How to Get Diagnosed With ADHD
Speak to your GP in the event that you suspect you or your child might be suffering from ADHD. They aren't able to diagnose you immediately, but they will likely refer you to an assessment of your clinical needs.
This will take place with psychiatrists (or psychologist, in Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales) and they'll evaluate you for ADHD. They'll also prepare an assessment report that will assist you in making reasonable adjustments and DSA.
1. Talk to your doctor
The first thing you should do when you suspect that your child has a problem with ADHD is to visit your GP. They will be able to determine whether they think that you have ADHD and will refer you to a specialist in the event of need. It may be helpful to bring a few notes along to the appointment.
Your GP will then refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist for an evaluation of ADHD symptoms. The process should take between 45 to 90 minutes. It involves examining the ADHD diagnostic criteria, asking about your family background, and asking about any mental health issues that you or your family might have experienced in the recent past. You may be asked to fill out a few questionnaires. The psychiatrist will then determine if you meet the criteria for ADHD and will go over medication options with you.
It's important to realise that it can be difficult for adults to get diagnosed with ADHD because they have developed strategies to disguise their symptoms. The psychiatrist will need to verify that your symptoms are causing serious impairment. This typically involves looking through old school records or letters from family. They'll also want to rule out any other causes for your symptoms, such as depression or anxiety.
If you're having trouble getting an assessment from your NHS GP, it is worth seeking a personal assessment with one of the many services available on the Right to Choose website. It can be frustrating dealing with GPs who aren't aware of the scientific basis behind ADHD. But persistence is essential.
2. Ask for a reference
A diagnosis from a doctor is required to be eligible for Disability Living Allowance and other reasonable adjustments. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland NICE guidelines provide the right to request an NHS paid specialist ADHD assessment.
Your doctor might require you to fill out the questionnaire which will be reviewed by a psychiatrist. They may also ask to speak to other professionals that have worked with you, like teachers or healthcare workers. They will look for a pattern of symptoms that match those of ADHD in adults and that have been present since the age of. They will also examine other health issues like thyroid or depression to see if they could be the cause of your symptoms.
After the test Your Psychiatrist will speak to you about treatment options. This could include medication, which can be helpful for many people who have ADHD. If you decide to proceed with medication, your Psychiatrist will refer you back to your GP for shared care management.
If you're not ready to take medication, your Psychiatrist can recommend an independent psychological or occupational therapy assessment. This can aid in managing your symptoms and improve the quality of your life. You might also find it useful to join a group for people suffering from ADHD. They can be reassuring and supportive.
get an adhd diagnosis with ADHD find that they need to be more arduous than other people to manage their day-to-day lives. This can result in low self-esteem and anger over their lack of success at work or in relationships. They can also feel that others don't understand them and be angry or resentful. There are a variety of ways to seek out support. You can join online groups or meet in person. There are lots of good organisations that offer these services.
3. Get another opinion
A second opinion can be helpful for many people. This is especially important when you've been misdiagnosed or have a medical condition like anxiety or depression that could co-exist with ADHD. Psychiatrists specialize in diagnosing mental health disorders. They can help you discover what's happening to you and how it might affect your daily routine.
You should discuss your mental health history with a psychiatrist in depth in order to determine whether you meet the ADHD diagnostic criteria. You can either self-refer or request a GP referral or make an appointment with a specialist who specializes in adult ADHD.
If you do decide to go through the self-referral process, it is recommended to gather any information you might have before your appointment, as well as noting down the symptoms you are experiencing and how they are impacting on different areas of your life. You can also request a copy of your medical records to be delivered to the psychiatrist prior to when you visit them.
A specialist in adult ADHD will provide a detailed analysis of your symptoms. They will look at how they affect your daily functioning, and look for any co-morbidities, such as anxiety or depression. They will typically use questionnaires and a clinical interview to determine a diagnosis, which they then follow up with a letter. A diagnosis of ADHD may help you receive the help you require like medication or psychotherapy to manage your symptoms. It can also assist you to get disability assistance, such as Disabled Student's Allowance and reasonable adjustments in school or college.
4. Take a clinical exam
If your GP thinks you might have ADHD and believes that it is affecting your life in a significant manner then they'll refer you to a medical assessment. This is a thorough procedure that involves speaking with someone (often, a psychiatrist) and taking out questionnaires and checklists. They might also want to see your school records or talk to someone who knew you as a child. This is because it's not thought that ADHD is a condition that develops in adults and they'll need to confirm that your symptoms have been present since childhood.
After you've been recommended for an assessment, you'll likely be given a choice of which healthcare provider to see. Patients in England have the legal right to choose their mental healthcare providers as well as their local NHS trust. This is referred to as Right to Choose and you will find useful information on how to use it on this webpage from ADHD UK.
If you're a student you might be able be assessed by your university. If they are willing to take the initiative, their report is sufficient to receive support from reasonable adjustments and the Disabled Student's Allowance. They're not in the position to prescribe medications, so you might want to consider getting an independent diagnosis instead.
Your doctor will determine whether your ADHD symptoms result in significant impairment. They might recommend treatment with medication or other methods. They'll also likely talk about your long-term goal and any other concerns you might have. They'll decide on what to do and send you back to your GP. In the majority of cases the diagnosis of ADHD will be followed by a discussion about whether you want to consider the possibility of medication and a referral to your GP to discuss this.
5. Get a diagnosis
Adult ADHD is a difficult diagnosis. Many medical professionals, especially in the NHS lack understanding of the symptoms of ADHD in adults. They could also be biased towards the diagnosis, or not take the symptoms seriously. It can be difficult to determine the correct diagnosis. Persistence pays off.
You'll need to go through a an assessment by a specialist psychiatrist, nurse specialist or psychologist. They are the only healthcare professionals who are able to diagnose ADHD in the UK. You will be asked to explain why you believe that your symptoms could be due to ADHD. They will want to confirm that your symptoms have been present for some time and have an enormous impact on your life. This may include getting old school records or asking family to fill out forms detailing your past struggles.
Following your clinical evaluation You can discuss with your doctor whether you'd like to investigate medication options. Most likely, this will be a shared-care agreement with your GP that allows you to pay for the medication via an NHS prescription. Or, you may opt to obtain your diagnosis privately and purchase the medication through pharmacies.
A private diagnosis will not suffice to be eligible for reasonable adjustments or the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA). You will need an NHS referral and a thorough examination by an ADHD specialist psychiatrist to stand the best chance of obtaining medication through this route.