Getting updated blog post may have difficulties getting an assessment and treatment. This could be due to discrimination or because health professionals have preconceived ideas about what ADHD is like in different groups of people.
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland In Northern Ireland, England, Wales and the NHS is required to provide ADHD assessments. This includes the use of the digital test QbTest, which can enhance and speed up assessments.
Signs and symptoms
Recognizing the symptoms of ADHD is the first step to receiving help and assistance. If you suspect that you or your child has the condition, it is crucial to contact your GP to arrange an assessment. This will involve discussing your symptoms and how they affect your daily life. It is also crucial to have a support system of family and friends who are understanding and supportive of the challenges you face.
Your GP might refer you to a specialist in order to obtain a formal diagnosis. The specialist will inquire about your symptoms and when they first started. They will also assess whether you have an history of ADHD in your childhood. They will also look for indicators of ADHD such as hyperactivity, inattention, or impulsivity.
A digital test has been created to accelerate the process of diagnosing children who suffer from ADHD. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has approved the use of the QbTest that is designed to measure a person's behaviour in terms of inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. It is expected to decrease the number of people who wait months or even years to receive a diagnosis as per research conducted by the Nuffield Trust think tank.
The experts who wrote the guidelines on which the new technology is based advise that it should be used only to enhance the clinical evaluation, not replace it. They warn that the screening tool may miss certain symptoms, and that other factors like depression or substance abuse can cause problems such as ADHD.
For some adults, it is difficult to get a referral for an ADHD assessment. It could be because the doctor isn't convinced that they have ADHD, or they are being treated for a different condition that is causing similar symptoms.
If your doctor thinks you may have ADHD they will refer you to a mental health professional to conduct an assessment. This usually involves a community mental health service or a neurodevelopmental specialist service. You might also be offered educational and training for parents to help you deal with the symptoms of ADHD. You'll have to inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) of your diagnosis, if it has an impact on your driving abilities.
Diagnosis
ADHD can impact the life of a person in a variety of ways, including the ability to focus, act in impulsive ways and maintain stable moods. Therefore, it is not surprising that people with symptoms of ADHD struggle to obtain the diagnosis they require to manage their difficulties.
If you suspect that you or your children might be suffering from ADHD symptoms, you should consult your GP. They will refer you to a service where you can be assessed for the condition. The NHS offers a free assessment, but it is difficult to get an appointment due to an extremely high demand and a lack of funding. It could take an average of 18 months to be seen.
NIHR developed an online test to help healthcare professionals identify ADHD faster, reducing the time to diagnose by one-third. The QbTest, which is being recommended by the NHS tests patients' movements and measures their responses to target stimuli to determine the three primary symptoms of the disorder - hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention. The test is computerized and can cut down the number of appointments required to determine an illness, thereby saving time and money.
Adults can find it difficult to receive a diagnosis for ADHD. We encourage people who are suffering from symptoms to consult their GP. They can direct them to a facility that is most suitable for their requirements. This will usually be a mental health team that is based in the community or a neurodevelopmental specialist.
Once referred, you will be seen by an psychiatrist, an expert medical doctor in mental health, to conduct an ADHD assessment. This will take about 50 minutes. During this visit your psychiatrist will review your symptoms and their impact on your daily functioning. They will also examine your medical history and examine whether there are any other mental health conditions that may be present in conjunction with or in addition to ADHD.
If your doctor concludes that you suffer from ADHD symptoms, he will suggest a treatment plan that could include medication. You'll need to inform the DVLA and your insurance company that you have ADHD however it is unlikely that it will affect the cost of your insurance.
Treatment
There are a number of different treatment options available for ADHD, including medications and talk therapies. People suffering from ADHD may also benefit from lifestyle changes like eating habits and physical activity, which can improve their symptoms. Many people also find that certain dietary supplements or foods can ease their symptoms. However, it's important to consult with a physician before attempting any alternative treatment.
If you're concerned that you or someone you know suffers from ADHD is a good idea to consult a medical professional for a diagnosis. A good first step is to use an online self-assessment tool that can serve as a guide for a GP or mental health professional. These tools aren't capable of giving a formal diagnose however, they can serve as a reference for doctors or mental health specialists.
Your GP should be able to listen to your concerns and ask about any symptoms you may be experiencing. They'll usually conduct a routine assessment to determine if ADHD is present. This will include questions about your family history as well as medical history and a psychological evaluation. A questionnaire may be used to determine the severity of depression and anxiety. This is due to the fact that these conditions are often associated with ADHD.
If your doctor decides that you or someone you know suffers from ADHD and he prescribes an medication to treat the condition. These medications can be prescribed to adults or children. They can aid in reducing the inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity that are characteristic of ADHD. You'll need to see your GP for regular follow-up appointments so that your GP will be able to monitor the response of your treatment and modify it if necessary.
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland In Northern Ireland, you are entitled to choose your healthcare provider. If you are worried about waiting for a response, you can avail a private assessment. These providers will often arrange an appointment within a few days, and you can even book the assessment online.
Certain private assessments require a letter of recommendation from your GP. Others do not. Be sure to ask the company you choose to use about their policies prior to booking an appointment. Also, be aware that some private assessment companies will charge a fee for letters of recommendation to schools and employers.
Support
There are two routes to getting an ADHD assessment; you can either pay for it privately or use the NHS. The latter is free but it is known that waiting times are often quite long. In some areas, it's not uncommon to find out that waiting time for both children and adults can be up to several years. Therefore, it is important to consult your GP as to the situation in your local area.
A new online test may help speed the process of diagnosing ADHD. The QbTest is a computer-based test that tracks the movement of patients as they perform tasks to determine their levels of inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. Recent research has found that the test can cut down the time required by doctors to diagnose ADHD by six months. However, Nice has cautioned that it should only be used in conjunction with clinical assessments and not be used to replace them.
Another method of reducing ADHD assessment time is to follow the Right to Choose pathway. This allows those living in England to choose not to use their local commissioned provider and instead get an assessment with a different provider. This can be done through your GP and there are many providers to select from. You can find more information about this on the ADHD UK Right to Choose page.
Ireland isn't quite as well-off with this option but an innovative program has been launched to address what the Health Service Executive describes as "a shortage in the provision of services." However, it will be some time before we see significant improvement in wait times.
There are a variety of support services available to people suffering from ADHD in Ireland. These range from the ADHD Foundation which provides advocacy and support to businesses, schools, and families to ADHD Aware who run peer-support groups for children and adults and offer informative lectures and Q&A sessions. The Scottish ADHD Coalition, for example, offers mindfulness-based classes and other self-help activities.