How to Get Diagnosed With ADHD in the UK
Consult your doctor if you think that you may be suffering from ADHD. They will take your concerns serious and refer you to an NHS ADHD assessment.
You may be eligible for Access to Work, which could open the door to employment. Due to medication shortages, you could experience delays in obtaining an appointment and beginning treatment.
1. Talk with your doctor
If you suspect that you or a child might suffer from ADHD will often consult their doctor first. They will be attentive and refer you to an expert for an assessment. Depending on where you live it could be free, or you might be required to pay. Find more details on the NHS website.
It can be difficult to accept a diagnosis of ADHD, especially when your symptoms aren't able to be considered serious. It's important to keep in mind that approximately 2.6 million people in the UK suffer from ADHD. A diagnosis can help you understand why you or your child may struggle to stay focused or responding to impulses.
A specialist will determine if you or your child is suffering from ADHD based on their observations 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 the child's issues with ADHD have been present and how much they impact your life. They will also consider whether your or your child's issues could be more easily explained by a different condition (such as dyslexia, autism, anxiety or behaviour issues).
If you have an GP who doesn't take ADHD seriously, we recommend seeking a different one. It isn't easy to request referrals however it's well worth it. There are guides available from ADHD UK, which you can print and download to help you talk to your GP.
If you've been referred for an evaluation the process should go quickly. The GP will inquire with you or your child for specific information about your symptoms. The doctor will conduct an interview, a questionnaire, and a medical exam. 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 determine if you or your child have had these symptoms previously so that they can compare. This is crucial as a diagnosis of ADHD can only be done by an experienced psychiatrist or psychologist.
2. Book an appointment with a specialist
There are several NHS specialist centres which can perform ADHD evaluations. You'll need to ask for an appointment from your GP. You'll likely need to fill out forms and questionnaires prior to your appointment. They may take a while to complete, so it's best to do them before your appointment.
Your doctor will evaluate your symptoms within the context of current diagnostic guidelines for adult patients. They may request 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 is also linked to the way your brain functions. Your doctor will look at the whole picture of how you are functioning and may also wish to assess you for other mental health issues like depression or anxiety.
If you're an adult, you will be asked by your doctor how long you've been experiencing ADHD symptoms. In the past, it was believed that ADHD was only a problem for children. However, we now have proof that the opposite is true. ADHD symptoms can last into adulthood, and they'll remain a significant influence on your life.
You will be offered medication, whether you are an adult child or not. Be aware that when you're diagnosed privately, your medication will firstly be obtained from the NHS. Private clinicians will be able to assist you with this, and will usually provide your GP with paperwork for an agreement on shared care, to ensure that you pay only the NHS prescription charge.
If you're in England you have the legal right to select your healthcare provider and mental health team. So, if you decide that waiting for an NHS assessment are too long, you can schedule an appointment with an expert in your area. This can be a faster and more cost-effective alternative to going through your GP.
3. You can ask your GP for a referral
If you suspect that you or your child may be suffering from ADHD the first step to do is talk to your GP. They may not be able formally diagnose you with ADHD but they should be attentive to your concerns and inquire about how it has been affecting your family and you. Then, they should refer you to an specialist for evaluation and treatment. On our page on Getting an ADHD Assessment, we offer advice on how to speed up the process in case they have long waiting lists.
Once you have been identified, you will be given an appointment to see an Psychologist for assessment and diagnosis. A diagnosis from a psychiatrist is required to be able to access medications on the NHS and to qualify for reasonable adjustments and DSA.
During this visit the psychiatrist will take a examine 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 some instances it is necessary to exclude other conditions prior to making a decision, such as anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder. They might also have to rule out any drug or alcohol use out.
If they determine that you have ADHD they will send a letter to your GP with a request to sign a 'Shared-Care Agreement'. This means that your clinician will be able to prescribe you ADHD medications through the NHS. Your GP will then renew your prescriptions. Most people find that a combination of medication and CBT is most effective. But, everyone is different.
It is crucial to understand that if you are a resident of 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 'Right to Choose which applies to adults as well as children. If you're unsure of which provider to choose or if NHS wait times are too long, you can choose one of the other providers that offer NHS assessments in England. You can find out which ones they are by visiting the Psychiatry UK website. It provides a guide on how to use it.
4. Request an assessment with an expert
There are numerous specialist services which can offer ADHD assessment and treatment in the UK. You can request your GP for an appointment with these services or call them directly yourself. You can schedule an appointment for a diagnostic examination via phone or video with the majority of private providers. They will require you to provide details about your symptoms and how they impact your daily life, and information about any relevant medical background. They will also want to know if any of your family members have ADHD.
Your doctor will talk you through the assessment process. adhd diagnosis adults will discuss your symptoms and how they've changed over time. You will be asked about your childhood and your strategies for dealing with stress. This information will be used to determine if you suffer from ADHD symptoms.
If you don't have a physician who is willing to send you to an ADHD assessment You can always get one by scheduling an appointment with an individual psychiatrist. This is a bit more expensive, but it will give you the fastest way to get a diagnosis. If needed, your psychiatrist will refer you to NHS for further treatment.
A qualified psychiatrist can tell fairly quickly if you suffer from ADHD. If they have doubts, they will be able to look for more corroborative evidence by asking you questions or talking to people who know you well. They'll also take into consideration other health conditions which can affect your ability to focus, such as addiction and depression.
Most ADHD diagnoses are made in adults, not in children. It is because the majority of symptoms only occur in adults and cause more problems as you get older and face more problems. This is particularly true if you did not receive the proper support as a young person.
It can be difficult to receive a diagnosis in the event that you're an ethnic minority or a gender non-conforming individual. Some mental health professionals have preconceived notions about what someone suffering from ADHD looks like and can make assumptions about your behavior without fully assessing the severity of your symptoms.