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How to Get an ADHD Assessment in the UK It can be a challenge to obtain an ADHD assessment through the NHS. The wait lists can be long and sometimes patients are diagnosed with a other illness that might be a better explanation for their problems like depression or anxiety. Your GP should be attentive to your concerns and consider the reasons you believe you might have ADHD. The doctor should then refer you the NHS for an assessment. 1. See your GP In England and Wales, you can access an ADHD assessment via the NHS. If medication is recommended for you, you could be able to get it. You'll need to visit your GP and explain why you suspect that you may have ADHD, and what effect it is having on your life. Your GP must take this seriously, and they will require you to fill out several questionnaires or a screening instrument before they send you to a specialist for an assessment. For adults, it is especially important to create a list of the specific ADHD traits and symptoms you experience in your day-to-day life, and be ready to give examples when asked. Your psychiatrist will collaborate with you to determine whether or not you suffer from ADHD, and they will employ a variety techniques and methods, including symptom checklists, behaviour rating scales, and interviews with you as well as your family members and other people who know you well. They will review the information they gather and create an account. They will then discuss their recommendations with you, which could mean that you are diagnosed with ADHD and, if appropriate you should start treatment with medication. If you find that your doctor is unable to refer you for an evaluation or won't prescribe ADHD medication through the NHS or other health insurance, it could be worthwhile looking for a different doctor who is more accommodating. The charity Psychiatry-UK offers some useful tips on this issue on their website here. In England, you have the legal right to choose the location where your GP recommends you to receive an ADHD assessment, as long it is provided through the NHS and doesn't cost more than the NHS directly. If you are unable to get an improvement from your local CCG, you can ask ICAS to help you submit an appeal to the national Appeal Panel. If you reside in Scotland, Northern Ireland, or Wales The NHS has different guidelines and regulations. You can try to get access to services through Right to Choose. Psychiatry UK provides some advice regarding this. 2. Request a recommendation There are two ways to obtain an ADHD assessment, based on the area you live in. First, you can go through the NHS by asking your GP to refer. It can be a lengthy process, and you may end up waiting several years to receive an appointment. You can also take advantage of the “Right to choose” pathway. This is a new legal right that allows if you feel that the NHS wait times for an ADHD assessment are too long, you can request to be referred to a private provider by this method. If you decide to do this then your GP must be in agreement with this, and sign a “shared care agreement” with the healthcare provider you've selected. Many GPs are reluctant sign shared agreements with patients who have been privately diagnosed particularly because they lack the experience in diagnosing ADHD or prescribing its medication. In most cases you can then make an appointment with a private provider of your choosing. Before you can complete the initial assessment the ADHD specialist will interview you and your child, if they are older than 11 years old. old. The doctor will then give you a clear indication of whether they believe that your symptoms could be due to ADHD, or not. After the initial evaluation If it is believed that ADHD might be causing your issues, they will usually send you away with an additional questionnaire to complete for your school or workplace. Then, they'll schedule a follow-up appointment with you to discuss their findings and discuss the diagnosis. This appointment will give you the chance to discuss the options for medication. If they determine that medication is needed, your GP will then be informed and be asked to prescribe the medication for you. Your specialist will discuss any other suggestions for support at school or at work. Any fees will be agreed upon before starting. Most private providers will also provide advice and assistance for free between appointments, either via emails or short phone calls. 3. Take a look at the assessment It isn't easy to obtain an ADHD diagnosis in the UK and it is often mistakenly diagnosed with other mental health issues. The best method to obtain a diagnosis of ADHD is through an assessment done by a specialist psychiatrist who specialises in the condition. There may be a need to wait for an assessment to be done by the NHS. If you're concerned about waiting for a long time, ask your GP about 'Right of Choice', a new NHS initiative that gives you the right to choose the organization to which you are referred for your examination. This allows you to skip the NHS waiting list and could make the process much more efficient. The psychiatrist will ask you to explain your symptoms, and how they impact your daily routine. The psychiatrist will then conduct a systematic clinical assessment with the same set of questions. It can be helpful to familiarise yourself with the characteristics (symptoms) of ADHD before your appointment and write down examples, as it's normal for people's minds to be blank when talking about their own experience. The examination will also include a physical examination and interviews with relatives, teachers and colleagues. It's important that the information collected is as precise and complete as possible, so the psychiatrist can give you the most accurate diagnosis. If the psychiatrist suspects that you or your children are suffering from ADHD, he will recommend a treatment for adults with ADHD. This is an additional appointment that could include a variety tests including brain scans and psychological tests to determine the severity of ADHD. Some people decide to have a private ADHD assessment – this is becoming more popular as waiting lists through the NHS continue to increase. There are many organizations in the UK which offer private assessments for ADHD, depending on the location you reside in. You can check out a list of them here, or you can talk to your GP about which one would be best for you. Private examinations can be faster than those conducted through the NHS. However the health insurance you have won't cover the cost. 4. Get a diagnosis ADHD can cause serious problems in a variety of areas such as relationships or work, so an accurate diagnosis can help with these issues. Due to the increasing number of people requiring ADHD assessments, NHS services struggle to cope. Waiting adhd assessment can be lengthy. Some people choose to pay privately for their assessment. This allows them to avoid NHS waiting lists and start treatment sooner. Once you've been diagnosed with ADHD the next step is to put an effective treatment plan. This could be medication, or CBT therapy. It is crucial to consider this prior to when you have your assessment, because it will help you determine what the best course of action for you is. Depending on where you reside in the UK You may be able to get an ADHD assessment via the NHS. If this is the case you will be referred to a paediatrician or psychiatrist who will examine your symptoms, and determine a diagnosis based on the NICE 87 guidelines. Self-referral is an option even if you don't have GP referral. A private mental health practitioner will conduct an ADHD assessment. This is usually faster than the NHS method, but it is essential to ensure that your GP is willing to sign the 'Shared Care Agreement' with your private practitioner. When you are assessed for ADHD, your expert will ask you questions about your past and present behavior. They will look for traits (symptoms) of ADHD, such as inattentiveness and hyperactivity/impulsiveness. They will also inquire about how these characteristics are affecting your life right now. Before attending an appointment, it's important to know the criteria used to diagnose ADHD and to write examples of how these characteristics have affected your life. A diagnosis of ADHD can transform your life. It can result in various treatment options and create an improved sense of self-confidence for adults who had previously been undiagnosed. It can also lead to improved relationships and a more fulfilling life.