CAMHS ADHD Assessment
If your child or adolescent is experiencing difficulties, they could be referred to undergo an ADHD assessment by CAMHS. They will usually be asked to bring with them their parent(s)/guardian(s) and a teacher who knows them well.
Parents and caregivers interviewed in response to COVID-19 highlighted the positives of remote appointments, but also said that face-toface appointments would be preferable for assessment purposes.
Signs and symptoms
If you have ADHD your child or teenager may struggle to remain focused and forgetting things, having trouble falling asleep, and getting easily distracted by external stimuli. They may also be unable to keep up with the demands of tasks or activities at home or at school or at home, struggle to comprehend information and are unable to follow directions. They might often lose their possessions, experience difficulty completing homework or assignments and also miss appointments. If they are not careful, they could cause harm to themselves or others. They may have difficulty in relationships, and find it difficult to get an employment or job, and have difficulty making friends with their family.
Some children and young people with ADHD are also impulsive. They might be impulsive, fidget, or fight to get their turn. They may not listen to others and be more likely to engage in risky activities like taking drugs or engaging in sexual activities that are risky. Some adults with ADHD also have issues with their emotions. They can become irritable, frustrated or angry easily. They might also be excessively sensitive or feel that other people are judging them.
The symptoms of ADHD can vary from person to person and change with age. They can affect people of any race, gender or background. ADHD is treatable with medication. It is important to know that medication does not eliminate all symptoms of the disorder, and can have side effects.
A camhs adhd assessment is the first step in receiving help for ADHD. It is typically done by asking your GP to make an appointment. They may refer you to a mental service to conduct an ADHD specialist assessment.
getting an assessment for adhd (QI) collaborated with City and Hackney ADHD teams to improve the speed and accuracy of their assessment process. The result was that the average waiting time from referral to feedback from the assessment was reduced to less than 12 weeks. This is in line with the trust's goal.
Diagnosis
ADHD is a medical disorder which can be treated through treatment with medication, behavioral therapy or education. It isn't easy for children and parents to understand the disorder however there is plenty of help available. If you believe that you or your child is suffering from symptoms of ADHD talk to an GP. They will refer you to a specialist CAMHS who will evaluate and determine if your child is suffering from ADHD.
If your child has been recommended to CAMHS ADHD Assessment Service and is referred to the CAMHS ADHD Assessment Service, they will be viewed by at least one of the team members. book adhd assessment uk will also ask the caregivers or parents of the child and a teacher who knows their child well to provide feedback. The team will use standard assessment techniques and detailed history taking to assess your child's difficulties. They will also send out Conners questionnaires to the child, their parent(s) or guardian(s) as well as an educator who knows the young person well to complete prior to the assessment appointment.
The CAMHS team will determine whether your child needs additional testing and refer them to an experienced psychologist. The psychologist will use different tests to determine how your child handles emotions and behaves under various situations. They will look at the way your child behaves in a range of different settings, including the home, school and public places.
During the examination your doctor will discuss with you and your child what they have discovered. The doctor will then make an assessment and discuss possible treatment options with you. People with ADHD are often treated with medication, however it does not eliminate all symptoms.
Rotherham CAMHS is divided into different pathways, and the 'ADHD Assessment pathway' is part of the Neurodevelopmental assessment pathway. Some children and adolescents will be assessed for ADHD through the Intellectual Disability CAMHS pathway. This is due to the fact that they have a higher level of cognitive ability and their challenges are more complex than those of other children and young people who are using CAMHS. This process is described in more detail on the "ID of CAMHS" page of this website.
Treatment
The NHS provides specialist help for children and adolescents with ADHD through a local service in your region. This could include psychologists or psychiatrists or even nurses. They will ask you to describe your symptoms and how they impact your life. They may also ask your parents, teachers or other carers. They may decide to treat you with a medication or suggest alternative treatment options instead. The NHS website offers information about 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 long even with good quality care. National guidelines3 and local plans for transformation4 stress the importance of early detection and assessment of adolescents and children with ADHD. However there aren't any explicit guidelines for how long they should wait.
This project was created to speed up the time for the ADHD assessment. This was achieved through the use of a simple data collection tool and integrating it into the clinical system. This has allowed the average number of weeks from the time of referral to the date of the ADHD assessment feedback to be cut down. The QI team would like to express our gratitude to the City and Hackney CAMHS ADHD team for their commitment and hard work during this project.
If a medication has been prescribed, the specialists discuss the options available to you and your loved ones. There are many drugs that can treat ADHD. However they all have distinct side-effects. It is important that you be aware of the potential side effects of any treatment.
In addition to medications in addition, there are a range of non-pharmacological treatments that can improve the symptoms of ADHD. These include psychotherapies, parenting programs, and behavior therapy. Sessions for groups or individuals are available. Apps that help with organizing and planning could be beneficial for those with ADHD.
The project included 12 participants who had been recently been referred to the CAMHS ADHD pathway within a local Trust. The interviews were semi-structured and were conducted over the telephone. Participants were contacted using a purposeful sample technique. This method was chosen because it is regarded to be more ethical than the randomised controlled trial approach which is typically employed in research studies.
Support
A diagnosis of ADHD can be distressing for parents and children, as the symptoms can be misinterpreted and seen as bad behavior. However, there is a wealth of resources available from mental health services, along with organizations and charities that can aid. It is crucial that families are aware of what to expect from the assessment process. CAMHS has issued guidance on the subject, which you can find by clicking on the below links.
CAMHS offers a variety of treatments for ADHD including medication and lifestyle modifications. It is important to select the right medication for your child as each person responds differently to different medications. A CAMHS assessment can include discussions with a doctor or nurse and may include a variety of tests, including brain scans and blood tests.
The City and Hackney ADHD team recently launched an improvement in quality to cut down on wait times and improve customer satisfaction. The team spoke with service users throughout the assessment process and identified the most important themes that informed improvements to the pathway. For instance, some service users thought that the assessment was too long and there was not enough support on offer postassessment. They also would like to see more specific support for families and children who are diagnosed with ADHD.
In the wake of the QI project, wait time from referral to ADHD assessment have decreased significantly. This is in line with trust-level targets and reflects the emphasis on increasing efficiency and capacity across the CAMHS system. The team used the change model and Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles to drive positive changes in the ADHD pathway.
A diagnosis of ADHD could also assist in obtaining an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) for your child. The EHCP allows schools to provide additional support for your children including medication and training courses. Our CAMHS ADHD clinic will provide support and advice for children suffering from ADHD.