Notes

ADHD Assessment It's Not As Expensive As You Think
CAMHS ADHD Assessment

If your child or teenager has difficulties they may be sent to CAMHS for ADHD assessment. They will usually be asked to bring with them their parent(s)/guardian(s) and a teacher who knows them well.

Parents and caregivers who were interviewed in response COVID-19 highlighted the positives of remote appointments, but also that meetings in person are preferable during assessments.

Symptoms

If a child or a young person you know is suffering from ADHD, they might be unable to sit still, forget things, have trouble falling asleep, and are easily distracted by extraneous stimuli. They might also have difficulty keeping up with tasks and activities at home or at school, struggling to understand information and have trouble to follow instructions. They might often lose their possessions, have difficulties with their homework or assignments and may miss appointments. They may injure themselves or others if not careful. They might have a hard relationship, and struggle to find work or a job, and may find it difficult to connect with their family members.

Some kids and teens with ADHD are highly impulsive. diva adhd assessment might fidget or tap their fingers, try to be the first to turn in activities or incapable of stopping talking. They may not pay attention to what other people say and are more inclined to take risks, such as drinking or engaging in risky sexual activities. Some adults with ADHD have issues with their emotions and can easily become irritable or frustrated. They may also be sensitive to criticism or believe that others are judging them.

The symptoms of ADHD can differ from person to person and change with age. They can affect people of any race, gender or background. ADHD is an illness that can be treated by medication. It is essential to be aware that medication doesn't eliminate all the signs of the disorder, and may cause side negative effects.

The first step to getting help for ADHD is to have an assessment for ADHD with a camhs. The most popular method to get this done is to go to your GP and request an appointment. They may refer you to a mental service to conduct an ADHD specialist assessment.

ELFT's Quality Improvement team (QI) worked with the City and Hackney ADHD teams to improve the timeliness and accuracy of their assessment process. In the end, the average time between referral to assessment feedback was reduced to less than 12 weeks. This is in line with the trust's goal.

Diagnosis

ADHD is a medical issue and can be treated by medications, behavioural therapy, or education. It isn't easy for parents and children to comprehend the condition however there is plenty of help available. If you believe that you or your child may be suffering from symptoms of ADHD consult a GP. They will refer you to a specialist CAMHS who will assess and diagnose your child.

If your child has been sent to the CAMHS ADHD Assessment Service you will be visited by at least one person from the team. They will also seek out the caregivers or parents of the child, and a teacher who knows the child well to provide feedback. The team will employ standard assessment techniques and detailed history taking to determine your child's challenges. They will also provide Conners questionnaires for the child and their parent(s) or guardian(s) and a teacher that knows the child well to complete before the assessment appointment.

The CAMHS team will determine if your child requires further tests and refer them to an experienced psychologist. The psychologist will conduct a variety of tests to determine how your child handles emotions and behaves in various situations. They will look at how your child behaves at home, at school and in public spaces.

During the examination, your clinician will discuss with you and your child what they've discovered. They will then formulate an assessment and discuss the options for treatment with you. Medication is often used to treat people suffering from ADHD however, it does not eliminate all their symptoms.

Rotherham CAMHS is divided into multiple pathways. The 'ADHD assessment pathway' falls within the Neurodevelopmental Assessment pathway. Some children and adolescents are assessed for ADHD through the Intellectual Disability CAMHS path. This is because they have more cognitive ability and their difficulties are more complex than those of other children and young people who are using CAMHS. The 'ID CAMHS' section on this website has more details on this pathway.

Treatment

The NHS offers specialist help to children and adolescents suffering from ADHD via a local service. This could include a psychiatrist, a psychologist or a nurse. They will ask you to explain your symptoms and how they impact your life. They may also speak to your teachers, parents, or other caregivers. They could decide to treat you with medication or suggest other treatments instead. The NHS website provides information on treatments and what to expect.

A recent report2 focused on the issue of long waiting times for CAMHS services. Even with the best services, waiting times for ADHD assessments are extremely long. Local plans and guidelines3 as well as national guidelines3 for transformation4 stress the importance of early detection and assessment of adolescents and children with ADHD. However there are no specific guidelines on how long they should wait.

This quality improvement (QI) project was designed to cut down on waiting times for the ADHD assessment process. This was accomplished through a simple instrument for data collection and integrating it into the clinical system. The average time between the date the referral was made and the time the ADHD assessment feedback was given was decreased. The QI team would like to express our gratitude to the City and the Hackney CAMHS ADHD team for their commitment and hard work throughout the project.


If a medication has been prescribed, the doctors discuss the available options with you and your loved ones. There are a variety of medicines that can be utilized to treat ADHD however they all have different adverse effects. It is important that you know what to expect from any treatment.

In addition to medication, there are a variety of non-pharmacological interventions that can be used to help improve the symptoms of ADHD. These include parenting programmes such as behaviour therapy, and psychological treatments. They can be provided individually or in groups. Someone who suffers from ADHD might find it beneficial to use applications for planning and organisation.

The project involved 12 participants who were recently sent to the CAMHS ADHD route within the local Trust. The interviews were semi-structured, and they were conducted via telephone. Participants were recruited through an intentional sampling technique. This method was chosen as it is regarded to be more ethical than the randomised controlled trial method that would normally be employed in research studies.

Support

The diagnosis of ADHD can be a stressful experience for both parents and children as the symptoms are often misunderstood or viewed as unacceptable behavior. However, there are lots of support available from mental health professionals, as well as organizations and charities that can help. It is important that families understand what to expect from the assessment process. CAMHS has produced guidelines on the subject, which you can find by clicking the links below.

CAMHS provides a range of treatments for ADHD including medications and lifestyle modifications. But it is crucial that the correct treatment is chosen for your child's needs, as different people respond differently to medications. A CAMHS evaluation will involve discussions with a doctor or nurse and can involve a range of tests, such as blood tests and brain scans, which can help identify possible causes of the symptoms.

The City and Hackney ADHD team recently completed an improvement in quality to cut waiting times and improve service user satisfaction. The team conducted a survey of service users during the assessment process, and identified the most important themes that informed improvements to the pathway. For example, service users were of the opinion that the assessment was too long, and there was not enough support providing postassessment support. They also want to see more targeted help for families and children who have been diagnosed with ADHD.

After the QI project was launched and implemented, the wait time between referrals and ADHD assessment were significantly reduced. This is in line the targets for trust-levels, and shows a focus on improving efficiency and capability across the CAMHS System. The team used the model of change and Plan-Do–Study–Act cycles to drive positive changes in the ADHD pathway.

A diagnosis of ADHD can also help you obtain an Education, Health and Care Plan for your child. The EHCP allows your school to provide additional assistance for your child, such as training and medication. The school can also contact our CAMHS ADHD clinic for help and support sessions for children who have received an ADHD diagnosis.

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