How to Get Diagnosed With ADHD in the UK
If you suspect you have ADHD If you suspect that you have ADHD, speak to your GP. They will be attentive and suggest an NHS ADHD assessment.
You may be eligible to receive Access to Work, which could allow you to gain employment. Due to medication shortages, you could experience delays in receiving diagnosed and undergoing treatment.
1. Talk to your GP
If you suspect that you or a child might have ADHD are likely to seek out their doctor first. They will take your concerns seriously and recommend you to an expert for a diagnosis. Based on the location of your home it could be free of charge, or you may have to pay a fee. Find more details on the NHS website.
Being diagnosed with ADHD can be a stressful experience, especially if you don't feel like your symptoms are taken seriously. It is important to remember that around 2.6 million people in the UK suffer from ADHD. A diagnosis may help you understand the reasons why you or your child may struggle to stay focus or executing impulses.
A specialist will determine if you or your child suffers from ADHD based on observations or discussions that they conduct with you, your children and anyone else who knows you. They will also look at how long the symptoms of ADHD have been present in your child or yourself and how they affect your life. They will also consider whether your your child's symptoms could be more accurately explained by a different condition (such as dyslexia, autism anxiety, or behavior issues).
We recommend that you try to find an alternative GP if your current one does not treat ADHD seriously. It can be difficult to ask for a referral however it's well worth it. There are a variety of guides available from ADHD UK, which you can download and print to help you talk to your GP.
The process of assessment should be completed quickly once you've been referred. The GP will ask you or your child for details about your symptoms. The specialist will conduct an interview, a questionnaire, and a 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 if your or your child has had these symptoms before and examine the data. This is important since the diagnosis of ADHD is only confirmed by a qualified psychiatrist or psychologist.
2. Make an appointment with a specialist
There are many NHS specialization centers that are able to perform ADHD tests. You'll need to ask your GP to refer you to one of these. You'll likely need to fill out a few questionnaires and forms prior to your appointment. They may take a while to complete, so it's recommended to complete them prior to your appointment.
Your doctor will evaluate your symptoms in the context of current guidelines for diagnosing adult patients. They might ask for your school or work records or talk with your parents, teachers or day care providers about the way you behaved as an infant. It is important to remember that ADHD isn't only a problem with behavior It's also related to the way your brain works. Your doctor will assess your overall performance and may decide to examine other mental health issues such as depression or anxiety.
If you're an adult, you will be asked by your doctor how long you have been experiencing ADHD symptoms. In the past, it was believed that ADHD was only a problem for children. But now we are aware of the contrary. ADHD symptoms can last into adulthood, and will remain a part of your life.
If you're an adult or child, you'll typically be offered medication as part of your treatment plan. It is important to note that, in the event that you're diagnosed by a private doctor and you are a private patient, you will receive your medication on the NHS. Private clinicians will be able to help you with this and provide your GP documents to sign a shared-care agreement, to ensure that you pay only the NHS prescription cost.
If you're in England you are legally entitled to choose your healthcare provider and mental health team. So, if you decide that waiting times for an NHS assessment are too long, you can make an appointment with a specialist in your region. This is usually a faster route than going through your GP, and can be a more cost-effective option too.
3. Ask your GP to refer you
Talk with your GP in the event that you suspect you or your child may have ADHD. They won't be able to identify you as having ADHD but they should take your concerns seriously and ask how it has affected you and your family. Then, they should refer you to an specialist for evaluation and treatment. On our page, Getting an ADHD Assessment, we provide suggestions on how to speed up the process in case they have an extensive waiting list.
Once you've been recommended to a psychiatrist, you will receive an appointment for assessment and diagnosis. A diagnosis from a psychiatric professional is required to access medication on the NHS and to be eligible for reasonable adjustments and DSA.
During the appointment, the psychiatrist will examine your symptoms to determine whether they are in line with the ADHD criteria. They will then make a decision about which of the three subtypes you have (inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive or combined). In some instances, they might have to rule out other conditions such as depression or anxiety before making a decision. They may also need to rule any drug or alcohol abuse out.
If they determine that you have ADHD they will submit paperwork to your GP for the signing of a Shared Care Agreement. This means that your GP can prescribe you ADHD medications on the NHS. Your GP will renew your prescriptions. Most people find that a mix between medication and CBT is the most efficient. However, everyone is different.
If you reside in England, it is worth knowing that you are legally entitled to choose the healthcare provider that your doctor refers you to for an NHS assessment and treatment. This is known as 'Right to Choose'and applies to adults as well as children. If how to get diagnosed with adhd sure the best choice for you or if you feel the NHS waiting times are too long, then you could use one of the alternative providers that conduct NHS assessments in England. You can determine which ones by visiting the Psychiatry UK website, which provides a helpful guide to help you do this.
4. Schedule an appointment with a specialist
In the UK There are a variety of specialist services that offer ADHD assessment and treatment. You can ask your GP for a referral to these, or contact them directly. Most private healthcare providers allow you to schedule an assessment of diagnostics over the phone or via video call. They will require you to provide information about your symptoms and how they impact your daily life, as well as information about any relevant medical history. They will want to know whether any of your family members suffer from ADHD.
Your psychiatrist will be able to guide you through the process of assessment. They will talk about how your symptoms have affected your life and how they've changed over time. You will be asked about your childhood experiences and strategies for dealing with stress. This information will be used to determine if you have ADHD symptoms.
If you don't have a doctor who will recommend you for an ADHD assessment You can always get one yourself by booking an appointment with a private psychiatrist. This is a bit more expensive, but it will give you the fastest means to receive a diagnosis. Your psychiatrist will be able to refer you to the NHS to receive follow-up treatment if needed.
A good psychiatrist will be able to tell pretty quickly if you have ADHD. If they have doubts, they'll be able to search for additional evidence that is more convincing by asking questions or talking to those who know you well. They will also consider other health issues that could hinder your ability to concentrate for a long time, such as addiction or depression.
The majority of people suffering from ADHD are diagnosed as adults not as children. This is due to the fact that the majority of symptoms only occur in adults and cause more issues as you age and encounter more difficulties. This is especially true if you did not receive the appropriate assistance as a child.
Sometimes it's difficult to get a diagnosis, particularly in the case of an ethnic minority or gender non-conforming. Some mental health professionals have preconceived ideas about what someone with ADHD looks like and can make assumptions about your behavior without fully assessing the severity of your symptoms.