CAMHS ADHD Assessment
If your child or young person has issues, they may 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 and caregivers interviewed in response to COVID-19 have highlighted the advantages of remote appointments, but also said that face-to-face appointments are preferred for assessment purposes.
Signs and symptoms
If you have ADHD, your child or teenager may struggle to remain focused, forgetting things, unable to fall asleep, and being easily distracted by external stimuli. They may also have trouble staying on top of tasks and activities at home or at school, struggling to understand information and find it difficult to follow directions. They may lose their belongings, have difficulty completing homework or assignments and may miss appointments. If they're not careful, they could harm themselves or others. They might experience difficulties with relationships, find it difficult to find an employment or job, and have difficulty being a good parent.
Some kids and teens with ADHD are highly impulsive. They might fumble or tap their fingers, try to get their turn in activities or incapable of stopping talking. They might not listen to what others say and might be more inclined to take risks, such as taking drugs or having dangerous sexual activities. Certain adults with ADHD have issues with their emotions and are prone to becoming angry or frustrated. They may also be sensitive to criticism or believe that others are criticising them.
The symptoms of ADHD are different from individual to individual and can change with age. They can affect anyone, regardless of race, gender or background. ADHD is treatable with medication. It is crucial to understand that medication does not remove all symptoms of the disorder and it can cause side effects.
The first step in receiving help for ADHD is to seek an assessment for ADHD with a camhs. The most popular method to do this is to go to your GP and request an appointment. They might recommend you to a mental health service for a specialist ADHD assessment.
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 time between referral to feedback on assessment was reduced to less than 12 weeks. This is in accordance with the trust's goals.
Diagnosis
ADHD is a medical disorder that can be treated with medication, behavioral therapy or education. Children and parents may find it difficult to grasp but there are many resources available. Speak to your GP when you or your child is showing symptoms of ADHD. They can refer you to a specialist CAMHS who will assess and diagnose your child.
If your child was referred to CAMHS ADHD Assessment Service, they will be seen by at least one person from the team. They will also request feedback from the child and their parent(s) or carer(s) as well as the teacher who is familiar with them. The team will use standardised assessment methods and detailed history taking to assess the child's needs. They will also send Conners questionnaires to the child as well as the parent(s) or guardian(s), and an educator who knows the young person very well.
The CAMHS team will determine if your child requires further testing and refer them an experienced psychologist. The psychologist will employ various tests to assess how your child manages their emotions and behaves in various situations. They will look at the ways your child behaves in a range of different settings, including school, home and other public places.
During the assessment, the clinician will talk to you and your child about what they have found out. The clinician will issue a diagnosis, and then discuss the options for treatment with you. Medication is often used to aid people suffering from ADHD however, it will not remove all of their symptoms.
Rotherham CAMHS is split into different pathways and the "ADHD assessment pathway" is within the Neurodevelopmental Assessment pathway. However, some children and young people will undergo their ADHD assessment done through the Intellectual Disability CAMHS pathway. This is because their cognitive abilities are greater and their difficulties more complex than those of other children and teens who utilize CAMHS. The 'ID CAMHS' page on this website provides more details about this route.
Treatment
The NHS offers specialized assistance for children and young people suffering from ADHD through an in-person service within your area. This could be a psychiatrist or psychologist or even nurses. You will be asked to describe your symptoms, and how they impact your life. They may also speak to your teachers, parents or other caregivers. They may decide to prescribe medication or suggest alternative treatments. The NHS website provides information on treatments and what to expect.
Recent reports2 have highlighted the issue of long wait times for CAMHS services. Even with high-quality services, waiting times for ADHD assessments are very long. While national guidelines3 as well as local transformation plans4 emphasise the importance of early detection of children and young adults with ADHD and a guideline for assessment has been provided but there is no specific guidelines regarding how long the child or young person should wait before being seen.
This project was developed to cut down on the time it takes for the ADHD assessment. This was achieved by using a simple tool for data collection and integrating it into the clinical system. This has enabled the average time from the time of referral until the date of the ADHD assessment feedback to be lowered. The QI team would like to thank the City and the Hackney CAMHS ADHD team for their commitment and hard work during this project.
If a medication is prescribed by a specialist, they will discuss the options with you and your family members. There are a myriad of drugs that can be used to treat ADHD however, they all have distinct adverse effects. It is crucial to be aware of the potential side effects of any treatment.
In addition to medications, there are a variety of non-pharmacological interventions that can aid in the treatment of ADHD. These include parenting programmes such as behaviour therapy, and psychological treatments. Individual or group sessions are available. Apps that assist with organisation and planning may be beneficial for those with ADHD.
linked internet site involved twelve people who were recently referred to the CAMHS ADHD pathway within a local Trust. Interviews were structured and were conducted via phone. Participants were selected using a purposeful sample technique. This method was chosen because it is considered to be more ethical than a randomised controlled trial that is typically employed in research studies.
Support
A diagnosis of ADHD can be stressful for parents and children, as the symptoms are often misinterpreted and viewed as bad behavior. Mental health services as well as charities and organisations can offer support. It is crucial that families are aware of what to expect from the assessment process. CAMHS has issued guidance on the subject, which is available by clicking the hyperlinks below.
CAMHS offers a range of treatments for ADHD including medications and lifestyle modifications. It is important to select the right medication for your child, as everyone responds differently to medications. A CAMHS assessment may include discussions with a doctor or nurse and may involve a range of tests like brain scans and blood tests.
The City and Hackney ADHD team recently implemented an improvement project in quality to reduce waiting times and improve service customer satisfaction. The team conducted a survey of service users throughout the assessment process and identified key themes which helped inform improvements to the path. For instance, some service users felt that the length of the assessment was too long and there was not enough support on the post-assessment. In addition, they would like to see more targeted support 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 been reduced dramatically. This is in line with goals of trust and reflects a focus on improving efficiency and capabilities across the CAMHS System. The team employed a model for change and Plan-Do-Study -Act cycles to create positive changes within the ADHD process.
A diagnosis of ADHD can also be helpful in obtaining an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) for your child. The EHCP allows your school to provide additional assistance for your children with regards to medication and training courses. Our CAMHS ADHD clinic will provide assistance and support for children suffering from ADHD.