CAMHS ADHD Assessment
If your child or adolescent has difficulties, they could be referred for 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.
Parents/caregivers interviewed in response to COVID-19 highlighted the positives of remote appointments, but also suggested that face-toface appointments would be preferable during assessments.
Signs and symptoms
If your child or young person you know is suffering from ADHD, they might be unable to sit still and forgetting things, have difficulty falling asleep and be easily distracted by distractions. They may also struggle to keep up with tasks or activities at school or home and have difficulty understanding information, and find it hard to follow directions. They might often lose their belongings, have difficulty completing homework or assignments and may miss appointments. If they are not careful, they could harm themselves or others. They may have difficulty in relationships, find it hard to find an employment or job, and have a difficult time being a good parent.
Some kids and teens with ADHD are hyperactive. They may fidget, tap their fingers or struggle to wait for their turn. They might not be able to listen to other people and be more likely to engage in risky behaviors like using drugs or engaging in sexual activities that are dangerous. Certain people with ADHD have issues with their emotions and can easily become angry or angry. They may also be overly sensitive or feel that others are judging them.
The symptoms of ADHD are different for every person and they can change as a person gets older. They can affect anyone of any gender, ethnicity or background. ADHD can be treated by medication. However, it is crucial to be aware that medication doesn't eliminate all the signs of the disorder, and may cause adverse side effects.
A camhs adhd assessment is the first step in getting assistance for ADHD. This is usually done by asking your GP for an appointment. They could recommend you to a mental service to conduct an ADHD specialist assessment.
ELFT's Quality Improvement (QI) team collaborated with the City and Hackney ADHD team to speed up their assessment process. As a result, the average wait 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 issue which can be treated through treatment with medication, behavioral therapy or education. Children and parents may find it difficult understand but there are many resources available. If you believe that you or your child has symptoms of ADHD, speak to an GP. They can refer you a specialist CAMHS who will assess and diagnose your child.
If your child is being referred to an CAMHS ADHD assessment service, they are usually seen by one or two members of the team. They will also solicit the caregivers or parents of the child, and a teacher who is familiar with them well for feedback. The team will employ standard assessment methods and detailed history taking to assess your child's difficulties. They will also distribute Conners questionnaires for the child, their parent(s) or guardian(s) as well as an educator who knows the young person well to complete prior to the assessment appointment.
The CAMHS team may then decide that your child is in need of further tests and they will send them to a professional clinical psychologist. The psychologist will employ a variety of tests to determine how your child manages their emotions and behaves in various situations. They will look at how your child behaves at home, at school, and in public places.
During the examination, your clinician will discuss with you and your child what they have discovered. The clinician will issue an assessment, and then discuss treatment options with you. Medication is often used to help people with ADHD, but this will not remove all of their symptoms.
Rotherham CAMHS is divided into multiple pathways, and the 'ADHD Assessment pathway' is part of the Neurodevelopmental assessment pathway. However, certain youngsters and children will have their ADHD assessment done through the Intellectual Disability CAMHS pathway. This is because they have a higher level of cognitive ability and their difficulties are more complex than other children and young people who are using CAMHS. The 'ID CAMHS' page on this website has more information about this pathway.
Treatment
The NHS provides specialist help for children and young people with ADHD through a local service in your region. This could include a psychiatrist, a psychologist or a nurse. You'll be asked to write about your symptoms, and how they affect your life. They may also ask your teachers, parents or other caregivers. They might decide to treat you with a medication or suggest other treatment options instead. The NHS website has information on treatments and what you can expect.
A recent report2 identified the issue of lengthy waiting times for CAMHS services. Waiting times for the evaluation of ADHD are particularly long even when the care is of a high standard. Local plans for transformation4 and national guidelines3 for transformation4 stress the importance of early identification and evaluation of adolescents and children with ADHD. However there are no specific guidelines for how long they should wait.
This project was designed to reduce the waiting time for the ADHD assessment. how to get a adhd assessment was accomplished by using an easy tool for data collection and embedding it into the clinical system. This has enabled the average number of weeks from the time of referral to the day of the ADHD assessment feedback to be cut down. The QI team would like to express our gratitude to the City and the Hackney CAMHS ADHD team for their dedication and hard work throughout the project.
If the medication is prescribed the doctor will discuss the options with you and your family. There are many drugs that can treat ADHD. However they all have different adverse effects. It is crucial to know what to expect when you start any treatment.
There are a variety of non-pharmacological therapies that can help to improve ADHD symptoms. These include parenting programmes, behaviour therapy and psychological treatments. Individual or group sessions are available. Apps that assist with planning and organization could be beneficial for those with ADHD.
The project included 12 participants who had been recently sent to the CAMHS ADHD route within the local Trust. The interviews were semi-structured and were conducted over the phone. Participants were selected using a purposeful sample technique. This method was chosen because it is regarded to be more ethical than the randomised controlled trial method which is typically used for a research study.
Support
A diagnosis of ADHD can be stressful for parents and children as the signs and symptoms can be misinterpreted and seen as bad behaviour. However, there is a wealth of resources available from mental health services, as well as organisations and charities that can assist. It is essential that families are aware of what to expect during the assessment process. CAMHS has produced guidelines on the subject, which is available by clicking the hyperlinks below.
CAMHS also provide a range of treatments for ADHD, including medications and lifestyle changes. It is essential to select the appropriate medication for your child since each person responds differently to different medications. A CAMHS assessment may include discussions with a nurse or doctor and may involve a range of tests such as brain scans and blood tests.
The City and Hackney ADHD team recently completed a quality improvement project to cut down on waiting times and increase satisfaction of users. The team conducted a series of meetings with service users throughout the assessment process and identified the main themes that informed the improvement of the process. Service users, for example, felt that the assessment was too lengthy and they felt that there was not enough post-assessment support. They would also like to see more targeted help for children and their families who have been diagnosed with ADHD.
Following the QI project, the wait times between referral and ADHD evaluation have been reduced substantially. This is in line with the trust-level goals and is a reflection of the focus on increasing efficiency and capacity across the CAMHS system. The team employed the model of change and Plan-Do-Study -Act cycles to drive positive changes in the ADHD pathway.
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 support for your children with regards to medication and training courses. Our CAMHS ADHD clinic will provide assistance and support for children suffering from ADHD.