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10 Things We Do Not Like About How To Get Diagnosed With ADHD
How to Get Diagnosed With ADHD in the UK

If you suspect that you may have ADHD, talk to your GP. They must take your concerns seriously and refer you to an NHS ADHD assessment.

You may also qualify to receive Access to Work support, which can help you open doors to work. You may experience delays in receiving a diagnosis or beginning treatment due to shortages of medications.

1. Talk to your GP

Doctors are often the first port of call when people suspect they or their child might be suffering from ADHD. They can be very attentive to your concerns and refer you to a specialist to conduct an assessment. Depending on the area you live in the assessment could be free or you could have to pay. Find more details on the NHS website.

Being diagnosed with ADHD can be a stressful experience, especially if you don't feel like your symptoms are being taken seriously. It's important to remember that approximately 2.6 millions people in the UK suffer from ADHD. A diagnosis can help you understand the reasons why you or your child may have difficulty staying focused or acting upon impulses.

A specialist will determine whether you or your child suffers from ADHD through observations or discussions that they conduct with you, your children and any other people who know you. They will also look at how long your child's ADHD-related issues have been present and how much they impact your life. They will also determine whether your child's or your own symptoms are more easily explained by a different condition (such as anxiety or dyslexia).

We recommend that you look for an alternative GP if your current one does not treat ADHD seriously. It isn't easy to request a referral but it's worth it. There are a variety of guides available from ADHD UK, which you can print and download to assist you talk to your GP.

Once you have been referred to an assessment the process should be completed quickly. The doctor will request details of your or your child's 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 hyperactivity/impulsivity, and how much they impact your or your child's life. They will also look to see whether you or your child suffered from these issues in the past so they can compare. This is crucial as a diagnosis of ADHD can only be made by an experienced psychologist or psychiatrist.

2. Book an appointment with a specialist

There are several NHS specialist centers that are able to perform ADHD tests. You'll need to consult your GP to recommend one of these. You'll likely need to fill out some questionnaires and forms prior to your appointment. They may take a long time to complete, so you should try to complete them prior to your appointment, if you are able to.

Your specialist will examine your symptoms in the context of current guidelines for diagnosing adult patients. They may ask for your school or job records, or talk with your parents, teachers or daycare providers about your childhood. ADHD is more than an issue with behavior. It's also related to the way in which your brain works. Your doctor will look at the entire picture of how you are functioning and may also want to assess you for other mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety.

If you're an adult, you'll be asked by your specialist how long you have been experiencing ADHD symptoms. In diagnosing adhd Iampsychiatry , there was a belief that ADHD is only a problem for children, but nowadays, we know more. ADHD symptoms can last into adulthood and continue to have a significant impact on your life.

Whether you are an adult or a child, you'll usually receive medication as part of your treatment plan. It's worth noting that in the event that you're diagnosed by a private doctor then you'll initially be prescribed medication via the NHS. The private clinician will be able to help you in this process and provide your GP documents to sign a shared-care agreement, to ensure that you pay only the NHS prescription fee.

In England, you have the legal right to choose your mental health care team and the healthcare provider. If you feel that the wait time for an NHS assessment is too long, then you could book an online appointment with an expert. This is usually a faster method than going to your GP and is a more cost-effective option too.

3. Request your GP for a referral

If you think 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 way but they will be able to take your concerns seriously. They will ask how it has affected you and your family. Then they should refer you to an specialist for evaluation and treatment. If they are on a long waiting list, there is information on our Getting an ADHD Asssesment page about how to speed this up.

Once you have been referred to a psychiatrist, you will be offered an appointment to see a psychiatrist to be assessed and diagnosed. This is because a clinical diagnosis from a psychiatrist is the only method to get access to medications through the NHS and to be eligible for things like reasonable adjustments and DSA support.

During the appointment, the psychiatrist will assess your symptoms to determine if you satisfy the ADHD criteria. They will then make a decision about which of the three subtypes you have (inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive or combined). In certain cases they may need to exclude other conditions prior to making a decision, like depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder. They may also have to eliminate any alcohol or drug abuse.


If they decide that you suffer from ADHD they will send paperwork to your GP to sign the signing of a Shared Care Agreement. This means that your GP can prescribe you ADHD medications on the NHS. Your GP will then renew your prescriptions. The majority of people find that a combination between medications and CBT is the most effective. But, everyone is different.

If you reside in England and are a resident of England, it's important to know that you have a legal right to choose the provider your doctor refers you to for an NHS assessment and treatment. This is called 'Right to Choose which applies to adults as well as children. If you're not sure which one to choose or if NHS wait times are too long it is possible to choose one of the other providers that provide NHS assessments in England. You can find out the names of these providers by visiting the Psychiatry UK website. It has a guide on how to use it.

4. Request an assessment with an expert

In the UK There are a variety of specialist services that offer ADHD assessment and treatment. You can request your GP to refer you to one or contact the service directly. Most private providers will let you book a diagnostic assessment over the phone or via video. You will be asked to provide details about your symptoms, and how they impact your life and daily activities. They may also ask for details about your medical history. They will also want to know whether any of your family members have ADHD.

Your psychiatrist will guide you through the process of assessing. They will discuss how your symptoms have affected your life and how they have changed over time. You will be asked about your childhood and strategies for dealing with stress. This information will be used to determine if you exhibit ADHD symptoms.

If you don't have a doctor who is willing to send you to an ADHD assessment You can always locate one on your own by making an appointment with an individual psychiatrist. This may be a little more expensive however, it will give you the fastest means to be diagnosed. If you are in need of a psychiatrist, they can refer you to the NHS for further treatment.

A good psychiatrist can determine fairly quickly if you suffer from ADHD. If they are unsure, they can gather more evidence by asking questions or speaking to someone who knows you well. They will also consider other health conditions that may impact your ability to focus, such as depression or an addiction disorder.

Most ADHD diagnoses are made in adults, not children. This is due to the fact that most of the symptoms manifest in adults, and they may cause more issues as you age and face more challenges. This is particularly true if you did not get the right support as a child.

It can be challenging to get a diagnosis when you're the minority group or are a gender non-conforming individual. Some mental health professionals have preconceived ideas about what a person suffering from ADHD looks like and can make assumptions about your behavior without properly assessing the signs.

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