ADHD Diagnosis
ADHD is a tangled condition. It can be present from childhood through to adulthood.
With NHS service waiting times at an record high, a few people are choosing to pay for private ADHD assessments and medication. BBC Panorama's recent documentary raised concerns that certain services were not up to standard.
What is an ADHD diagnosis?
Your psychiatrist will make an official diagnosis of ADHD by looking at the signs, your developmental history and your behavioural patterns. To determine a diagnosis, they'll ask you complete a variety of questionnaires and then interview you to build up a clinical picture. Some of these are common questionnaires that all psychiatrists use and others are specific to them, so every clinic and psychiatrist has their own preferred set of tests and questions they like to use.
A psychiatrist may also want to review your family medical and psychiatric history along with your current symptoms. They'll usually inquire about how your symptoms affect your work, home and in other settings. Then, they will determine whether your symptoms are in line with the guidelines for clinical care established by the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5DSM).
To be diagnosed with ADHD the symptoms must be evident in more than one setting (home or school, and/or social situations) and significantly affect your ability to perform. Your symptoms must have started before you were 12 years old, and should be present for a long period of time. In addition, you must meet the criteria for both inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive presentations of ADHD to get a diagnosis.
During the interview your psychiatrist will determine whether your symptoms were present since childhood and how they affect you right now. They will also determine if there are other conditions which could be the cause of your symptoms, like anxiety or sleep disorders or depression.
It is important to remember that many adults with ADHD have poor memories of their childhood experiences, especially in the case of a difficult upbringing. This makes it difficult for them to recognize ADHD symptoms in the present. Your psychiatrist may need to interview your family members, such as your spouse or partner, in order to gather more information about your childhood.
You can find a healthcare professional who specialises in ADHD evaluations by asking your primary health care provider for a referral, or consulting with the staff at a local hospital that is based on a university or calling the mental health clinic. You can also ask for recommendations from a group of people suffering from ADHD.
Why do I need an ADHD assessment?
Before you begin any treatment, it's essential to obtain a thorough diagnosis if you think you might have ADHD. It's impossible to diagnose ADHD by taking an online test or questionnaire. Only a health professional can carry out an exhaustive assessment and come up with an accurate diagnosis. If it is not diagnosed, ADHD can cause major issues in the workplace, with relationships, and even with your health.
If your GP believes that you may have ADHD symptoms, they'll be attentive and ask you for more details about your past and present. They'll likely refer you to an NHS screening assessment that will comprise a clinical interview and the completion of a variety of valid ADHD evaluation scales.
You'll also be asked to complete questionnaires with other people who are familiar with you, such as family members or close friends. This helps the healthcare professional gain an overall picture of your behavior and how it affects other people. A person with an IQ that is high IQ might have developed coping mechanisms to alleviate the symptoms of ADHD. For instance they may use technology to keep their appointments, but spouses can tell if they're having difficulty remembering things.
Private healthcare professionals are not allowed to bend the rules since they pay for their assessment. They must still adhere to the National Institute of Clinical Excellence guidelines for ADHD assessments. However, the process could be faster than waiting for an appointment with the NHS.
An ADHD assessment can help determine the root cause of the issue and the best way to tackle it. It can also put you on the right track by recommending treatment. If you decide to start treatment, you must make your GP sign a shared-care arrangement with your private physician (so that you pay only for the NHS prescription fee) so that they can monitor your progress and provide advice on any changes. This will ensure that you receive the most efficient and appropriate therapy for your specific requirements. If you're interested in getting an ADHD assessment, speak to one of our brain and mind experts at an Priory hospital or wellbeing centre today.
What happens if I don't have an answer to my question?
ADHD symptoms can vary between individuals and their symptoms can change over the passage of time. This is the reason that a reliable diagnosis, particularly for adults, is difficult to get, despite the fact that many GPs are concerned about their patients. This is the reason why some people are more difficult to access NHS services in comparison to others. NHS waiting lists can be notoriously long, and at times it can take years before someone who wants to be evaluated can receive an assessment.
In the meantime, a person may not be able find work or their relationships could be affected. Adults who are not diagnosed are at greater risk of risk of serious health issues like mood disorders and addiction. They may be afflicted with extreme sadness or anxiety, and they may start to resign themselves to an existence that lacks the determination and success they could have if they were diagnosed and treated.
The good news is that if you struggled to deal with your ADHD, it is possible to get a proper diagnosis and treatment. If you decide to visit a private specialist for an evaluation it is essential to pick your choice carefully. Do your research and request recommendations from your friends and family prior to making any decisions. Check their qualifications and credentials and inquire from previous clients and patients about their experiences.
A specialist with the right education can utilize a variety of tools to diagnose ADHD. These include interviews, questionnaires and medical exams. The main objective is to rule out other causes of the symptoms, such as a learning disability or emotional issues that can be difficult to differentiate from ADHD.
In an ADHD assessment, the specialist will interview you, possibly with your spouse or family members to discuss your symptoms and the impact they have on your life. They may also employ an DSM-5 symptom checklist and other website psychometric tests to determine the severity of your symptoms. The stimulant medication is used to treat ADHD in children and adults. It has been used since 1937. It is an effective treatment since it can have a very positive effect on mood and can stabilise the brain's functioning.
How do I get an ADHD diagnosis?
To determine if your child has ADHD, a medical professional will interview you or your child. They will inquire about your or your child's behavior in various environments, including at home and at school. They may also use rating scales to help identify symptoms, like inattention or hyperactivity/impulsivity. They should determine if your symptoms or those of your child have been present since childhood and if these symptoms have affected your daily life.
They'll also want to determine if your child's symptoms are related to other mental health conditions like anxiety, depression or bipolar disorder. Around 80% of people with ADHD have co-occurring mental health problems, so it is important to rule them out.
A private healthcare professional can also request permission to interview your family members, friends, teachers and religious leaders, scout coach, or Scout leaders of scouts. They will ask about how your or your child's behavior affects his or her daily functioning and will also inquire if there is a background of trauma or abuse.
The healthcare professional will explain the reason they don't think the diagnosis of ADHD is appropriate. It could be because they do not believe that the symptoms are severe enough, or they are better explained by a different condition.
A referral from your family physician is a great suggestion to get an ADHD assessment. If you don't have a family physician or a psychiatrist, you can ask your insurance company for recommendations or join an organization that offers support for mental health in your area.
Bring any relevant documentation that are relevant, such as medical, psychological, education, and employment, to your appointment. The health care professional may require your complete social and family history and will conduct a physical examination.
After having reviewed all the information that the health professional has reviewed, they will be able determine if you or your child is suffering from ADHD. If needed, they'll recommend medication or a different treatment. If you plan to use NHS prescription services for your medication, check with them first to ensure they will accept a private diagnosis of ADHD that has been approved by the NHS.