How to Get Diagnosed With ADHD in the UK
If you suspect ADHD If you suspect that you have ADHD, speak to your GP. They should consider your concerns seriously and recommend an NHS ADHD assessment.
You may also qualify for Access to Work support, which could help you get access to employment. You may experience delays in receiving a diagnosis and beginning treatment due to shortages of medications.
1. Talk with your doctor
The GP is often the first port of call for people who think that they or their child might be suffering from ADHD. They will take your concerns seriously and recommend you to a specialist for an assessment. Depending on where you live it could be free or you may have to pay a fee. Find more details on the NHS website.
It can be difficult to accept a diagnosis of ADHD especially when your symptoms aren't able to be considered serious. It's important to keep in mind 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 focused or responding to impulses.
A specialist will determine if you or your child has ADHD by observing as well as discussions and questionnaires with you as well as your child and anyone who knows you well. how to get diagnosed with adhd will also consider the length of time child's ADHD-related issues have been present and how they affect your life. They will also consider whether your your child's symptoms could be more easily explained by a different condition (such as autism, dyslexia anxiety, or other behaviour issues).
We suggest you look for an alternative GP if your current one does not treat ADHD seriously. This can be difficult however, it's worth asking for an appointment with. 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 go quickly. Doctors will want to know the details about your child's symptoms. Then, 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 check whether you or your child has experienced these symptoms in the past so they can compare. This is crucial because only a psychologist or psychiatrist can diagnose ADHD.
2. Book an appointment with an expert
There are a number of NHS specialization centers that can conduct ADHD evaluations. You will have to ask your GP to refer you to one of these. You'll probably need to fill out forms and questionnaires prior your appointment. These can take a while to fill out, so try to do them in advance of your appointment if you can.
Your specialist will be looking at your symptoms in the context of current guidelines for diagnosing adults. They may ask to see your work or school records, or speak with your teachers, parents or day care providers about the way you behaved as a child. ADHD is more than an issue with your behavior. It is also linked to the way in which your brain works. Your doctor will examine your overall functioning and may want to look into other mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety.
If you are an adult, your specialist will also want to know how long your ADHD symptoms have been impacting you. There was a long-standing belief that ADHD only affects children, but nowadays, we know more. ADHD symptoms can persist well into adulthood, and still have an impact on your life.
Whether you are an adult or a child you will usually be offered medication as part of your treatment plan. It is important to know that if you're diagnosed privately, your medication will firstly come from the NHS. Private clinics should be able to help you with this, and will typically provide your GP with a form for an agreement for shared care which will allow you to pay only the NHS prescription charge.
If you're located in England, you are legally entitled to choose your healthcare provider and mental health team. If you think that waiting times for an NHS assessment are too long, you can book a private appointment online with an expert in your area. This is usually a faster option than visiting your GP and could be cheaper too.
3. Ask your GP for a referral
If you suspect you or your child might be suffering from ADHD the first step 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 take your concerns seriously. They will ask you how it has affected your family and you. They will then refer you to an expert to be assessed and treated. On our page Getting an ADHD Assessment, we offer advice on how to speed up the process if they have an extensive waiting list.
If you've been directed to a psychiatrist you will be given an appointment for assessment and diagnosis. A clinical diagnosis from a psychiatrist is required to be able to access medications on the NHS and to be eligible for reasonable adjustments and DSA.
During this visit, the psychiatrist will review your symptoms and determine whether they are in line with 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 may require a diagnosis such as depression or anxiety before making a decision. They may also need to rule any drug or alcohol addiction out.
If they determine that you suffer from ADHD they will send a form to your GP to sign a Shared Care Agreement. This means that your doctor 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 crucial to understand that if you reside in England you have the legal right to choose the service to whom your GP will recommend you for an NHS assessment or treatment. This is known as 'Right To Choose which applies to both adults and children. If you're unsure of which provider to choose or if NHS wait times are too long, you can choose one of the alternative providers that offer NHS assessments in England. You can determine which ones by visiting the Psychiatry UK website, which has a very helpful guide on how to do this.
4. Request an assessment with a specialist
In the UK there are many specialist services that offer ADHD assessment and treatment. You can request your GP to refer you to one or contact the service directly. You can request an assessment of diagnostics via video or phone call with most private companies. They will require you to provide details about your symptoms and how they impact your daily life, along with details of any relevant medical background. They will be looking to find out whether any family members suffer from ADHD.
Your doctor will talk you through the process of assessment. They will talk about your symptoms and how they've changed over time. They will also ask you about your childhood experiences as well as your coping mechanisms. This information will be used to determine if you suffer from ADHD symptoms.
If you don't have a GP who will refer you for an ADHD assessment You can always locate one by scheduling an appointment with a private psychiatrist. It is more expensive but you will get the diagnosis quicker. If you are in need of a psychiatrist, they will refer you to the NHS for further treatment.
A good psychiatrist can determine pretty quickly if you suffer from ADHD. If they have any doubts, they will be able to find more evidence to support it by asking questions or talking to people who know you well. They may also look into other health conditions which can hinder your ability to focus, such as addiction and depression.
The majority of people suffering from ADHD are diagnosed as adults and not as children. This is due to the fact that most of the symptoms only appear in adults, and they can cause more issues as you grow older and confront more challenges. This is especially the case if you did not receive the proper assistance as a child.
Sometimes it's difficult to get a diagnosis, particularly when you belong to an ethnically diverse group or gender non-conforming. Some mental health professionals have preconceived notions about what an individual with ADHD looks like and can make assumptions about your behavior without fully assessing the severity of your symptoms.