25 Surprising Facts About ADHD Diagnosis How to Get an ADHD Diagnosis in the UK

When seeking assistance, referral or assessment for ADHD, people often encounter an array of gatekeepers in the network. It is clear that a lot of these gatekeepers, notably in NHS CCGs, are not following national clinical guidelines and their legal obligations to avoid health inequality and discrimination.

Certain private ADHD clinics may not be properly controlled according to reports from anecdotal sources. This could lead to inconsistent diagnostic thresholds, and assessment reporting that could create problems when trying to transfer to the NHS.

How can I get an official medical diagnosis?

ADHD is a mental health issue that means it must be diagnosed by a healthcare professional with special expertise. This includes psychologists and psychiatrists (who are only certified to diagnose ADHD here in the UK). Mentally ill people frequently report ADHD symptoms, especially those who have struggled for a lengthy period of time. This means they may feel trapped in their current situation and are desperate for help to improve their life. However, the NHS can be difficult to navigate for people seeking diagnosis.

You can receive a diagnosis via the NHS by asking your GP to refer you to a specialist. Your GP will be attentive to your concerns, and may refer you to a specialist for an assessment. However, you may need to wait until the specialist is available.

To assess your ADHD healthcare experts will look into any mental health issues you may have faced in the past, as well as your family history. They will also observe you in different environments, such as your home, at school or at work, to assess your behaviour. They will ask you to write about your symptoms and how they affect your daily life. They might inquire about your social life, your relationships and other activities that you do regularly.

A specialist will look at all the evidence before arriving at an assessment. They will look at criteria such as being restless and fidgety all the time or having an insufficient memory for short-term events and having trouble staying focused, having difficulty keeping up with school or work, not completing tasks, and being extremely energetic. The diagnosis is based on a pattern of traits that are present in multiple environments and affect your performance.

In the last few months, there has been an increase in the number of well-known people who have spoken out about their experiences with being diagnosed with ADHD. This has led to a spike in the number of people who are seeking a diagnosis, which can cause long wait times for healthcare professionals. Some patients and their families bypass the NHS in order to undergo assessments at private clinics. This is costly. It is essential to choose an healthcare provider you trust and be honest about the symptoms you are experiencing.

What happens during the process of assessment?

If you're self-referring or recommended by your GP, the process of assessing for ADHD symptoms is essentially the same. The person who is conducting the assessment will ask you questions about your symptoms and how they affect your daily life. For instance, "What problems do experience at home?" "How does your symptoms affect your work?" "Do you have other symptoms you think could be related to ADHD?"

You may be required to fill out various questionnaires or forms prior to your appointment, depending on the location you're going to for your examination. Making sure you complete these forms in a timely manner will prevent any delays to your appointment. It is also important to familiarize yourself with the signs of ADHD to be able to recognize them and discuss their impact on your life.

The assessment will usually include an interview with a psychiatrist, specialist nurse or another appropriately qualified healthcare professional. The therapist will evaluate your mental health and ADHD symptoms to determine if they're caused by another condition or not (NICE guidelines). The therapist will then discuss the treatment options with you, which could include medication.

Be aware that nurses and GPs are not as knowledgeable about adult ADHD as Psychiatrists. It is therefore important to plan your symptoms and practice them before you take part in the assessment. This will allow you to explain the impact that your symptoms are having in a way that is easily understood by them. You'll need to provide examples of how your symptoms have had an impact on every aspect of your life from relationships to work, and how they have changed over time.

You might have some tests taken as part of the assessment like an examination of your blood to look for any allergies. Your therapist might suggest additional tests to determine whether you have any other medical issues.

You could be self-referring or using the Right to Choose Scheme, however, you'll still have to wait for an appointment funded by the NHS. This can vary from NHS trust to NHS trust, and from clinician to clinician.

What happens if I don't have a diagnosis?

There are a variety of factors that can stop you getting diagnosed with ADHD. Some groups may be more difficult to get diagnosed. For example that they are of color or were born female or if they have other mental health diagnoses such as depression or bipolar disorder.

If you're struggling to get a diagnosis, try speaking to your GP about it and asking for a referral to a psychiatrist. It is also a good idea to locate a private psychiatric service who specializes in adult ADHD tests. They usually provide more rapid service than the NHS.

The psychiatrist will analyze your symptoms and decide whether they meet the criteria for ADHD using the Nice guidelines as a guideline. They will also look for other possible reasons for your symptoms like depression, anxiety or thyroid issues. It's a lengthy process, and adults may not have all the information they need.

It is possible that you are not diagnosed with ADHD even you and your GP accepts. This is because a psychiatrist will only diagnose you if they consider that your ADHD symptoms cause significant impairment. If they believe you do not meet the criteria, they'll inform you the reason.

In the UK, it is legal to access treatment through the NHS in England, Wales and Northern Ireland if you have been diagnosed with ADHD. You could be able obtain medication through an individual funding request, but it depends on where you live. You could be referred by your doctor to prescribe the medication you prefer. NHS specialists will recommend Methylphenidate and Atomoxetine first, and don't always plan long titration phases.

how to get adult adhd diagnosis is helpful to join an adult support group with ADHD, both in person and online. They can be very positive and reassuring, and it can help to discuss your experiences with people who understand.

What can I do to receive treatment?

Doctors can recommend adults to specialist ADHD services to be assessed and prescribed medication. These services are typically located in NHS hospitals or NHS community health teams. For instance, the Maudsley Hospital, London, provides a national ADHD diagnostic service for adults. However, many NHS health providers aren't able to accept these reports, and patients are frequently denied receiving treatment. This is due to lengthy waiting periods or rejection of referrals.

Support groups informed the consensus meeting that many ADHD sufferers seek out private assessments and diagnosis to avoid the NHS's inability to invest in this area. Private clinics can provide a faster and more professional, and generally understanding diagnosis. They can also be helpful in the screening of comorbidities such as depression and anxiety which are common in ADHD and can assist with titration until the final dosage of the medication. Prices vary from PS500 to PS1,200 however, the diagnosis and titration are priced separately.


The treatment and diagnosis of ADHD is different from person to. The majority of people are treated using medication. This may be methylphenidates, such as Ritalin or Concerta, or atomoxetine, like Strateva. Non-drug interventions can be helpful, such as education and training for parents and families of people with ADHD. Certain people with ADHD have found that changing their diet and establishing a sleep-friendly schedule helps. Others have found that hypnotherapy and psychotherapy can ease their symptoms, but the evidence on these is not as extensive.

It is unacceptable that a lot of adults with ADHD are unable to get the care and treatment they require on the NHS. The UK government, the clinical and regulatory authorities must act urgently to rectify this issue. People suffering from ADHD should have access to treatment that is devoid of discrimination and in line with their rights under the law. The long-term planning of financing, and joint commissioning of social, health care and judicial services are vital to meet this unmet need. The current state of affairs is not sustainable and the impact on individuals, families and the entire society is devastating. It's time to invest.