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How to Get Diagnosed With ADHD If you think you or your child might have ADHD the first step is to talk to your GP. They can't diagnose you immediately, but they likely refer you to a clinical assessment. This will take place with an audiologist (or psychologist or psychologist, in Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales) and they'll assess you for ADHD. They can also help you obtain DSA and make reasonable adjustments by making reports. 1. Talk to your doctor If you or your child has an issue with ADHD the first step is to see your GP. They will be able to assess whether they believe that you are suffering from ADHD and refer you to a specialist if necessary. It might be beneficial to write down some notes to this appointment. Your GP should then recommend you to a psychologist or psychiatrist for an assessment of your ADHD symptoms. adhd adult diagnosis uk can take between 45 to 90 minutes. It involves checking the ADHD diagnostic criteria, requesting information about your family background and identifying any mental health issues that you or your family members may have faced in the past. You may also be asked to fill out some questionnaires. The psychiatrist will decide whether you meet the ADHD criteria and will talk with you about the options for medication. It's important to realise that it is difficult for adults to get diagnosed with ADHD since they've developed strategies to disguise their symptoms. The psychiatrist will need to verify that your symptoms are causing significant impairment. This is usually done through old school records or letters from family. They'll also want to rule out any other possible causes for your issues, like depression or anxiety. If you are having difficulty getting an accurate diagnosis from your NHS GP, it is worth seeking a personal evaluation with one of the numerous services available on the Right to Choose website. It can be difficult to be faced with GPs and psychologists as well as nurses who are not aware of the science of ADHD However, perseverance is essential. 2. Request a recommendation A diagnosis from a doctor is required to be eligible for reasonable adjustments and Disability Living Allowance. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland NICE guidelines provide the right to request an NHS paid specialist ADHD assessment. Your doctor may ask you to fill out the questionnaire which will be reviewed by a psychiatrist. They may also ask you to speak to other professionals that have been around you, like healthcare professionals or teachers. They will look for signs that match those of ADHD in adults and that have been present since the age of. They will also look into whether other health issues like depression or thyroid problems, could explain your symptoms. After the assessment Your Psychiatrist will speak with you about possible treatment options. This might include medication that can be beneficial for a lot of people with ADHD. If you decide to use medication, your Psychiatrist could refer you to your GP to share the care management. If you're not keen to take medication, your Psychiatrist can recommend an independent occupational or psychological therapy assessment. This will help you manage your symptoms and improve your life skills. You may also find it useful to join a support group for people with ADHD. They can be reassuring and supportive. Many people with ADHD find that they need to be more arduous than other people to manage their day-to-day lives. This could mean they lack self-esteem and can feel dissatisfied with their inability to succeed at work or with relationships. They may also feel that others don't understand their situation and may become angry or bitter. There are many ways you can seek help. You can attend online meetings or join online groups. There are a lot of organizations that provide these services. 3. Get another opinion A second opinion can be beneficial for a variety of people. This is especially true if you've been misdiagnosed or have a condition like depression or anxiety that could co-exist with ADHD. Psychologists specialize in diagnosing mental health disorders. They can help you discover what's happening to you and how it could be affecting your daily life. It is important that you discuss your medical history thoroughly with a psychiatrist as this will determine if you meet the diagnostic criteria for ADHD. This can be done by self-referring or obtaining a GP referral or go private and book an appointment with a specialist for adult ADHD. If you decide to take the self-referral route, it is recommended to gather any relevant information you might have before 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 ask for a copy of your medical records to be delivered to the psychiatrist before you visit them. A specialist in adult ADHD will provide a thorough assessment of your symptoms. They will look at how they affect your daily life, and look for any comorbidities, such as anxiety or depression. They will typically use questionnaires and a medical interview to reach a diagnosis, which they'll follow up with a formal letter. A diagnosis of ADHD may help you receive the support you need including medication and psychotherapy, to manage your symptoms. It can also open the door to accessing disability-related assistance, such as Disabled Students' Allowance or reasonable adjustments in the college or school. 4. Go for a clinical assessment If your GP believes that you be suffering from ADHD, and that it affects your life in a significant way then they'll recommend a clinical assessment. It's usually a thorough process that involves talking to someone (often a psychiatrist) about your symptoms and filling out questionnaires and checklists. They may also want to look over your school records, or talk to someone who knew you as when you were a child. This is due to the fact that it's not believed that ADHD is a condition that develops in adults, and they'll need to confirm that your symptoms were present from childhood. After you've been recommended for an assessment, you'll likely be given the option of which provider to see. This is because patients in England have the legal right to choose their mental healthcare providers as well as their local NHS trust. This is known as Right to Choose and you can find helpful information about how to make use of it on this page from ADHD UK. You may be able to get an assessment from your university when you are a student. If they're happy to do this, then their report will be sufficient to get assistance through reasonable adjustments and Disabled Students Allowance. However, they won't be able to prescribe medication for you, therefore, you might want to seek an independent diagnosis instead. Your doctor will determine whether your ADHD symptoms result in significant impairment. They might suggest treatment with medication or other methods. They'll likely also discuss your long-term goals and any other concerns you may have. They'll then make a decision regarding what following that and refer you back to your GP with a plan. In most cases a diagnosis of ADHD will be followed by a discussion on whether you'd like to think about medications and a recommendation to your GP to make this happen. 5. Get a diagnosis Adult ADHD can be difficult to diagnose. Many medical professionals, particularly in the NHS are not aware of the symptoms of ADHD in adults. They could be biased or don't consider symptoms as serious. This can make it harder to obtain a diagnosis, but persistence can pay off. You will require an assessment by a specialist psychologist, specialist nurse or psychiatrist. Only these professionals are able to diagnose ADHD in the UK. You'll need to explain why you're struggling with the symptoms and why you believe they might be caused by ADHD. They will want to verify that your symptoms have been recurring for an extended period of period of time and are having an enormous impact on your life. This could include finding old school records and asking family to fill out forms regarding your struggles in the past. Following your clinical evaluation After your evaluation, you can discuss with your doctor whether you would like to explore different options for your medication. This will usually involve an agreement to share care with your GP and you will pay for the medication with an NHS prescription. You may also opt to make your diagnosis privately and then purchase the medication from pharmacies. A private diagnosis will not suffice to be eligible for reasonable adjustments or the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA). You will need an NHS referral as well as a full assessment by an ADHD specialist psychiatrist to have the best chance of receiving medication through this route.