CAMHS ADHD Assessment
If your child or teenager has difficulties they may be sent 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 highlighted the positives of remote appointments, but also that face-toface appointments would be preferable for assessments.
Symptoms
If you have ADHD, your child or teenager may struggle to remain focused and forgetting things, having difficulty falling asleep, and being easily distracted by external stimuli. They might also have trouble managing their tasks and activities at school or at home. They may struggling to understand information and find it difficult to follow directions. They might lose items, have trouble completing homework assignments or assignments, and even have trouble keeping appointments. They may injure themselves or others if not cautious. They could have a difficult relationship, find it difficult to find work or a job and may find it difficult to be a good friend to their family members.
Many children and young adults with ADHD are also impulsive. They might play with their hands, tap their fingers or struggle to wait their turn. They may not pay attention to the opinions of others and are more likely to be risky, such as taking drugs or having dangerous sexual activity. Certain people with ADHD have emotional problems and can easily become irritable or even angry. They might also be excessively sensitive or feel like others are criticizing them.
The symptoms of ADHD are different for everyone and they change as an individual gets older. They can affect anyone, regardless of gender, ethnicity or background. ADHD is treatable with medication. It is essential to be aware that medication does not eliminate all the symptoms of the disorder and could cause adverse side negative effects.
A camhs adhd assessment is the first step towards receiving assistance for ADHD. It is usually performed by asking your GP to schedule an appointment. They may refer you to a mental health clinic for a specialized ADHD assessment.
ELFT's Quality Improvement team (QI) worked with City and Hackney ADHD teams to improve the timeliness and accuracy of their assessment process. As a result, the average time between 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 disorder which can be treated through medication, behavioral therapy or education. It can be a challenge for parents and children to understand the condition however there is a lot of support available. Talk to your GP if you or your child is showing symptoms of ADHD. They may refer you to a specialist CAMHS team who will examine your child and diagnose them.
If your child has been sent to the CAMHS ADHD Assessment Service you will be visited by at least one of the team members. They will also seek feedback from the child, their parent(s) or carer(s) as well as a teacher that is familiar with them. The team will use standardised assessments and detailed histories to evaluate your child's challenges. They will also distribute Conners questionnaires for the child, their parent(s) or guardian(s), and an educator who knows the young person well to complete prior to the assessment appointment.
The CAMHS team could then decide that your child requires further tests and they will send them to a professional clinical psychologist. The psychologist will conduct a variety of tests to see how your child manages their emotions and behavior in different situations. They will look at how your child behaves at home, in school and in public spaces.
During the examination, the clinician will discuss with you and your child about what they have discovered. The clinician will issue an assessment, and then discuss treatment options with you. It is common to use medication to aid people suffering from ADHD however, it does not eliminate all their symptoms.
Rotherham CAMHS is split into different pathways and the 'ADHD assessment pathway' falls within the Neurodevelopmental Assessment pathway. Some children and adolescents will be assessed for ADHD through the Intellectual Disability CAMHS pathway. This is because they have an elevated cognitive capability and their issues are more complex than those of other children and young people who utilize CAMHS. This path is further explained on the 'ID the CAMHS" page on this site.
Treatment
The NHS provides specialized assistance for children and adolescents with ADHD via a local service. This could be a psychiatrist or psychologist, or even a nurse. You'll be asked to describe your symptoms, and how they affect your life. They could also speak with your teachers, parents, or other caregivers. They might decide to treat you with medicine or suggest other treatment options instead. The NHS website has information about treatments and what to expect.
A recent report2 identified the issue of lengthy waiting times for CAMHS services. Even with the best care, waiting times for ADHD assessments are very long. Although national guidelines3 and local transformation plans4 emphasize the need for early identification of children and young people with ADHD, and guidance on assessment has been developed, there is no explicit guidelines regarding how long the child or young person should wait before being seen.
This project was designed to cut down on the time it takes for the ADHD assessment. This was achieved by using a simple data collection tool and integrating it into the clinical system. This has enabled the average amount of time from the date of referral to the day of the ADHD assessment feedback to be reduced. The QI team would like to thank 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 with you and your loved ones. There are many medications that can be used to treat ADHD however they all have distinct side effects. It is essential to understand what to expect from any treatment.
There are a variety of non-pharmacological therapies that can aid in reducing ADHD symptoms. These include parenting programs such as behaviour therapy, and psychological treatments. Individual or group sessions are available. Apps that assist with organizing and planning could be beneficial to someone suffering from ADHD.
The project included 12 participants who were recently been referred to the CAMHS ADHD pathway within the local Trust. Interviews were semi-structured and took place over the phone. Participants were contacted through a targeted sample method. This was chosen because it is considered to be more ethical than a randomised controlled study, which would normally be employed in research studies.
Support
The diagnosis of ADHD can be a stressful experience for both parents and children, because the symptoms are often misinterpreted or viewed as bad behavior. However, there is a wealth of services available to help from mental health services, as well as organizations and charities that can aid. It is essential that families are aware of what to expect from the assessment process. CAMHS has produced guidelines on the subject which can be found by clicking the hyperlinks below.
CAMHS provides a range of treatments for ADHD including medication 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 doctor or nurse and may involve a range of tests such as brain scans and blood tests.
adhd assessment liverpool and Hackney ADHD Team recently completed a project to improve service quality and cut waiting times. The team spoke with service users throughout the assessment process, and identified the most important themes that helped inform improvements to the path. For instance, they felt that the length of the assessment was too long, and there was not enough support the post-assessment. They would also like to see more targeted support for children and their families who are diagnosed with ADHD.
As a result of the QI project, wait times from initial referral to ADHD assessment have decreased dramatically. This is in line with goals of trust and reflects an emphasis on enhancing efficiency and capabilities across the CAMHS System. The team used the model of change and Plan-Do–Study–Act cycles to create positive changes in the ADHD process.
A diagnosis of ADHD could also assist you to get an Education, Health and Care Plan for your child. The EHCP allows your school to provide additional assistance for your children with regards to training and medication. The school can also contact our CAMHS ADHD clinic for support and advice for children who have received an ADHD diagnosis.