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CAMHS ADHD Assessment

If your child or adolescent has difficulties, they could be sent for an ADHD evaluation 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 highlighted positives around remote appointments, but also that face-to-face appointments are preferred during assessments.

Symptoms

If a child or young person you know is suffering from ADHD, they might struggle to remain focused, forget things, have trouble falling asleep, and are easily distracted by other stimuli. They may also be unable to keep up with their tasks or activities at school or home and have difficulty understanding information, and find it hard to follow instructions. They might often lose their belongings, have difficulty completing homework or assignments and miss appointments. If they're not careful, they might cause harm to themselves or others. They might experience difficulties in relationships, and find it difficult to find a job or work and have trouble being a good parent.

Some children and young people with ADHD are also hyperactive. They may be impulsive, fidget, or struggle to wait for their turn. They may not pay attention to the opinions of others and are more likely to be risky, such as using drugs or engaging in dangerous sexual activity. Many adults suffering from ADHD also struggle with their emotions. They can be angry, frustrated or angry quickly. They may also be extremely sensitive or feel that other people are criticizing them.

The symptoms of ADHD are different from person to person and change with age. They can affect people of any race, gender or background. ADHD can be treated with medication. It is important to know that medication does not remove all symptoms of the disorder and can have side effects.

The first step towards getting help for ADHD is to have a camhs adhd evaluation. The most common way for this is to go to your GP and request an appointment. They can recommend you to a mental service for an ADHD specialist assessment.

The ELFT's Quality Improvement team (QI) worked with City and Hackney ADHD teams to improve the timeliness and accuracy of their assessment process. In the end, the average waiting time from referral to assessment feedback was reduced to less than 12 weeks. This is in accordance with the trust's goals.

Diagnosis

ADHD is a medical condition and can be treated by medication, behavioural therapy or education. Children and parents might find it difficult to grasp, but there are many resources available. If you think you or your child may be suffering from symptoms of ADHD talk to an GP. They can refer you to a specialist CAMHS who will evaluate and diagnose your child.

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. They will also ask the child's parents or caregivers, and a teacher who is familiar with them well for feedback. The team will use standardised assessments and detailed histories to evaluate your child's challenges. They will also send Conners questionnaires to the child, the parent(s), or guardian(s) and teachers who know the young person very well.





The CAMHS team will then determine that your child requires additional tests and will send them to a professional clinical psychologist. The psychologist will conduct different tests to determine how your child handles their emotions and behavior in different situations. They will examine the way your child behaves at home, at school and in public spaces.

During the assessment the clinician will talk to you and your child about what they have discovered. The doctor will then make an assessment, and then discuss treatment options with you. adhd assessment uk is often used to aid people suffering from ADHD however it does not eliminate all the symptoms.

Rotherham CAMHS is divided into different pathways and the 'ADHD assessment pathway' falls within the Neurodevelopmental Assessment pathway. However, certain children and young people receive their ADHD evaluation through the Intellectual Disability CAMHS pathway. This is because they have more cognitive ability and their difficulties are more complex than the other children and young people who use CAMHS. This process is described in more detail on the 'ID of CAMHS" page on this website.

Treatment

The NHS offers specialist help to children and adolescents suffering from ADHD through a local support service. This could include a psychiatrist psychologist or a nurse. They'll ask you to explain your symptoms and how they impact your life. They might also talk to your parents, teachers or other carers. They may decide to treat you with a medication or suggest alternative treatment options instead. The NHS website contains information on treatments and what you can expect.

A recent report2 highlighted the issue of long waiting times for CAMHS services. Even with top-quality treatment waiting times for ADHD assessments are very long. Although national guidelines3 and local transformation plans4 stress the importance of early identification of children and young people with ADHD and guidelines on assessment has been provided however there is no clear guidance regarding how long an individual child or young adult should wait before being seen.

This quality improvement (QI) project was created to speed up the ADHD assessment process. This was achieved through the use of a simple tool for data collection and embedding it in the clinical system. The average time between the time the referral was made to the date the ADHD assessment feedback was provided was decreased. The QI team would like to thank the City and the Hackney CAMHS ADHD team for their dedication and hard work throughout the project.

If a medication has been prescribed, the doctors discuss the options available with you and your family members. There are a myriad of medicines that can be utilized to treat ADHD however, they all have distinct side effects. It is crucial to be aware of the potential side effects before you begin any treatment.

In addition to medications in addition, there are a range of non-pharmacological strategies that can be used to improve the symptoms of ADHD. These include parenting programs such as behaviour therapy, and psychological treatments. They can be delivered individually or in groups. A person who suffers from ADHD might also find it helpful to use organisation and planning apps.

The project included 12 participants who had been recently sent to the CAMHS ADHD route within the local Trust. The interviews were semi-structured, and they were conducted over the telephone. Participants were recruited via a deliberate sampling method. This method was chosen as it is believed to be more ethical than a randomised controlled study, which would normally be used in a research study.

Support

A diagnosis of ADHD can be a source of stress for parents and young people because the signs can be misunderstood and viewed as bad behaviour. Mental health services, as well as charities and organisations can provide assistance. It is important that families know what to expect from the assessment process. CAMHS has produced guidelines on the subject which can be found by clicking the links below.

CAMHS also provide a variety of different treatments for ADHD which include medication and lifestyle changes. It is essential to ensure that the appropriate treatment is chosen for your child's needs, as different individuals respond differently to different medications. A CAMHS evaluation will involve discussions with a nurse or doctor and can involve a range of tests, like brain scans and blood tests which help to determine possible causes of the symptoms.

The City and Hackney ADHD team recently completed an improvement in quality to reduce wait times and improve user satisfaction. The team consulted customers during the assessment process and identified the key issues that informed improvements to the pathway. For example, service users thought that the assessment was too long and that there was not enough support to providing postassessment support. They would also like to see more targeted support for children and their families who are diagnosed with ADHD.

After the QI project was launched the waiting times between initial referral and ADHD evaluation were drastically reduced. This is in line with trust-level targets and is a reflection of the focus on increasing efficiency and capacity across the CAMHS system. The team employed a change model and Plan-Do–Study–Act cycles to create positive changes in the ADHD process.

A diagnosis of ADHD can be beneficial in getting an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) for your child. The EHCP allows your school to provide additional support for your child with regards to training and medication. The school can also consult our CAMHS ADHD clinic for support and advice for children who have received an ADHD diagnosis.