CAMHS ADHD Assessment
If your child or adolescent experiences difficulty, they may be referred to undergo an ADHD assessment by CAMHS. 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 the benefits of remote appointments, but also that face-to–face appointments would be preferred during assessments.
Signs and symptoms
If a child or a young person you know has ADHD, they might have trouble sitting still, forget things, have difficulties falling asleep and are easily distracted by other stimuli. They might also have difficulty keeping up with tasks and activities at school or at home, struggle to make sense of information and find it difficult to follow instructions. They might lose items or have difficulty completing homework assignments or assignments, and even miss appointments. If they're not careful, they might harm themselves or others. They might experience difficulties with relationships, find it difficult to get an employment or job, and have difficulty getting along with their family.
Many children and young adults with ADHD are also in a state of being impulsive. They may play with their hands, tap their fingers or struggle to wait their turn. They might not be able to listen to others and be more likely to engage in risky activities like taking drugs or engaging in sexual activity that is risky. Certain adults with ADHD suffer from emotional issues and can easily become angry or even angry. They may also be extremely sensitive or feel that other people are judging them.
The symptoms of ADHD are different for everyone and can change as people get older. They can affect people of any race, gender or background. ADHD is an illness that can be treated by medication. It is important to know that medication is not able to remove all symptoms of the disorder, and may cause adverse effects.
A camhs adhd test is the first step towards getting assistance for ADHD. The most common way to do this is to go to your GP and request an appointment. They may recommend you to a mental health service for a specialized ADHD assessment.
ELFT's Quality Improvement (QI) team collaborated with the City and Hackney ADHD team to improve the timeliness of their assessment process. The average wait time between referral and feedback on assessment was reduced from 12 weeks to less than 12. This is in line with the trust's target.
Diagnosis
ADHD is a medical disorder which can be treated through treatment with medication, behavioral therapy or education. It can be difficult for children and parents to understand the condition however there is plenty of help available. Speak to your GP when you or your child displays symptoms of ADHD. They may refer you to an expert CAMHS team who will assess your child and diagnose them.
If your child was referred to CAMHS ADHD Assessment Service you will be visited by at least one of the team members. They will also seek 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 history taking to determine the child's needs. They will also distribute Conners questionnaires for the child, their parent(s) or guardian(s) and an educator who is familiar with the child to complete before the assessment appointment.
The CAMHS team could then decide that your child is in need of additional tests and will refer them to a clinical psychologist. The psychologist will conduct a variety of tests to determine how your child handles emotions and behaves in various situations. They will look at the way your child behaves at home, in school, and in public places.
During the examination, the clinician will talk to you and your child about what they've found out. They will then make an assessment and discuss options for treatment with you. It is common to use medication to treat people suffering from ADHD however, it does not eliminate all their symptoms.
Rotherham CAMHS is divided into multiple pathways, and the 'ADHD Assessment pathway' is part of the Neurodevelopmental assessment pathway. However, certain children and young people undergo their ADHD assessment done through the Intellectual Disability CAMHS pathway. This is due to their an elevated cognitive ability and their difficulties are more complex than other children and young people who use CAMHS. The 'ID CAMHS' section on this site provides more details about this route.
Treatment
The NHS provides specialized assistance to children and adolescents with ADHD through a local support service. This could include psychologists, psychiatrists or even nurses. They may ask you to explain your symptoms and how they impact your life. They might also talk to your teachers, parents or other caregivers. They may decide to prescribe medicine or suggest alternative treatments. The NHS website has information on treatments and what you can expect.
Recent reports2 have exposed the issue of long wait times for CAMHS services. Even with top-quality services, waiting times for ADHD assessments can be very long. While national guidelines3 and local transformation plans4 emphasise the need for early identification of children and young adults with ADHD, and guidance on assessment has been developed but there is no specific guideline on how long an individual child or young adult should wait to see a doctor.
This quality improvement (QI) project was designed to speed up the ADHD assessment process. This was accomplished by using a simple tool for collecting data and integration into the clinical system. The average time between the date the referral was made to the date the ADHD assessment feedback was given has been reduced. The QI team would like to also thank City and Hackney CAMHS ADHD for their commitment and dedication throughout this project.
If you are prescribed a medication, the specialists will discuss the options with you and your family members. There are many medications that can be used to treat ADHD however, they all have different adverse effects. It is crucial to understand what to expect from any treatment.
There are many non-pharmacological treatments that can help to improve ADHD symptoms. These include parenting programs, behaviour therapy and psychological treatments. Sessions for groups or individuals are available. Apps that assist with planning and organization could be helpful for someone with ADHD.
The project involved 12 participants who were recently sent to the CAMHS ADHD pathway within the local Trust. Interviews were structured and were conducted via phone. Participants were recruited using a deliberate sampling method. This technique was chosen because it is regarded to be more ethical than the randomised controlled trial approach which is typically used for a research study.
Support
The diagnosis of ADHD can be a stressful experience for parents and children alike, because the symptoms are often misinterpreted or seen as unacceptable behavior. However, there are lots of services available to help from mental health professionals, as well as organisations and charities that can assist. It's important that families are aware of what to expect during the process of assessment. CAMHS have produced guidance on this and this can be found in the links below.
CAMHS also offer a number of different treatment options for ADHD which include lifestyle and medication. However, it is vital that the right treatment is selected for your child's needs, as different people react differently to medication. A CAMHS evaluation will involve discussions with a nurse or doctor and could involve a variety of tests, such as 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 reduce waiting times and increase satisfaction of users. The team conducted a survey of customers during the assessment process, and identified key themes which helped inform improvements to the path. For instance, some service users thought that the assessment was too long and there was not enough support to the post-assessment. They would also like to see more targeted support for children and their families who have been diagnosed with ADHD.
After the QI project was implemented, waiting time between referrals and ADHD evaluation were drastically reduced. This is in line with trust-level goals and reflects the emphasis on improving efficiency and capacity across the CAMHS system. The team used the model of change and Plan-Do-Study -Act cycles to create positive changes within the ADHD pathway.
A diagnosis of ADHD could also assist you to 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. The school may also contact our CAMHS ADHD clinic for support and advice for children who have received an ADHD diagnosis.