ADHD Assessment - Why it's Important to Find a Private Clinic GPs can refer patients to private ADHD assessment services if they think they might be suffering from the condition. However this procedure can be lengthy and frustrating. It is essential to select a psychiatrist who has experience treating ADHD. NHS guidelines in England, Wales and Northern Ireland offer a right to diagnose and treat adults suffering from ADHD. But some patients do not receive the assistance they require. We accept referrals from GPs ADHD is a challenging condition to live with, and getting an accurate diagnosis is crucial in managing the symptoms. However, many adults suffering from ADHD have difficulty to obtain a diagnosis or treatment from the NHS. Many are forced to pay for their medications privately and seek private assessments due to the lack of services. Many people are borrowing money to pay the costs of their assessments as well as treatment. This is an unnecessary expenditure that can cause stress to the patient. The best method to determine ADHD is to conduct an extensive assessment and consultation with a specialized psychiatrist. This process will consider your family history, your current symptoms and the way in which you struggle with the disorder. It will also include tests designed to gauge your ADHD symptoms, such as standard tests for children, and modified for adults, such as the ADOS or Conners adult ADHD rating scales. The semi-structured interview will be followed by questionnaires and diaries. In certain cases the psychiatrist might request to see older reports. Before booking an appointment, it is important to confirm that the specialist has experience in ADHD. Some psychiatrists have only dealt with children and are not capable of assessing adults with ADHD. It is also recommended to determine what kind of medications they prescribe, and whether they have particular interest in this field. If you request a private ADHD assessment, you can expect a meeting with a psychiatrist consultant and also to complete a variety of psychological tests. These tests are similar in nature to the tests used by the NHS however they can be tailored for adults who suffer from ADHD. They will examine the specific symptoms (traits) of ADHD like hyperactivity as well as inattention and the tendency to be impulsive. You can prepare for your test by researching the different characteristics so you know how they affect you. Depending on where you live in England, you have a legal right choose your mental health provider. This includes selecting one that has shorter wait times for an ADHD assessment. If you're unable to schedule an appointment with your local NHS trust, you can download the ADHD UK support letter and presenting it to your GP. We are based in Belfast Our highly trained medical professionals will take the time to understand your symptoms and the impact they have on your day-to-day life. We will then discuss the treatment options available. This could include medication or cognitive therapy for behavioral problems. We can also provide advice on a plan of action, regardless of whether you decide to seek private or return to NHS treatment. You will be treated by a qualified clinical psychologist, who will have undergone advanced training in ADHD and related mental health issues. They are committed to providing top-quality services. A BBC investigation found that patients are given powerful drugs and are told to have ADHD after unreliable online assessments. Three private clinics diagnosed the undercover reporter via video call, but an extensive NHS evaluation revealed that he did not have ADHD. Private clinics such as Harley Psychiatrists or ADHD Direct claim to carry out thorough tests in line with national guidelines. One of the clinics sent a letter to a patient, seen by Panorama and asking her to remove negative reviews on the internet. The Northern Trust has reported an increase in adult referrals who believe they suffer from ADHD. However, waiting for a diagnosis can be years. According to a trust assembly response it could take "several" years to get an initial assessment of a patient. Many people are going to private clinics for diagnosis. An ADHD diagnosis can have a significant impact on a person's life. It can cause problems in the workplace, at school, or at home and lead to feelings like anxiety and depression. It can also make it difficult to maintain a relationship. Additionally, it can be hard for people with ADHD to find a job or to find accommodation. Many adults with ADHD do not know that they suffer from it, and some are being referred to psychiatrists because their children have been diagnosed with it. Parents should be aware of the symptoms and seek advice from a doctor. Certain adults with ADHD may be eligible for Disabled Students Allowance, but they must be diagnosed with a medical condition from a GP before they can apply for this. We provide a variety of treatments Adult ADHD has become an increasingly common condition and many adults are living with it, but not being diagnosed. This can have a negative effect on their relationships, work, and careers. It could also cause health issues such as anxiety and depression. The need to be diagnosed is essential for adults with ADHD to get the treatment they require. There are many treatment options available for adults with ADHD. These include medication and psychotherapy. The recent BBC Panorama investigation has shown that ADHD services are not provided well. The programme found that journalists were misdiagnosed by private clinics, and that NHS assessments were not always thorough enough. The journalist did not have the benefit of receiving treatment for his ADHD symptoms. This could have impacted his academics and career prospects. The NHS is unable to cope with demand for ADHD services however the quality of assessment and the service is different across regions. In some areas adults are waiting for years to be tested for ADHD. The NHS has recently launched a new 'Right to Choose option in England that gives people the option to choose their mental healthcare provider and to be seen by a psychiatrist who specialises in ADHD. This is a quicker way to receive an ADHD diagnosis and can save time and frustration. In Northern Ireland, a number of health boards and NHS trusts have stated that they struggle to provide ADHD services to adults. A Freedom of Information request by ADHD UK to the NI trusts for social and health care revealed that people were waiting for more than four years to schedule an appointment with a specialist. This is a huge delay compared to the average waiting time of two years or less in Wales, three and one-half years in England, and more than a year in Scotland. If you're directed to private facilities for an ADHD assessment they can tell you if you're meeting the criteria needed to be diagnosed with ADHD or if your problems are more easily explained by a different condition. They may also suggest treatment options. If they do not diagnose ADHD, they will explain the reasons. They should provide you with an official copy of the report, which can be sent to your GP. We are committed to providing top customer service ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder, however there are clear ways to diagnose it. A comprehensive evaluation should include a discussion of the symptoms of the patient, a thorough examination of their mental health history, and a review of the information provided by people who are familiar with them. Without a thorough examination it's impossible to prescribe medication safely. This is why it's crucial to find a private clinic which can provide a high-quality service. Many adults who think they are suffering from undiagnosed ADHD are being required to pay for private tests due to a lack of NHS services, a charity has said. The Northern Trust told BBC News NI that the demand has grown so much that it's not able to take new referrals for adult ADHD assessments. The trust has pledged to launching a local service to assist those who were referred in April. The procedure will consist of an extensive assessment of the patient's past and current issues, as well as an interview with both them and their families. The service will also inquire about the patient's behavior and activities. https://hub.docker.com/u/designarmy2/ will conduct a DIVA semi-structured interview and look at school reports to determine whether the symptoms meet the requirements for an ADHD diagnosis. The service will then send a written report, which will be provided to the GP. The report can be used to back a claim for Disability Living Allowance (DLA), or to prove that the student suffers from ADHD in order to apply for Disabled Students' Allowance. The report will provide treatment options. The patient will then be able to discuss the report with their GP to come up with a plan of treatment. The GP can then make arrangements for the medication to be prescribed by an expert.