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How to Get Diagnosed With ADHD If you suspect that you or your child could have ADHD the first step is to speak to your GP They will not diagnose you right away but theyll recommend a clinical assessment This will take place with an audiologist or psychologist who is located in Scotland Northern Ireland or Wales and theyll evaluate your symptoms for ADHD They can also help you get DSA and reasonable adjustments by writing an assessment report 1 Talk to your doctor If you or your child is suffering from issues with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder the first step is to see your GP If they suspect that you suffer from ADHD they will refer you to an expert if needed It may be helpful to bring some notes in writing along to the appointment Your GP will then refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist for an assessment of ADHD symptoms This process can take between 45 and 90 minutes It involves examining the diagnostic criteria for ADHD as well as seeking out your family history as well as any other mental health problems you or your family members had in the past You may be asked to complete some questionnaires The psychiatrist will determine if you fit the ADHD criteria and will discuss with you medication options It is crucial to recognize that it can be difficult for adults to get diagnosed with ADHD as they often have learnt how to mask their symptoms The psychiatrist will want to see proof that your symptoms are causing significant impairment This typically involves looking through old school documents or letters from relatives They will also need you to rule out any other possible causes of your issues like anxiety or depression If you are having difficulty finding a diagnosis through your NHS GP you may think about an assessment by a private doctor There are how to get an adult adhd diagnosis of options available on the Right to Choose site It can be frustrating dealing with GPs who dont know the science behind ADHD However persistence is key 2 Request a recommendation A medical diagnosis is required to qualify for reasonable adjustments and Disability Living Allowance In England Wales and Northern Ireland NICE guidelines grant the right to request an NHS paid specialist ADHD assessment Your doctor will likely request you to fill out a questionnaire which will be reviewed by a specialist psychiatrist They may also talk to other professionals who have worked with you for example teachers or health workers They will look for a pattern that resembles the symptoms of ADHD in adults who have been present since childhood They will also consider other health conditions such as thyroid issues or depression to see if they could explain your symptoms After the assessment the Psychiatrist will talk to you about the treatment options available This might include medication which could be beneficial for a lot of people with ADHD If you decide to use medication your Psychiatrist may recommend you to your GP to share care management If youre not keen to take medication your Psychiatrist could suggest an independent psychological or occupational therapy assessment This will help you manage your symptoms and enhance your life skills You might also find it useful to join a support group for people with ADHD They can be very supportive and comforting Many people who suffer from ADHD find that they need to do more work than others to live their daily lives This can result in feelings of selfesteem loss and frustration about their lack of success at work or in relationships They may also feel that people dont get it and be angry or resentful There are many ways that you can get support You can join online groups or attend meetings in person There are many good organisations that offer these services 3 Get another opinion For many people getting an opinion from a different doctor can be extremely beneficial This can be particularly important in the event that youve been misdiagnosed or have a condition like anxiety or depression that may coexist with ADHD Psychiatrists specialize in diagnosing mental health issues They can help you understand what is happening to you and how it might be impacting your daily life It is crucial to discuss your medical history thoroughly with a psychiatrist as it can impact whether you meet the diagnostic criteria for ADHD You can do this either by selfreferring or getting an GP referral or make an appointment with a private doctor and schedule an appointment with a specialist for adult ADHD If you do decide to selfreferral it is recommended to gather any information you may have prior to your appointment as well as noting down the symptoms you are experiencing and how they are impacting on different aspects of your life You can also request that copies of your medical documents be sent to the psychiatrist prior to your appointment A specialist in adult ADHD will provide a detailed assessment of your symptoms They will look at the way they impact your daily activities and also look for comorbidities such as anxiety or depression A clinical interview and questionnaires are typically used to establish a diagnosis The diagnosis is followed by a letter A diagnosis of ADHD can help you get the support you need to manage your symptoms such as medication and psychotherapy It can also help you access disability support like Disabled Students Allowance as well as reasonable adjustments in school or college 4 Take a clinical exam If your GP is of the opinion that you could have ADHD and that its significantly impacting on your life theyll refer you for an assessment This is typically a thorough process which involves talking to someone often a psychiatrist about your symptoms and filling out questionnaires and checklists They may also ask to examine your school records or to talk to anyone who knew you well as when you were a child This is because its not thought that ADHD is a condition that develops in adults and theyll need to confirm that your symptoms have been present since childhood After youve been recommended for an assessment youll probably be given the option of the provider youd like to visit This is because patients in England have the legal right to choose their mental healthcare providers and their local NHS trust This is referred to as Right to Choose and you can find helpful information about how to utilize it on this webpage from ADHD UK You may be able to get an assessment from your school when you are an undergraduate student If they are willing to do so their report will be enough to qualify for support from reasonable adjustments and the Disabled Students Allowance They wont be in the position to prescribe medication so you might be able to get an individual diagnosis instead Your psychiatrist will evaluate whether your ADHD symptoms are causing you significant impairment and may recommend medication or other therapies Theyll likely also discuss your longterm goals as well as any other concerns you may have Then theyll make a decision on what to do following that and return you to your GP with an action plan In most cases the diagnosis of ADHD will be followed by a discussion of whether youd like to think about medications and a referral to your GP to make this happen 5 Get a diagnosis It isnt easy to obtain a diagnosis of adult ADHD Many medical professionals especially in the NHS lack understanding of the symptoms of ADHD in adults They may also be biased towards an diagnosis or not take the symptoms seriously It can be challenging to determine the correct diagnosis Persistence is rewarded Youll need to go through a a specialist assessment with a psychiatrist nurse specialist or psychologist Only these healthcare experts can diagnose ADHD in the UK Youll have to explain why you are struggling with the symptoms and why you think they may be caused by ADHD Theyll be interested to know that your symptoms will last and have a significant effect on you This could involve getting old school reports and asking family members to fill in reports on how youve been struggling in the past Following your clinical evaluation you can discuss with your doctor whether you would like to explore the possibility of taking medication Usually this will involve a sharedcare agreement with your GP which allows you to pay for the medication through an NHS prescription You can also choose to get your diagnosis done privately and then purchase the medication from the pharmacy Its important to note that a private diagnosis wont necessarily qualify you for reasonable adjustments or Disabled Students Allowance DSA To get medication via this route youll need a referral from the NHS and a full assessment of ADHD by a psychiatrist

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