CAMHS ADHD Assessment
If your child or teenager is struggling, they could be referred to CAMHS for ADHD assessment. 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 have highlighted the advantages of remote appointments, but also suggested that meetings in person are preferable during assessments.
Signs and symptoms
If you suffer from ADHD, your child or teenager may struggle to remain focused, forgetting things, unable to fall asleep, and getting easily distracted by external stimuli. They may also struggle to keep up with the demands of tasks or activities at school or home and have difficulty understanding information, and find it hard to follow directions. They might often lose their possessions, experience difficulties completing assignments or homework and miss appointments. If they are not careful, they might cause harm to themselves or others. They may have a difficult time in relationships, struggle to find work or a job and may have difficulty to get on with their family members.
A few children and adolescents with ADHD are hyperactive. They might be impulsive, fidget, or struggle to wait their turn. They may not listen to others and be more likely to engage in risky activities like using drugs or engaging in sexual activity that is dangerous. Many adults suffering from ADHD also have problems with their moods and be angry, frustrated or angry quickly. They might also be overly sensitive to criticism or feel that other people are criticising them.
The symptoms of ADHD can vary from person to person and change as you get older. They can affect anyone, regardless of race, gender or background. ADHD is a condition that can be treated with medication. However, it is crucial to be aware that medication doesn't eliminate all the signs of the disorder and can cause side negative effects.
An assessment of the camhs adhd is the first step towards getting help for ADHD. get adhd assessment for this is to visit your GP and request an appointment. They can refer you to a mental health service to conduct an ADHD specialist assessment.
The ELFT's Quality Improvement team (QI) worked with the City and Hackney ADHD teams to improve the timeliness and accuracy of their assessment process. As a result, 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 target.
Diagnosis
ADHD is a medical condition and can be treated through medication, behavioural therapy or education. Children and parents may find it difficult grasp but there are many resources available. Speak with your GP when you or your child displays symptoms of ADHD. They will refer you to a specialist CAMHS who will evaluate and diagnose your child.
If your child has been recommended to CAMHS ADHD Assessment Service, they will be seen by at least one person from the team. getting an assessment for adhd will also solicit the caregivers or parents of the child, as well as a teacher who knows the child well to provide feedback. The team will use standardised assessments and detailed histories to assess your child's needs. They will also send out Conners questionnaires for the child and their parent(s) or guardian(s) and a teacher that is familiar with the child to complete prior the assessment appointment.
The CAMHS team will then determine that your child needs additional tests and will send them to a professional clinical psychologist. The psychologist will use different tests to determine how your child handles their emotions and behaves in different situations. They will look at the behavior of your child in a variety of settings, including the home, school and public spaces.
During the assessment the doctor will talk to you and your child about what they have discovered. They will then formulate a diagnosis and discuss the options for treatment with you. Medication is often used to treat people suffering from ADHD, but this does not eliminate all their symptoms.
Rotherham CAMHS is split into different pathways and the 'ADHD assessment pathway' falls within the Neurodevelopmental Assessment pathway. However, certain youngsters and children will receive their ADHD assessment done through the Intellectual Disability CAMHS pathway. This is because they have an elevated cognitive ability and their difficulties are more complex than the other children and young people who are using CAMHS. This path is explained in greater detail on the 'ID of CAMHS" page on this site.
Treatment
The NHS provides specialist help for children and young people with ADHD through an in-person service within your area. This might include a psychiatrist, psychologist or a nurse. You'll be asked to write about your symptoms, and how they affect your life. They may also ask your parents, teachers, or other caregivers. They may also decide to prescribe medication or suggest alternative treatments. The NHS website has information on treatments and what you can expect.
A recent report2 highlighted the issue of long waiting times for CAMHS services. The wait times for the evaluation of ADHD are particularly high, even with high-quality care. Although national guidelines3 and local transformation plans4 stress the importance of early detection of children and young adults with ADHD and guidelines on assessment has been developed, there is no explicit guidelines on the length of time a child or young person should wait to be seen.
This quality improvement (QI) project was developed to cut down on waiting times for the ADHD assessment process. This was achieved through the use of a simple tool for data collection and embedding it in the clinical system. This has allowed the average time from the time of referral to the date of the ADHD assessment feedback to be reduced. The QI team would like to express our gratitude to the City and Hackney CAMHS ADHD team for their commitment and hard work throughout this project.
If a medication is prescribed, the specialists discuss the options available to you and your loved ones. There are many drugs that treat ADHD. However they all have distinct adverse effects. It is important that you know what to expect from any treatment.
There are many non-pharmacological treatment options that can aid in reducing ADHD symptoms. These include parenting programmes, behaviour therapy and psychological therapies. They can be provided individually or in groups. A person with ADHD may also find it beneficial to use applications for planning and organisation.
The project included 12 participants who had been recently sent to the CAMHS ADHD route within a local Trust. The interviews were semi-structured and were conducted over the phone. Participants were recruited by using a deliberate sample technique. This method was chosen because it is considered more ethical than the randomised controlled trial approach that is normally used for a research study.
Support
The diagnosis of ADHD is often a source of anxiety for both parents and children because the symptoms are often misinterpreted or viewed as undesirable behavior. There are a lot of support available from mental health professionals, as well as organizations and charities that can help. It is crucial 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 treatments for ADHD that include lifestyle and medication. It is crucial to choose the right medication for your child as everyone responds differently to medications. A CAMHS assessment will include discussions with a nurse or doctor and can involve a range of tests, including blood tests and brain scans, which can help identify possible causes of the symptoms.
The City and Hackney ADHD team recently implemented a quality improvement project to cut wait times and improve customer satisfaction. The team consulted with service users throughout the assessment process and they identified the main issues that influenced the design of the process. For instance, they thought that the assessment was too long and that there was not enough support on offer postassessment. Additionally they would like see more targeted assistance for families and children who have been diagnosed with ADHD.
In the wake of the QI project, the wait times between referral and ADHD assessment have decreased substantially. This is in line the goals of trust and reflects a focus on improving efficiency and capability across the CAMHS System. The team utilized a change model and Plan-Do–Study–Act cycles to effect positive changes in the ADHD process.
A diagnosis of ADHD can also help you obtain an Education, Health and Care Plan for your child. The EHCP will permit your school to put in place additional support for your child, including medication or training courses. Our CAMHS ADHD clinic will provide assistance and support to children with ADHD.