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12 Facts About How To Get Diagnosed With ADHD To Make You Look Smart Around Other People
How to Get Diagnosed With ADHD in the UK

If you suspect ADHD If you suspect that you have ADHD, speak to your GP. They should take your concerns very seriously and refer you for an NHS ADHD assessment.

You could be eligible for Access to Work, which could open the door to employment. You could experience delays in receiving a diagnosis or beginning treatment due to a shortage of medication.

1. Talk to your GP

If you suspect that you or a child might suffer from ADHD usually consult their GP first. They will take your concerns seriously and recommend you to an expert to conduct an assessment. Depending on your location it could be free of charge or you may have to pay a small fee. More details can be found on the NHS website.

It can be difficult to accept the diagnosis of ADHD particularly when your symptoms aren't able to be taken seriously. It's important to know that around 2.6 million people in the UK have ADHD, and the diagnosis can help to understand why your or your child might have difficulties staying focused or responding to impulses.

A specialist will determine if you or your child suffers from ADHD by observing as well as discussions and questionnaires that they conduct with you, your children, and any other people who know you. They will also take a look at how long your or the child's issues with ADHD have been present and how they impact your daily life. They will also consider whether your your child's issues could be more easily explained by a different condition (such as autism, dyslexia anxiety, or other behaviour issues).

We suggest that you try to find an alternative GP if your current one doesn't treat ADHD seriously. It isn't easy to request a referral however it's well worth it. There are guides available from ADHD UK, which you can download and print to help you talk to your GP.

The process of assessment should be completed in a short time after you have been sent to a specialist. The GP will ask you or your child to provide details about your symptoms. The specialist will conduct an interview, a questionnaire, and a 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 verify if you or your child has had these symptoms before, so they can compare information. This is crucial as the diagnosis of ADHD is only confirmed by a qualified psychologist or psychiatrist.

2. Schedule an appointment with an expert

There are several NHS specialization centers that can carry out ADHD evaluations. You will need to request your GP to recommend one of these. You will likely need to fill out forms and questionnaires prior to your appointment. They can 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 request your employment or school documents, or talk to your teachers, parents, or daycare providers about your childhood. ADHD is more than an issue with behavior. It's also connected to the way that your brain works. Your specialist will be looking at the entire picture of how you are functioning, and may want to check for other mental health problems like depression or anxiety.

If you're an adult, you'll be asked by your specialist how long you have been suffering from ADHD symptoms. There was a long-standing belief that ADHD is only a problem for children, but nowadays, we know more. ADHD symptoms can last into adulthood and continue to impact your life.

Whether you are an adult or a child you'll typically be offered medication as part of your treatment plan. It is important to know that when you're diagnosed by a private doctor and you're prescribed medication, it will first be obtained from the NHS. adults diagnosed with adhd will be able to assist you with this and provide your GP documentation to sign a shared-care agreement, which will allow you to pay the NHS prescription cost.

If you're in England you have a legal right to choose your doctor and mental health team. If you feel that the waiting time for an NHS assessment is too long, then you can make an appointment online with an expert. This is often a quicker route than going through your GP, and can be cheaper too.


3. Ask your GP for a referral

If you suspect that you or your child might have ADHD the first step to do is talk to your GP. They won't be able to identify you as having ADHD, but they should take your concerns seriously and inquire about how it has been affecting your family and you. Then they should refer you to an specialist for evaluation and treatment. If they have a lengthy waiting list, there's advice on our Getting an ADHD Assessment page on how to speed things up.

Once you have been identified to a psychiatrist, you will be offered an appointment with a psychiatrist for assessment and diagnosis. This is because a clinical diagnosis from a psychiatrist is the sole method to get access to medication through the NHS, and to qualify for things like reasonable adjustments and DSA support.

During this appointment, the psychiatrist will review your symptoms and determine whether they meet the criteria for ADHD. They will then make a decision about which of the three subtypes you have (inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive or combined). In some instances they may need to exclude other conditions prior to making their choice, like anxiety, depression or bipolar disorder. They may also have to exclude any drug or alcohol misuse.

If they determine that you suffer from ADHD, they will send a letter to your GP with a request to sign a 'Shared-Care Agreement'. This means that your clinician will be able to prescribe you ADHD medications through the NHS. Your GP will then renew your prescriptions. Most people find that a combination of medications and CBT is the most efficient. However, every person is different.

It is important to know that if you are a resident of England you have the legal right to choose the service to whom your GP will recommend you for an NHS assessment or treatment. This is known as the right to Choose and applies to both adults and children. If you are unsure about which provider to choose or if you feel the NHS waiting times are too long, then you can make use of alternative providers that conduct NHS assessments in England. You can discover which ones by visiting the Psychiatry-UK website, which has a very helpful guide about how to do this.

4. Schedule an appointment with an expert

There are many specialization services that provide ADHD assessment and treatment in the UK. You can ask your GP for an appointment with these services or directly. You can request an assessment of diagnostics via phone or video with most private companies. They will require you to provide some information about your symptoms and how they affect your daily life, and specific details about any medical background. They will also ask if any of your family members suffer from ADHD.

Your psychiatrist will guide you through the process of assessing. They will discuss how your issues have affected your life and how they have changed over time. They will also inquire about your childhood experiences as well as your coping mechanisms. This information will be used to determine if you have ADHD symptoms.

You can make an appointment with a psychiatrist in case you do not know a physician who will recommend you to one. This may be a little more expensive however it will provide you the fastest way to be diagnosed. Your doctor can refer you to the NHS to receive follow-up treatment if required.

A good psychiatrist can tell very quickly if you suffer from ADHD. If they do have any doubts, they'll be able to find more evidence to support it by asking you questions or speaking to people who know you well. They may also look into other health conditions which can hinder your ability to concentrate, including depression and addiction disorders.

Most ADHD diagnoses are made in adults, not in children. It is because the majority of symptoms only appear as adults and can cause more issues as you age and face more challenges. This is particularly true if you did not receive the proper support as a child.

It can be challenging to get a diagnosis when you're the minority group or are a gender non-conforming person. Some mental health professionals might have preconceived notions of what an individual suffering from ADHD might appear like, and they may make assumptions about your behavior, without assessing you symptoms.

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