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.

In response to COVID-19 parents and caregivers' responses to interviews highlighted positives around remote appointments, but also that face-to-face appointments are preferred during assessments.

Signs and symptoms

If a child or young person you know has ADHD they may be unable to sit still and forgetting things, have trouble falling asleep, and are easily distracted by distractions. They might also have trouble keeping up with tasks and activities at school or at home, struggling to understand information and may find it difficult to follow directions. They might lose items and have trouble finishing homework assignments or assignments, and even have trouble keeping appointments. If they're not careful, they might harm themselves or others. They could have a difficult time in relationships, have trouble finding work or a job and may have difficulty to get on with their family members.

A few children and young people with ADHD are also in a state of being impulsive. They might fidget or tap their fingers, try to be the first to turn in activities or incapable of stopping talking. They may not pay attention to other people and be more likely to engage in risky activities like using drugs or engaging in sexual activities that are risky. Certain adults with ADHD also struggle with their emotions and can be angry, frustrated or angry easily. They might also be overly sensitive to criticism or feel that others are judging them.

The symptoms of ADHD differ for each person and they change as a person gets older. They can affect anyone of any race, gender or background. ADHD can be treated with medication. It is crucial to understand that medication is not able to remove all symptoms of the disorder, and it can cause side effects.

The first step in seeking help for ADHD is to get an assessment of the severity of adhd in camhs. It is typically performed by asking your GP to schedule an appointment. They may refer you to a mental clinic to conduct an ADHD specialist assessment.

The ELFT's Quality Improvement (QI) team worked with City and Hackney ADHD team to speed up their assessment process. The result was that the average wait time from referral to feedback from the assessment was reduced to less than 12 weeks. This is in line with the trust's target.

Diagnosis

ADHD is a medical issue and can be treated with medications, behavioural therapy, or education. Children and parents may find it difficult to grasp, but there are many resources available. If you believe that you or your child has symptoms of ADHD consult a GP. They may refer you to a specialist CAMHS team who will assess your child's condition and make a diagnosis.

If your child is being referred to a CAMHS ADHD assessment service, they typically will be viewed by a couple of members of the team. They will also ask for feedback from the child as well as their parent(s) or carer(s), and the teacher who knows them well. The team will use standardised assessment techniques and detailed histories taking to assess your child's difficulties. They will also send Conners questionnaires to the child as well as the parent(s) or guardian(s), as well as teachers who know the child very well.

The CAMHS team may then decide that your child requires further tests and they will refer them to an expert clinical psychologist. The psychologist will use various tests to assess how your child manages their emotions and behaves in various situations. They will look at how your child behaves at home, at school and in public spaces.

During the evaluation your doctor will discuss with you and your child what they've discovered. The clinician will make a diagnosis, and then discuss possible treatment options with you. Patients with ADHD are usually treated with medication, however it is not a cure for all symptoms.

Rotherham CAMHS is divided into multiple pathways. The 'ADHD assessment pathway' falls within the Neurodevelopmental Assessment pathway. Certain children and adolescents will be evaluated for ADHD through the Intellectual Disability CAMHS path. This is due to their an elevated cognitive capability and their issues are more complex than other children and young people who utilize CAMHS. The page 'ID CAMHS' on this website has more details on this pathway.

Treatment

The NHS provides specialist help for children and adolescents with ADHD through a local service in your region. This could include psychologists, psychiatrists or even a nurse. You'll be asked to describe your symptoms, and how they affect your life. They may also ask your teachers, parents or other caregivers. They could decide to treat you with a medication or suggest other treatment options instead. The NHS website provides information on treatments and what you can expect.

A recent report2 focused on the issue of long waiting times for CAMHS services. The wait times for the evaluation of ADHD are particularly long even when the care is of a high standard. While national guidelines3 and local transformation plans4 stress the importance of early detection of children and young people with ADHD and a guideline for assessment has been developed however there is no clear guidelines on the length of time the child or young person should wait to see a doctor.

https://baldwin-lara-3.hubstack.net/a-the-complete-guide-to-assessed-for-adhd-from-beginning-to-end (QI) project was created to speed up the ADHD assessment process. This was achieved through the use of a simple data collection tool 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 has been reduced. The QI team would like to express our gratitude to the City and the Hackney CAMHS ADHD team for their commitment and hard work during this project.

If a medication is prescribed, your doctor will discuss the available options with you and your family members. There are a variety of medications that can be used to treat ADHD however they all have different side effects. It is important to know what to expect before you start any treatment.

There are a variety of non-pharmacological therapies that can help to improve ADHD symptoms. These include parenting programs as well as behaviour therapy and psychological therapies. They can be delivered individually or in groups. A person who suffers from ADHD may also find it beneficial to use applications for planning and organisation.

The project involved 12 participants who had been referred recently to the CAMHS ADHD path within the local Trust. The interviews were semi-structured, and they took place via telephone. Participants were recruited using a purposeful sampling technique. This method was chosen because it is believed to be more ethical than a randomised controlled trial that is normally used in a research study.



Support

The diagnosis of ADHD is often a source of anxiety for both parents and children, as the symptoms are often misunderstood or viewed as undesirable behavior. Mental health services as along with charitable and non-profit organizations can provide support. It is important that families are aware of what to expect from the assessment process. CAMHS has produced guidance on the subject, which you can find by clicking the hyperlinks below.

CAMHS also provide a variety of different treatment options for ADHD, including medications and lifestyle changes. It is important to select the appropriate medication for your child since each person responds differently to different medications. A CAMHS assessment will include discussions with a physician or nurse and can involve a range of tests, like blood tests and brain scans that can help determine possible causes for the symptoms.

The City and Hackney ADHD team recently completed an improvement in quality to cut waiting times and increase satisfaction of users. The team consulted service users throughout the assessment process and identified the most important themes that helped inform improvements to the path. Service users, for instance, felt that the assessment was too long and they felt that there was not enough post-assessment support. They would also like to see more targeted support for families and children who have been diagnosed with ADHD.

Following the QI project, wait times between referral and ADHD assessment have decreased dramatically. This is in line with the trust-level goals and reflects the focus on increasing efficiency and capacity across the CAMHS system. The team employed the change model and Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles to create positive changes in the ADHD process.

A diagnosis of ADHD may also help you get an Education, Health and Care Plan for your child. The EHCP allows schools to provide additional support for your child including training and medication. The school may also refer to our CAMHS ADHD clinic for help and support sessions for children who have been given an ADHD diagnosis.