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How to Get Diagnosed With ADHD in the UK Consult your doctor if you believe that you may be suffering from ADHD They should take your concerns very seriously and refer you to an NHS ADHD assessment You could be eligible to receive Access to Work which could open the door to employment Due to shortages of medication and delays in obtaining a diagnosis and starting treatment 1 Talk to your GP People who suspect that they or a child might suffer from ADHD usually consult their doctor first They can be very attentive to your concerns and refer you to an expert to conduct an assessment Depending on where you live it could be free of charge or you may have pay a small amount More details are available on the NHS website It isnt easy to accept the diagnosis of ADHD particularly when your symptoms arent able to be taken seriously It is important to remember that about 26 millions people in the UK suffer from ADHD A diagnosis may help you understand the reasons why your child or you might have trouble staying focused or responding to impulses A specialist will determine whether you or your child has ADHD Based on their observations of discussions questionnaires and discussions with you your child and anyone who knows you well They will also consider how long your or childs ADHDrelated issues have been present and how much they affect your life They will also look at whether your your childs issues could be more easily explained by a different condition such as dyslexia autism anxiety or behavior issues If you have a GP who doesnt consider ADHD seriously we recommend trying to get another one It isnt easy to request a referral but its worth it You can download and print guides from ADHD UK to help you talk to your GP The assessment process should be completed quickly once you have been recommended Doctors will want to know the details of your or your childs symptoms Then the specialist should carry out an interview questionnaire and medical examination They will be looking at whether the presenting symptoms are mainly inattention or hyperactivityimpulsivity and how much they impact your or your childs life They will also determine if you or your child has experienced these symptoms before and compare information This is crucial because only a psychologist or psychiatrist can diagnose ADHD 2 Make an appointment with an expert There are many NHS specialist centres which can perform ADHD assessments adhd diagnosis adults ll have to request your GP to recommend one of these Youll probably have to fill out forms and questionnaires prior your appointment They can take some time to complete so it is best to do them before your appointment Your doctor will look at your symptoms within the context of current diagnostic guidelines for adults They may request your school or work documents or talk to your teachers parents or day care providers about the way you behaved as a child ADHD is more than just a behavior problem Its also connected to the way your brain functions Your doctor will be looking at the whole picture of how you are functioning and may also want to check for other mental health issues such as anxiety or depression If youre an adult you will be asked by your doctor how long you have 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 persist well into adulthood and will remain a part of your life Whether you are an adult or child youll usually receive medication as part of your treatment plan It is important to note that if youre diagnosed by a private doctor then youll initially receive your medication on the NHS The private doctor can assist you with this and provide your GP documentation for a sharedcare agreement which will allow you to pay the NHS prescription cost In England you have the legal right to choose your mental health team and the healthcare provider So if you decide that waiting time for an NHS assessment are too long you can book a private appointment online with an expert in your area This is usually a faster route than going through your GP and can be an economical alternative too 3 Ask your GP for an appointment If you suspect that you or your child might have ADHD the first thing to do is to speak to your GP While they may not be in a position to diagnose you with ADHD in a formal manner but they will consider your concerns seriously They will ask you how it has affected your family and yourself They will then refer you to an expert to be assessed and treated On our page Getting an ADHD Assessment we provide tips on how to accelerate the process if you are on a a lengthy waiting list If youve been diagnosed and accepted you will receive an appointment to see psychiatrists to be assessed and diagnosed A diagnosis from a psychiatric professional is required for access to medication on the NHS and to be eligible for reasonable adjustments and DSA During this visit the psychiatrist will take a review your symptoms and determine if they fit the criteria for ADHD They will then make a decision about which of the three subtypes you have inattentive hyperactiveimpulsive or combined In certain cases they might require a diagnosis such as depression or anxiety before making a final decision They may also have to exclude any alcohol or drugs that are used to treat it If they decide that you have ADHD they will send a letter to your GP with a form for a Shared Care Agreement This means that your GP can prescribe you ADHD medications on the NHS Your GP will renew your prescriptions Most people prefer a mix of medications and CBT therapy is most efficient but every person is different If you live in England it is worth knowing that you have a legal right to choose the provider your GP recommends to you for an NHS assessment and treatment This is known as the right to Choose and it applies to both children and adults If youre not sure which one to pick or if NHS wait times seem excessive you can select one of the other providers that provide NHS assessments in England You can learn more about the names of these providers by visiting the Psychiatry UK website It has a guide on how you can do it 4 Book an appointment with an expert There are numerous specialization services that 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 providers will allow you to book an assessment of diagnostics over the phone or via video You will be asked to give details regarding your symptoms and how they affect your life and daily activities They might also request details of your medical history They will also want to know whether any family members suffer from ADHD Your psychiatrist can guide you through the process of assessing They will talk about how your issues have affected your life and how theyve changed over time You will be asked about your childhood experiences and coping strategies This information will be used to determine if you have ADHD symptoms If adult adhd diagnosis dont have a GP who is willing to send you to an ADHD assessment You can always get one yourself by booking an appointment with an individual psychiatrist This is slightly more expensive however it will provide you the fastest means to be diagnosed Your psychiatrist can refer you to the NHS for followup treatment if needed A good psychiatrist can determine pretty quickly if you have ADHD If they have any doubts they can confirm this by asking questions or talking to someone who is familiar with you They will also take into account other health conditions that can hinder your ability to concentrate like depression or an addiction disorder Most ADHD diagnoses are made by adults not children This is because the majority of symptoms only appear as adults and can cause more problems as you get older and face more difficulties This is particularly true if you did not receive the proper support as a young person Sometimes it is difficult to receive a diagnosis particularly in the case of a minority group or are gender nonconforming Some mental health professionals have preconceived notions about what someone suffering from ADHD appears like and may make assumptions about your behavior without properly assessing the signs