CAMHS ADHD Assessment
If your child or teenager has issues, they may be referred to CAMHS for an ADHD assessment. They will usually be asked to bring with them their parent(s)/guardian(s) and a teacher who knows them well.
Parents/caregivers interviewed in response to COVID-19 highlighted the positives of remote appointments, but also that face-to-face appointments are preferred during assessments.
Symptoms
If you have ADHD your child or teenager may have trouble sitting still or concentrating, snagging things, unable to fall asleep, and getting easily distracted by external stimuli. They may also be unable to keep up with their tasks or activities at home or in school or at home, struggle to comprehend information and may find it difficult to follow instructions. They may lose their possessions, have difficulties completing assignments or homework and may miss appointments. If they're not careful, they might harm themselves or others. They might have a hard time in relationships, struggle to find work or a job, and may have difficulty to be a good friend to their family members.
Some children and young people with ADHD are also hyperactive. They may play with their hands, tap their fingers or struggle to wait their turn. They might not listen to what other people say and could be more likely to be risky, such as using drugs or engaging in dangerous sexual activities. cheapest adhd assessment uk with ADHD suffer from emotional issues and can easily become irritable or frustrated. They might also be overly sensitive to criticism or feel that others are criticising them.
The symptoms of ADHD differ for each person and they can change as an individual gets older. They can affect people of any race, gender or background. ADHD can be treated with medication. But it is important to know that medication does not eliminate all the symptoms of the disorder and can cause side adverse effects.
The first step to seeking help for ADHD is to get a camhs adhd evaluation. This is typically completed by contacting your GP to make an appointment. They may recommend you to a mental health professional for a specialist ADHD assessment.
The ELFT's Quality Improvement team (QI) worked with City and Hackney ADHD teams to improve the speed and accuracy of their assessment process. The average waiting time between assessment and feedback was reduced from 12 weeks to less than 12. This is in line with the trust's mission.
Diagnosis
ADHD is a medical issue and can be treated with medication, behavioural therapy or education. Parents and children might find it difficult to grasp however, there are plenty of resources available. Speak with your GP if you or your child displays symptoms of ADHD. They may refer you to a specialist CAMHS team that will evaluate your child's condition and make a diagnosis.
If your child has been referred to CAMHS ADHD Assessment Service, they will be seen by at least one person from the team. They will also ask for feedback from the child, their parent(s) or carer(s) as well as an educator who is familiar with them. The team will utilize standardised assessments and detailed histories to assess your child's difficulties. They will also send Conners questionnaires to the child, the parent(s), or guardian(s) as well as an educator who knows the child very well.
The CAMHS team will then decide whether your child needs additional tests and refer them to a psychologist who is a clinical. The psychologist will employ different tests to assess how your child handles their emotions and behavior in various situations. They will examine the way your child behaves at home, in school as well as in public areas.
During the examination the clinician will talk to you and your child about what they have discovered. The doctor will then make an assessment and discuss possible treatment options with you. Patients with ADHD are usually treated by medication, but it's not enough to eliminate all symptoms.
Rotherham CAMHS is split into several pathways, and the "ADHD assessment pathway" is within the Neurodevelopmental Assessment pathway. However, some children and young people receive their ADHD assessment done through the Intellectual Disability CAMHS pathway. This is because they have a higher level of cognitive ability and their difficulties are more complex than the other children and young people who are using CAMHS. The 'ID CAMHS' section on this website has more information about this pathway.
Treatment
The NHS offers specialized assistance for children and adolescents with ADHD through local services in your region. This could include a psychiatrist, psychologist or nurses. They'll ask you to explain your symptoms and how they affect your life. They might also talk to your teachers, parents or other caregivers. They may decide to treat you with a medication or suggest alternative treatment options instead. The NHS website provides information on treatments and what you can expect.
A recent report2 identified the issue of lengthy waiting times for CAMHS services. The waiting times for evaluation of ADHD are particularly high, even with high-quality care. Local plans and guidelines3 as well as national guidelines3 for transformation4 emphasize the importance of early identification and assessment of children and adolescents with ADHD. However, there are no explicit guidelines on how long they should wait.
This quality improvement (QI) project was created to cut down on waiting times for the ADHD assessment process. This was accomplished by using a simple data collection tool and embedding it in the clinical system. This has allowed the average time from the date of referral to the date of the ADHD assessment feedback to be reduced. The QI team would like to thank City and Hackney CAMHS ADHD for their commitment and dedication throughout the course of this project.
If you are prescribed a medication by a specialist, they will discuss the options with you and your family. There are a myriad of drugs that can be used to treat ADHD however, they all have different side effects. It is important that you know what to expect from any treatment.
There are many non-pharmacological treatments that can aid in reducing ADHD symptoms. These can include psychotherapies, parenting programs and behaviour therapy. Individual or group sessions are available. A person who suffers from ADHD might benefit from using applications for planning and organisation.
The project involved twelve participants who were recently referred to the CAMHS ADHD path within a local Trust. The interviews were semi-structured, and were conducted via telephone. Participants were contacted using a purposeful sample technique. This method was chosen as it is regarded to be more ethical than the randomised controlled trial approach which is typically used for a research study.
Support
reference of ADHD can be stressful for parents and young people, as the symptoms can be misinterpreted and seen as bad behaviour. There are a lot of services available to help from mental health services, along with organizations and charities that can assist. It is crucial that families have a clear idea of what to expect during the assessment process. CAMHS have produced guidance on this subject and it can be found in the links below.
CAMHS also provide a range of different treatments for ADHD that include medications and lifestyle changes. It is essential to select the appropriate medication for your child, as each person responds differently to different medications. A CAMHS assessment will involve discussions with a physician or nurse and may involve a variety of tests, like blood tests and brain scans which help to determine possible causes for the symptoms.
The City and Hackney ADHD team recently launched a quality improvement project to reduce wait times and improve satisfaction of users. The team met with service users throughout the assessment process and identified the main themes that informed improvements to the pathway. For instance, some service users were of the opinion that the assessment was too long and that there was not enough support providing postassessment support. They also would like to see more targeted support for children and their families who are diagnosed with ADHD.
After the QI project was implemented and implemented, the wait times between initial referral and ADHD evaluation were drastically reduced. This is in line with trust-level targets and reflects the emphasis on enhancing efficiency and capacity across the CAMHS system. The team employed the change model and Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles to effect positive changes in the ADHD pathway.
A diagnosis of ADHD may also help you get an Education, Health and Care Plan for your child. The EHCP will allow your school to provide additional assistance for your child, such as training or medication. The school may also consult our CAMHS ADHD clinic for advice and support sessions for children who have been given an ADHD diagnosis.