CAMHS ADHD Assessment
If your child or adolescent experiences 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.
Parents and 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.
Symptoms
If you have ADHD, your child or teen might struggle to remain focused, forgetting things, having difficulty falling asleep, and getting easily distracted by external stimuli. They might also have difficulty managing their tasks and activities at school or at home, struggling to understand information and find it difficult to follow instructions. They may lose their possessions, experience difficulties completing assignments or homework and also miss appointments. If they're not careful, they might hurt themselves or others. They may have difficulty in relationships, and find it difficult to find a job or work and have trouble making friends with their family.
Some children and young people with ADHD are also in a state of being impulsive. They might be impulsive, fidget, or struggle to wait for their turn. They may not listen to others and are more likely to engage in risky activities like using drugs or engaging in sexual activities that are dangerous. Certain adults with ADHD have issues with their emotions and can easily become irritable or frustrated. They may also be sensitive to criticism or feel that others are judging them.
The symptoms of ADHD are different for every person and they change as a person gets older. They can affect anyone of any race, gender or background. ADHD is treatable with medication. It is crucial to understand that medication cannot completely eliminate the symptoms of the disorder, and can have side effects.
An assessment of the camhs adhd is the first step towards receiving assistance for ADHD. This is usually performed by asking your GP for an appointment. They may recommend you to a mental health professional for a specialized ADHD assessment.
ELFT's Quality Improvement (QI) team worked with the City and Hackney ADHD team to speed up their assessment process. The average waiting time between assessment and feedback was reduced from 12 weeks to less than 12. This is in line the trust's mission.
Diagnosis
ADHD is a medical condition that can be treated with medication, behavioral therapy or education. It can be difficult for parents and children to understand the disorder however there is a lot of support available. If you suspect that you or your child is suffering from symptoms of ADHD talk to a GP. They can refer you to a specialist CAMHS who will examine and diagnose your child.
If your child is directed 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 and their parent(s) or carer(s), and the teacher who is familiar with them. The team will use standardised assessment techniques and detailed histories taking to determine your child's challenges. They will also send out Conners questionnaires to the child and their parent(s) or guardian(s) as well as an educator who is familiar with the child to complete before the assessment appointment.
The CAMHS team may then decide that your child requires additional tests and will refer them to a clinical psychologist. The psychologist will conduct various tests to see how your child handles their emotions and behaves in various situations. They will look at how your child behaves at home, in school and in public spaces.
During the assessment the doctor will talk with you and your child what they have discovered. They will then issue an assessment and discuss the options for treatment with you. People suffering from ADHD are usually treated by medication, but it is not a cure for all symptoms.
assessment adhd is divided into several pathways, and the 'ADHD assessment pathway' falls within the Neurodevelopmental Assessment pathway. However, certain youngsters and children will receive their ADHD assessment through the Intellectual Disability CAMHS pathway. This is due to their cognitive abilities are higher and their difficulties more complex than those of other children and adolescents who utilize CAMHS. The 'ID CAMHS' page on this site provides more details about this route.
Treatment
The NHS provides specialized help for children and adolescents with ADHD through an in-person service within your region. This could include a psychiatrist or psychologist or even nurses. They may ask you to explain your symptoms and how they impact your life. They could also speak with your parents, teachers or other caregivers. this content might decide to prescribe medication or suggest alternative treatments. The NHS website has information about treatments and what to expect.
A recent report2 focused on the issue of long waiting times for CAMHS services. Even with the best treatment waiting times for ADHD assessments are very long. Local plans for transformation4 and national guidelines3 for transformation4 stress the importance of early identification and assessment of adolescents and children with ADHD. However, there are no explicit guidelines for how long they should wait.
This project was created to speed up the time for the ADHD assessment. This was achieved by using a simple data collection tool and embedding it in the clinical system. This has enabled the average number of weeks from the time of referral until the date of the ADHD assessment feedback to be cut down. 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, your doctor will discuss the options available to you and your family members. There are many medications that treat ADHD. However they all have different effects. It is important to be aware of the potential side effects before you begin any treatment.
There are a variety of non-pharmacological therapies that can help to improve ADHD symptoms. These can include parenting programs, and behavior therapy. Sessions for groups or individuals are available. Apps that help with planning and organization could be beneficial for those with ADHD.
The project involved 12 participants who were recently referred to the CAMHS ADHD route within the local Trust. The interviews were semi-structured and they were conducted over the phone. Participants were recruited via a purposeful sampling technique. This method was chosen because it is considered more ethical than the randomised controlled trial method which is typically employed in research studies.
Support
The diagnosis of ADHD can be a stressful experience for both parents and children since the signs are often misinterpreted or viewed as undesirable behavior. However, there is a wealth of services available to help through mental health services along with organizations and charities that can assist. It is essential that families have a clear idea of what to expect during the process of assessment. CAMHS have provided guidance on this and this can be found in the links below.
CAMHS provides a range of treatments for ADHD including medication and lifestyle changes. It is essential to select the right medication for your child since every person reacts differently to medication. A CAMHS assessment will involve discussions with a doctor or nurse and can involve a range of tests, including blood tests and brain scans which help to determine possible causes of the symptoms.
The City and Hackney ADHD Team recently launched a program to improve the quality of service and reduce waiting time. The team consulted with service users throughout the assessment process and identified key themes that informed improvements to the pathway. Service users, for example, felt that the assessment was too lengthy and that there was not enough support after the assessment. Additionally they would like receive more specific support for children and families who have been diagnosed with ADHD.
Following the QI project, wait times between referral and ADHD assessment have decreased substantially. This is in line with the trust-level goals and reflects the emphasis on improving efficiency and capacity across the CAMHS system. The team used the change model and Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles to effect positive changes in the ADHD pathway.
A diagnosis of ADHD may also help you obtain an Education, Health and Care Plan for your child. The EHCP allows your school to provide additional support for your children with regards to medication and training courses. The school may also contact our CAMHS ADHD clinic for advice and support sessions for children who have been given an ADHD diagnosis.