How to Get Diagnosed With ADHD in the UK
Talk to your doctor if you suspect that you may have ADHD. They must take your concerns seriously and refer you to an NHS ADHD assessment.
You may also be eligible for Access to Work support, which could help you get access to work. You may experience delays in receiving a diagnosis or beginning treatment due to a shortage of medication.
1. Talk to your GP
Doctors are often the first port of call for people who think that they or their child may have ADHD. They will take your concerns seriously and refer you to a specialist for an assessment. Depending on your location it could be free or you may have to pay a fee. More information is available on the NHS website.
It isn't easy to accept the diagnosis of ADHD especially when your symptoms don't appear to be considered serious. It's important to remember that around 2.6 million people in the UK suffer from ADHD and the diagnosis can help to understand the reasons why you or your child may have trouble staying focused or responding to impulses.
A specialist will determine whether you or your child has ADHD by observing of discussions, questionnaires and discussions with you as well as with your child and others who knows you well. They will also consider how long your or your child's ADHD-related problems have been present and how they impact your daily life. They will also consider whether your your child's issues could be more accurately explained by a different condition (such as autism, dyslexia anxiety, or other behaviour issues).
We recommend that you find an alternative GP if your current one doesn't take ADHD seriously. This can be difficult and it's a good idea to ask for referral. You can download and print guides from ADHD UK to help you speak to your GP.
If you've been referred to an assessment, the process should move quickly. The doctor will request details of your or your child's symptoms. 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 if your or your child has had similar symptoms before, so they can compare information. This is important because only a psychologist or psychiatrist can determine if your child has ADHD.
2. Make an appointment with an expert
There are a number of NHS specialist centres that are able to perform ADHD assessments. You'll need to ask your GP to recommend one of these. You'll likely have to fill out forms and questionnaires prior to your appointment. They may take a long time to fill out, so try to complete them prior to your appointment if you can.
Your doctor will look at your symptoms in the context of the current guidelines for diagnosing adults. adhd diagnostic I Am Psychiatry may request your school or job records, or talk with your teachers, parents, or daycare providers about your childhood. It is important to keep in mind that ADHD isn't just a behavior issue It's also related to the way your brain works. Your doctor will assess your general functioning and may also want to examine other mental health issues, like anxiety or depression.
If you're an adult, your specialist will also be interested in knowing how long your ADHD symptoms have been in your life. There was a long-standing belief that ADHD is only a problem for children, but now we know better. ADHD symptoms can persist well into adulthood, and will still have an impact on your life.
You will be given medication, regardless of whether you're an adult or not. You should be aware that when you're diagnosed by a private doctor, your medication will firstly be obtained from the NHS. The private clinician should be able to help you with this, and usually provide your GP with the necessary paperwork to sign an agreement on shared care, so that you pay only the NHS prescription fee.
If you're located in England, you have the legal right to select your doctor and mental health team. If you decide that waiting times for an NHS assessment are too long, you can schedule a private appointment online with a specialist in your region. This could be a quicker and more cost-effective alternative to visiting your GP.
3. Ask your GP to refer you
Talk with your GP in the event that you suspect you or your child could be suffering from ADHD. While they may not be in a position to diagnose you with ADHD in a formal way, they will take your concerns seriously. They will ask you about how it has affected your family and you. Then, they'll refer you to an expert for assessment and treatment. On our page, Getting an ADHD Assessment, we offer advice on how to accelerate the process in case they have long waiting lists.
Once you have been diagnosed, you will be given an appointment with a psychiatrist to be assessed and diagnosed. This is because a clinical diagnosis from a psychiatrist is the only way to access medications through the NHS and also to be eligible for things like reasonable adjustments and DSA support.
During the appointment, a psychiatrist will evaluate your symptoms to determine whether they satisfy the ADHD criteria. 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 rule out other conditions before making their decision, like depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder. They might also need to exclude any alcohol or drug abuse.
If they determine that you have ADHD they will submit paperwork to your GP for an Shared Care Agreement. This means that your clinician can prescribe you ADHD medications through the NHS. Your GP will renew your prescriptions. The majority of people prefer a mix of medications and CBT therapy is the most efficient, however everyone is different.
It is vital to know that if you reside in England you have the legal right to choose the provider to whom your GP will refer you for an NHS assessment or treatment. This is known as the "Right to Choose and applies to both children and adults. If you are unsure about the best choice for you or think the NHS waiting times are too long, then you can make use of alternative providers that conduct NHS assessments in England. You can learn more about who they are by visiting the Psychiatry UK website. It offers a step-by-step guide on how to do it.
4. Book an assessment with a specialist
There are numerous specialist services that can provide ADHD assessment and treatment in the UK. You can request your GP to refer you to one or contact the service directly. Most private healthcare providers will let you book an assessment of diagnostics over the phone or via video call. They will ask you to provide information about your symptoms and how they affect your daily life, as well as details of any relevant medical background. They will want to know whether any of your family members suffer from ADHD.
Your doctor will talk you through the process of assessment. They will discuss your symptoms and how they have changed with time. They will also ask you about your childhood experiences and your coping strategies. They will analyze this information to determine whether or not you are suffering from symptoms of ADHD.
You can make an appointment with a psychiatrist if you do not have a doctor who will send you to a psychiatrist. It is more expensive however you will receive the diagnosis faster. Your doctor will be able to refer you to the NHS for follow up treatment if needed.
A good psychiatrist will be able to determine fairly quickly if you suffer from ADHD. If they have any doubts, they'll be able to look for more corroborative evidence by asking questions or talking to those who know you well. They'll also take into consideration other health issues that could hinder your ability to concentrate, such as addiction and depression.
Most people with ADHD are diagnosed in adulthood not as children. This is because most of the symptoms are only visible in adults, and they can cause more problems as you age and face more difficulties. This is especially true if you did not receive the proper support as a child.
Sometimes it is difficult to receive a diagnosis, particularly if you are from an ethnic minority or gender non-conforming. Some mental health professionals have preconceived notions about how someone suffering from ADHD might look like, and may make assumptions about your behavior without properly taking note of your symptoms.