CAMHS ADHD Assessment
If your child or adolescent is experiencing difficulty, they may be referred to undergo an ADHD assessment to CAMHS. They will usually be asked to bring with them their parent(s)/guardian(s) and a teacher who knows them well.
In response to COVID-19, interview responses from parents/caregivers pointed out the positives of remote appointments but also that face-to-face appointments would be preferred during assessments.
Symptoms
If you have ADHD, your child or teen might struggle to remain focused or concentrating, snagging things, having trouble falling asleep, and is easily distracted by external stimuli. They might also have difficulty trying to keep up with tasks or activities at school or home and have difficulty understanding information, and find it hard to follow instructions. They may lose things and have trouble finishing homework or assignments and may fail to attend appointments. If they are not careful, they could cause harm to themselves or others. They might experience difficulties with relationships, find it hard to find jobs or jobs, and have difficulty getting along with their family.
A few children and adolescents with ADHD are impulsive. They might fumble or tap their fingers, try to get their turn in activities or be incapable of stopping talking. They may not pay attention to others and are more likely to engage in risky activities such as taking drugs or engaging in sexual activities that are dangerous. Some adults with ADHD also struggle with their moods and become angry, frustrated, or angry quickly. They may also be overly sensitive or feel that other people are criticizing them.
The symptoms of ADHD are different for every person and they change as an individual gets older. They can affect anyone regardless of gender, ethnicity or background. ADHD can be treated by medication. But it is important to know that medication does not eliminate all the symptoms of the disorder and could cause side adverse effects.
A camhs adhd assessment is the first step in receiving help for ADHD. It is usually completed by contacting your GP to schedule an appointment. They may refer you to a mental health professional for a specialist ADHD assessment.
The ELFT's Quality Improvement (QI) team collaborated with the City and Hackney ADHD team to speed up their assessment process. The average waiting time between referral and feedback on assessment was reduced from 12 weeks to less than 12. adhd assessment psychiatry uk is in the range of the trust's goal.
Diagnosis
ADHD is a medical issue and can be treated through medications, behavioural therapy, or education. It can be a challenge for parents and children to understand the condition however there is a lot of help available. Talk to your GP when you or your child is showing symptoms of ADHD. They can refer you to a specialist CAMHS team that will evaluate your child's condition and make a diagnosis.
If your child was sent to the CAMHS ADHD Assessment Service and is referred to the CAMHS ADHD Assessment Service, they will be viewed by at least one person from the team. They will also seek feedback from the child, their parent(s) or carer(s) as well as the teacher who knows them well. The team will employ standardised assessments as well as detailed histories to assess your child's needs. They will also provide Conners questionnaires to the child as well as their parent(s) or guardian(s), and an educator who knows the young person well to complete before the assessment appointment.
The CAMHS team may then decide that your child requires additional tests and will refer them to an expert clinical psychologist. The psychologist will use different tests to see how your child manages their emotions and behaves in different situations. They will look at the way your child behaves in a range of different situations, such as at the home, school and public places.
During the examination, your clinician will discuss with you and your child what they've discovered. They will then issue a diagnosis and discuss the options for treatment with you. Medication is often used to aid people suffering from ADHD however, it does not eliminate all their symptoms.
Rotherham CAMHS is divided into several pathways, and the "ADHD assessment pathway" is within the Neurodevelopmental Assessment pathway. Some adolescents and children will be assessed for ADHD through the Intellectual Disability CAMHS path. This is because their cognitive capabilities are higher and their issues more complex than the other children and youth who utilize CAMHS. The 'ID CAMHS' page on this site provides more details about this route.
Treatment
The NHS provides specialized assistance for children and adolescents with ADHD through a local service. This might include a psychiatrist psychologist or nurses. They will ask you to explain your symptoms and how they impact your life. They may also ask your parents, teachers, or other carers. They may decide to prescribe medication or suggest alternative treatments. The NHS website has information about treatments and what to expect.
Recent reports have exposed the issue of long wait times for CAMHS services. The wait times for the assessment of ADHD are particularly long, even with good quality care. Although national guidelines3 and local transformation plans4 emphasize the importance of early detection of children and young adults with ADHD and guidelines on assessment has been provided but there is no specific guideline regarding how long the child or young person should wait before being seen.
This quality improvement (QI) project was designed to speed up the ADHD assessment process. This was achieved through the use of a simple tool for data collection and integrating it into the clinical system. This has allowed the average number of weeks from the time of referral until the date of the ADHD assessment feedback to be reduced. The QI team would like to thank the City and the Hackney CAMHS ADHD team for their commitment and hard work throughout this project.
If a medication is prescribed, the doctors discuss the options available to you and your family members. There are many medications that treat ADHD. However they all have distinct adverse effects. It is crucial to know what to expect when you begin any treatment.
In addition to medications, there are a variety of non-pharmacological strategies that can help improve the symptoms of ADHD. These include parenting programmes as well as behaviour therapy and psychological therapies. Individual or group sessions are available. Apps that assist with planning and organization could be beneficial for those with ADHD.
The project involved 12 participants who were recently sent to the CAMHS ADHD pathway in the local Trust. The interviews were semi-structured and were conducted over the telephone. Participants were recruited via a purposeful sampling technique. This was chosen because it is thought to be more ethical than a randomised controlled study that is typically employed in research studies.
Support
A diagnosis of ADHD can be distressing for parents and children because the signs can be misinterpreted and seen as bad behavior. There are a lot of support available through mental health services as well as organizations and charities that can assist. It is essential that families are aware of what is expected during the process of assessment. CAMHS has produced guidelines on this and this is available in the links below.
CAMHS also provide a variety of different treatments for ADHD which include lifestyle and medication. It is crucial to choose the appropriate medication for your child as each person responds differently to different medications. A CAMHS assessment will involve discussions with a nurse or doctor and can involve a range of tests, such as brain scans and blood tests which help to determine possible causes of the symptoms.
The City and Hackney ADHD Team recently implemented a project to improve quality and reduce waiting times. The team spoke with customers during the assessment process and identified the most important themes that led to improvements to the process. For instance, service users, felt that the assessment was too lengthy and they did not receive enough post-assessment assistance. They would also like to see more targeted help for families and children who are diagnosed with ADHD.
After the QI project was implemented, waiting times between initial referral and ADHD assessment were significantly reduced. This is in line the goals of trust and reflects the importance of improving efficiency and capabilities across the CAMHS System. The team employed an approach to change and Plan-Do-Study -Act cycles to create positive changes within the ADHD process.
A diagnosis of ADHD could also assist in obtaining an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) for your child. The EHCP allows your school to provide additional support for your children including medication and training courses. The school may also refer to our CAMHS ADHD clinic for support and advice for children who have received an ADHD diagnosis.
