD in the UK
Consult your doctor if you believe that you may be suffering from ADHD. They will be attentive and refer you to an NHS ADHD assessment.
You may also qualify for Access to Work support, which could help you get access to work. Due to medication shortages and delays in getting an appointment and beginning treatment.
1. Talk to your GP
If you suspect that you or a child might have ADHD usually consult their doctor first. getting a adhd diagnosis will be attentive and send you to a specialist for an assessment. Based on the location of your home the assessment could be free of charge or you may be required pay a small amount. You can find more information on the NHS website.
It isn't easy to accept the diagnosis of ADHD especially if your symptoms don't seem to be considered serious. It is important to remember that approximately 2.6 million people in the UK suffer from ADHD. A diagnosis can help you understand why your child or you may struggle to stay focus or executing impulses.
A specialist will determine whether you or your child suffers from ADHD through observations, discussions, and questionnaires that they conduct with you, your children and anyone else who is familiar with you. They will also consider how long the ADHD-related issues have been present in your child or yourself and how they impact your daily life. They will also consider whether your or your child's symptoms could be more easily explained by a different condition (such as autism, dyslexia, anxiety or behaviour issues).
We suggest that you find a new GP in the event that your current doctor doesn't take ADHD seriously. It can be a challenge and it's a good idea to ask for a referral. There are guides available from ADHD UK, which you can print and download to help you talk to your GP.
After you've been referred to an assessment the process should be completed quickly. Doctors will want to know the specific details of 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 determine if you or your child have experienced these symptoms in the past so they can compare. This is important because only a psychologist or psychiatrist can diagnose ADHD.
2. Make an appointment with a specialist
There are several NHS specialist centres that are able to perform ADHD tests. You will have to request your GP to recommend one of these. You'll likely need to fill out forms and questionnaires prior your appointment. These can take a while to complete so try and complete them prior to your appointment if you can.
Your specialist will be looking at your symptoms within the context of current guidelines for diagnosing adults. They may request your school or job documents, or talk to your teachers, parents, or daycare providers about your childhood. ADHD is more than just an issue with your behavior. It's also connected to the way that your brain works. Your doctor will be looking at the whole picture of how you are functioning, and may want to look into other mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression.
If you are an adult, your physician will also be interested in knowing how long your ADHD symptoms have been affecting you. In the past it was believed that ADHD only affected children. But now we have proof that the opposite is true. ADHD symptoms can last into adulthood and still have a significant impact on your life.
No matter if you're an adult or a child, you'll typically be offered medication as part of your treatment plan. It is important to know that if you're diagnosed privately, your medication will firstly be provided by the NHS. Private clinics should be able to help you with this, and will usually provide your GP with a form for a shared care agreement to ensure that you pay only the NHS prescription charge.
If you're in England, you have a legal right to select your health care provider and mental health team. If you think that the wait time for an NHS assessment is too long, then you could make an appointment online with a specialist. This could be a quicker and cheaper alternative to seeing your GP.
3. Ask your GP for a referral
If you think you or your child may have ADHD the first thing to do is to speak to your GP. While they may not be in a position to identify you with ADHD in a formal manner, they will be able to take your concerns seriously. They will ask how it has affected you and your family. Then, they'll refer you to an specialist for evaluation and treatment. On our page on Getting an ADHD Assessment, we offer tips on how to accelerate the process if they have long waiting lists.
Once you have been referred and accepted, you will receive an appointment to see an Psychologist to be assessed and diagnosed. A diagnosis from a psychiatrist is required to be able to access medications on the NHS and to qualify for reasonable adjustments and DSA.
During the appointment, the psychiatrist will assess your symptoms to determine if you meet 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 might have to rule out other conditions such as anxiety or depression before making a decision. They might also have to rule out any drug or alcohol misuse.
If they determine that you suffer from ADHD they will send paperwork to your GP to sign a Shared Care Agreement. This means that your GP can prescribe you ADHD medications through the NHS. Your GP will then renew your prescriptions. Most people prefer a mix of medication and CBT therapy is most efficient, but every person is different.
It is important to know that if you live in England you have the legal right to choose the service to whom your doctor will refer you for an NHS assessment or treatment. This is known as the 'Right to Choose,' and it applies to both children and adults. If you're not sure which one to pick or if NHS wait times seem excessive you can select one of the alternative providers that offer NHS assessments in England. You can find out which ones they are by visiting the Psychiatry UK website. It offers a step-by-step guide on how to do it.
4. Book an appointment with an expert
There are many specialist services that can provide ADHD assessment and treatment in the UK. You can request your GP to refer you to one or contact the service directly. You can request an appointment for a diagnostic examination via phone or video with the majority of private providers. They will require you to provide details about your symptoms and how they impact your daily life, as well as specific details about any medical background. They will want to know whether any of your family members suffer from ADHD.
Your psychiatrist can guide you through the process of assessing. They will talk about how your symptoms have impacted your life and how they have changed over time. You will be asked about your childhood experiences and strategies for dealing with stress. They will utilize this information to determine whether or not you are suffering from symptoms of ADHD.
You can make an appointment with a psychiatrist in case you do not have a doctor who will send you to a psychiatrist. This is slightly more expensive, but it will give you the fastest way to be diagnosed. Your doctor can refer you to the NHS for follow up treatment if required.
A good psychiatrist can determine pretty quickly if you have ADHD. If they have any doubts they can confirm this by asking questions or speaking to someone who is familiar with your situation. They may also look into other health issues that could affect your ability to focus, such as depression and addiction disorders.
The majority of people who suffer from ADHD are diagnosed in their adulthood not as children. This is because the majority of the symptoms are only visible in adults, and they can cause more issues as you get older and encounter more challenges. This is especially true if you did not receive the right support when you were a child.
Sometimes it can be difficult to get an diagnosis, especially in the case of a minority group or are gender non-conforming. Some mental health professionals may have preconceived notions about how someone with ADHD might appear like, and they may make assumptions about your behavior without properly assessing you symptoms.