CAMHS ADHD Assessment
If your child or adolescent is experiencing difficulties, they could be recommended 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.
Parents/caregivers interviewed in response to COVID-19 highlighted the positives of remote appointments, but also suggested that face-to-face appointments are preferred during assessments.
Symptoms
If you have ADHD, your child or teen may struggle to remain focused, forgetting things, having trouble falling asleep, and being easily distracted by external stimuli. They may also have trouble managing their tasks and activities at school or at home, struggle to make sense of information and have trouble to follow directions. They may lose their belongings, have difficulties with their homework or assignments and miss appointments. If they are not careful, they might harm themselves or others. They may have a difficult relationship, and find it difficult to find work or a job and may find it difficult to be a good friend to their family members.
Some kids and teens with ADHD are highly impulsive. They might fumble or tap their fingers, try to wait for their turn in activities or in a state of constant conversation. They may not pay attention to others and are more likely to engage in risky activities like taking drugs or engaging in sexual activities that are risky. Many adults with ADHD also struggle with their emotions. They can become angry, frustrated, or angry quickly. 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 can be treated by medication. It is essential to be aware that medication does not eliminate all the symptoms of the disorder and could cause side effects.
The first step to getting help for ADHD is to have an assessment for ADHD with a camhs. It is usually completed by contacting your GP to schedule an appointment. They may recommend you to a mental health professional for a specialist ADHD assessment.
ELFT's Quality Improvement team (QI) worked with City and Hackney ADHD teams to improve the timeliness and accuracy of their assessment process. As a result, the average time between 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 with medication, behavioural therapy or education. It can be difficult for parents and children to understand the condition, but there is lots 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 who will assess your child and determine if they are suffering from ADHD.
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 solicit the child's parents or caregivers, as well as a teacher who knows their child well to provide feedback. how to get a adhd assessment will use standard assessment techniques and detailed histories taking to evaluate your child's challenges. They will also send out Conners questionnaires to the child as well as their parent(s) or guardian(s) as well as a teacher that is familiar with the child to complete before the assessment appointment.
The CAMHS team could then decide that your child is in need of more tests and refer them to an expert clinical psychologist. The psychologist will use different tests to determine how your child manages emotions and behaves in various situations. They will assess the ways your child behaves in a range of different situations, such as at school, home and other public spaces.
During the assessment the doctor will talk to you and your child about what they have discovered. The clinician will issue a diagnosis, and then discuss possible treatment options with you. Medication is often used to aid people suffering from ADHD however, it does not eliminate all their symptoms.
Rotherham CAMHS is split into multiple pathways. The 'ADHD assessment pathway' falls within the Neurodevelopmental Assessment pathway. However, certain children and young people undergo their ADHD assessment through the Intellectual Disability CAMHS pathway. This is due to their cognitive abilities are greater and their difficulties more complex than those of other children and adolescents who utilize CAMHS. The 'ID CAMHS' page on this website has more details on this pathway.
Treatment
The NHS provides specialist assistance to children and adolescents suffering from ADHD via a local service. This could include a psychiatrist, psychologist or nurses. You'll be asked to explain your symptoms, and how they impact your life. They may also ask your teachers, parents or other caregivers. They could 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.
Recent reports2 have revealed the issue of lengthy wait times for CAMHS services. Even with top-quality treatment, waiting times for ADHD assessments are very long. While national guidelines3 as well as local transformation plans4 stress the need for early identification of children and young people with ADHD, and guidance on assessment has been provided, there is no explicit guidance regarding how long an individual child or young adult should wait to see a doctor.
This quality improvement (QI) project was designed to cut down on waiting times for the ADHD assessment process. This was achieved using an easy instrument for data collection and embedding it into the clinical system. The average number of weeks between the time the referral was made and the date the ADHD assessment feedback was provided was reduced. The QI team would like to also thank City and Hackney CAMHS ADHD for their commitment and dedication throughout the course of this project.
If the medication is prescribed the doctor will discuss the options with you and your family members. There are many medicines that can be utilized to treat ADHD however, they all have different adverse effects. It is essential to be aware of the potential side effects of any treatment.
There are many non-pharmacological treatment options that can help to improve ADHD symptoms. These include parenting programs as well as behaviour therapy and psychological therapies. Group or individual sessions are available. Apps that help with organisation and planning may be beneficial for those with ADHD.
The project involved 12 participants who had been referred recently to the CAMHS ADHD route within the local Trust. Interviews were structured and took place over the phone. Participants were selected using a purposeful sample technique. This method was chosen because it is considered to be more ethical than the randomised controlled trial approach that is normally used in a research study.
Support
The diagnosis of ADHD can be a stressful experience for both parents and children since the signs are often misinterpreted or seen as undesirable behavior. Mental health services as well as charities and organisations can offer support. It is essential that families know what to expect from the assessment process. CAMHS has issued guidance on the subject, which can be found by clicking the hyperlinks below.
CAMHS offers a variety of treatments for ADHD including medication and lifestyle modifications. It is crucial to choose the right medication for your child as everyone responds differently to medications. A CAMHS assessment will involve discussions with a doctor or nurse and can involve a range of tests, like blood tests and brain scans which help to determine possible causes of the symptoms.
The City and Hackney ADHD Team recently implemented a project to improve the quality of service and reduce waiting times. The team met with service users throughout the assessment process, and identified key themes that informed the improvement of the assessment process. Service users, for instance they felt that the assessment was too long and that there was not enough post-assessment assistance. They also want to see more specific support for children and their families who are diagnosed with ADHD.
After the QI project was launched the waiting time between referrals and ADHD assessment were significantly reduced. This is in line with trust-level targets, and reflects an emphasis on enhancing efficiency and capability across the CAMHS System. The team employed a model for change and Plan-Do-Study Act cycles to drive positive change in the ADHD pathway.
A diagnosis of ADHD could also assist you to get an Education, Health and Care Plan for your child. The EHCP allows your school to provide additional assistance for your children with regards to medication and training courses. The school can also consult our CAMHS ADHD clinic for help and support sessions for children who have been given an ADHD diagnosis.