How to Get Diagnosed With ADHD in the UK
Consult your doctor if you think that you might have ADHD. They should take your concerns very serious and refer you to an NHS ADHD assessment.
You may also be eligible for Access to Work support, which can help you open doors 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 have ADHD. They can take your concerns seriously and refer you to a specialist for an assessment. Depending on your location the assessment could be free of charge, or you might have to pay a fee. More details can be found on the NHS website.
It can be difficult to accept a diagnosis of ADHD, especially when your symptoms don't appear to be taken seriously. It's important to keep in mind that around 2.6 million people in the UK suffer from ADHD. A diagnosis may help you understand the reasons why your child or yourself might have trouble staying focus or executing impulses.
A specialist will determine whether your child or you suffers from ADHD through observations or discussions that they conduct with you, your children, and anyone else who knows you. They will also take into consideration how long the issues related to ADHD have been present in your child or you and how they affect your life. They will also determine whether your child's or your symptoms are more easily explained by a different condition (such as anxiety or dyslexia).
If you have an GP who doesn't consider ADHD seriously, we recommend trying to get an alternative one. It can be difficult to request a referral but it's worth it. You can download and print the guides from ADHD UK to help you speak to your GP.
The assessment process must be completed in a short time after you've been referred. The doctor will request details about your child's symptoms, and the specialist should carry out 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 want to determine if you or your child has suffered from similar symptoms before and compare the information. This is important since a diagnosis of ADHD can only be done by an experienced psychiatrist or psychologist.
2. Make an appointment with a specialist
There are several NHS specialist centers that can conduct ADHD assessments. You'll need to request for an appointment with your GP. You'll likely have to fill out forms and questionnaires prior your appointment. These can take a while to complete, so you should try to do them in advance of your appointment if possible.
Your specialist will examine your symptoms within the context of current guidelines for diagnosing adult patients. They might ask for your work or school records, or talk with your teachers, parents, or daycare providers about your childhood. ADHD is more than just a behavior problem. It's also related to the way in which your brain works. Your specialist will be looking at the whole picture of how you are functioning, and may want to check for other mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety.
If you are an adult, your doctor will also be interested in knowing how long your ADHD symptoms have been affecting you. There was a long-standing belief that ADHD only affects children but now we know better. ADHD symptoms can last well into adulthood, and they'll remain a significant influence on your life.
No matter if you're an adult or child, you'll usually receive medication as part of your treatment plan. Be aware that when you're diagnosed by a private doctor, your medication will firstly come from the NHS. Private clinicians will be able to assist you in this and will provide your GP documents to sign a shared-care agreement, which will allow you to pay the NHS prescription fee.
In England you are legally entitled to choose your mental health provider and healthcare provider. If you believe that the wait time for an NHS assessment is too long, then you could make an appointment via the internet with an expert. This can be a faster and more cost-effective alternative to seeing your GP.
3. Ask your GP for a referral
Talk with your GP in the event that you suspect you or your child could be suffering from ADHD. They won't be able to officially diagnose you with ADHD but they must take your concerns seriously and ask how it has been affecting your family and you. Then they should refer you to an expert for assessment and treatment. On our page on Getting an ADHD Assessment, we offer advice on how to accelerate the process in case they have a lengthy waiting list.
After you have been referred to a psychiatrist, you will be scheduled for assessment and diagnosis. adhd undiagnosed in adults is because a medical diagnosis from psychiatrists is the only way to access medications through the NHS and to be eligible for things like reasonable adjustments and DSA assistance.
During this visit the psychiatrist will look at your symptoms and assess whether they meet the criteria for ADHD. They will then make a decision about which of the three subtypes you have (inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive or combined). In certain cases, they might need to exclude other conditions prior to making their choice, like anxiety, depression or bipolar disorder. They might also have to eliminate any alcohol or drug abuse.
If they determine that you suffer from ADHD they will send paperwork to your GP for a Shared Care Agreement. This means that your GP will be able to prescribe you ADHD medication on the NHS. Your GP will renew your prescriptions. Most people find that a mix of medication and CBT is the most efficient. However, every person is different.
It is crucial to understand that if you live in England you have the legal right to choose the healthcare provider to whom your doctor will refer you for an NHS assessment or treatment. This is known as 'Right to Choose', and it applies to adults as well as children. If you're not sure which provider to choose or if you feel the NHS waiting times are too long, then you could make use of alternative providers who do NHS assessments in England. You can find out which ones to choose by visiting the Psychiatry-UK website which offers a great guide to help you do this.
4. Book an appointment with a specialist
In the UK There are a variety of specialist services that can provide ADHD assessment and treatment. You can ask your GP to refer you or contact the service directly. The majority of private providers will let you book an assessment of diagnostics over the phone or via video. You will be asked to give details regarding your symptoms and how they impact your life and daily activities. They might also ask for details about your medical background. They will also want to know whether any of your family members suffer from ADHD.
Your psychiatrist can guide you through the process of assessment. They will talk about how your symptoms have affected your life and how they have changed over time. They will also ask you about your childhood experiences as well as your coping strategies. This information will be used to determine if you exhibit ADHD symptoms.
You can schedule an appointment with a psychiatrist if do not have a doctor who will send you to a psychiatrist. It's more expensive, however you will receive the diagnosis more quickly. If needed, your psychiatrist will refer you to the NHS for further treatment.
A good psychiatrist will be able to determine very quickly if you suffer from ADHD. If they do have any doubts, they will be able to find more corroborative evidence by asking you questions or speaking to people who know you well. They'll also take into consideration other health issues that could hinder your ability to focus, such as addiction and depression.
Most ADHD diagnoses are made in adults, not children. This is due to the fact that most of the symptoms manifest in adults, and they can cause more problems as you get older and confront more problems. This is particularly the case if you did not receive the right support as an infant.
Sometimes it can be difficult to get a diagnosis, particularly if you are from an ethnic minority or gender non-conforming. Some mental health professionals might have preconceived notions about how someone with ADHD might appear like, and they may make assumptions about your behavior without assessing you symptoms.