CAMHS ADHD Assessment
If your child or young person has issues, 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.
In response to COVID-19 parents and caregivers' responses to interviews highlighted the benefits of remote appointments but also that face-to-face appointments are preferred during assessments.
Symptoms
If a child or young person you know is suffering from ADHD they may have trouble sitting still and forgetting things, have difficulty falling asleep and be easily distracted by extraneous stimuli. They may also be unable to keep up with their tasks or activities at home or at school or at home, struggle to comprehend information and are unable to follow directions. They may lose things and have trouble finishing homework or assignments and may fail to attend appointments. They may end up hurting themselves or others if not vigilant. They may have a difficult relationship, and find it difficult to find jobs or work, and may find it difficult to connect with their family members.
Many children and young adults with ADHD are also hyperactive. They may fidget or tap their fingers, struggle to wait for their turn in activities or unable to stop talking. They might not be able to listen to others and be more likely to engage in risky behaviors like using drugs or engaging in sexual activities that are risky. Many adults suffering from ADHD also have problems with their emotions. They can be angry, frustrated or angry easily. They might also be excessively sensitive or feel that other people are judging them.
The symptoms of ADHD differ for each person and can change as people get older. They can affect anyone, regardless of gender, race or background. ADHD is treatable with medication. It is important to realize that medication is not able to eliminate all symptoms of the disorder and may cause adverse effects.
The first step towards getting assistance for ADHD is to have an assessment of the severity of adhd in camhs. The most commonly used method to get this done is to go to your GP and request an appointment. They might 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 speed 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 the trust's goal.
Diagnosis
ADHD is a medical condition that can be treated with treatment with medication, behavioral therapy or education. It can be a challenge for children and parents to understand the disorder, but there is lots of help available. Talk to your GP If you or your child is showing symptoms of ADHD. They can refer you to an expert CAMHS team that will evaluate your child and diagnose them.
If your child is being referred to a CAMHS ADHD assessment service, they typically will be viewed by a member or two of the team. They will also seek feedback from the child, their parent(s) or carer(s) and the teacher who is familiar with them. The team will use standardised assessments and detailed histories to evaluate your child's difficulties. They will also distribute Conners questionnaires to the child as well as their parent(s) or guardian(s), and an educator who is familiar with the child to complete before the assessment appointment.
The CAMHS team will then decide if your child requires further testing and refer them to an experienced psychologist. The psychologist will employ a variety of tests to see how your child manages their emotions and behaviour in various situations. They will examine the way your child behaves at home, at school as well as in public areas.
During the exam the doctor will talk to you and your child about what they've discovered. They will then formulate an assessment and discuss options for treatment with you. The use of medication is frequently used to aid people suffering from ADHD, but this is not enough to eliminate all the symptoms.
Rotherham CAMHS is split into different pathways and the 'ADHD assessment pathway' falls within the Neurodevelopmental Assessment pathway. However, certain youngsters and children will undergo their ADHD evaluation through the Intellectual Disability CAMHS pathway. This is because their cognitive abilities are higher and their challenges more complicated than 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 assistance for children and adolescents with ADHD through a local support service. This could be a psychiatrist or psychologist, or even nurses. adhd assessment will be asked to write about your symptoms and how they impact your life. They might also talk to your parents, teachers or other carers. They could decide to treat you with medication or suggest alternative treatments instead. The NHS website provides information on treatments and what to expect.
Recent reports2 have exposed the issue of long wait times for CAMHS services. Even with top-quality treatment, waiting times for ADHD assessments are very long. Local plans and guidelines3 as well as national guidelines3 for transformation4 emphasize the importance of early identification and assessment of adolescents and children with ADHD. However there are no specific guidelines on how long they should wait.
This quality improvement (QI) project was created to reduce waiting times for the ADHD assessment process. This was achieved by using a simple tool for data collection and embedding it in the clinical system. The average number of weeks between the time the referral was made and the date the ADHD assessment feedback was provided was decreased. The QI team would like to thank City and Hackney CAMHS ADHD for their commitment and hard work throughout this project.
If the medication is prescribed, the specialists will discuss the options with you and your family. There are a variety of drugs that can be used to treat ADHD however they all have different adverse effects. It is essential to know what to expect before you begin any treatment.
In addition to medications There are a myriad of non-pharmacological strategies that can be used to aid in the treatment of ADHD. These include psychological therapies, parenting programs, and behavior therapy. Group or individual sessions are available. A person who suffers from ADHD might benefit from using software for organisation and planning.
The project included 12 participants who were recently referred to the CAMHS ADHD pathway within a local Trust. Interviews were semi-structured and took place over the phone. Participants were contacted through a targeted sample method. This method was chosen as it is believed to be more ethical than a controlled trial that is randomised, which would normally be employed in research studies.
Support
The diagnosis of ADHD is often a source of anxiety for parents and children alike, since the signs are often misinterpreted or seen as unacceptable behavior. However, there are lots of services available to help through mental health services as well as organisations and charities that can assist. It is crucial that families have a clear idea of what is expected during the assessment process. CAMHS have produced guidance on this and this is available in the links below.
CAMHS also offer a number of treatments for ADHD, including lifestyle and medication. It is essential to select the appropriate medication for your child, as each person responds differently to different medications. A CAMHS evaluation will involve discussions with a doctor or nurse and could involve a variety of tests, like blood tests and brain scans that can help determine possible causes for the symptoms.
The City and Hackney ADHD team recently implemented an improvement in quality to cut down on wait times and improve customer satisfaction. The team consulted with service users throughout the assessment process, and identified key themes that informed the improvement of the pathway. For example, service users felt that the length of the assessment was too long and there was not enough support to offer postassessment. They also would like to see more targeted help for families and children who have been diagnosed with ADHD.
In the wake of the QI project, the wait times from initial referral to ADHD assessment have decreased substantially. This is in line with goals of trust and reflects an emphasis on enhancing efficiency and capabilities across the CAMHS System. The team utilized a model for change and Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles to effect positive change in the ADHD process.
A diagnosis of ADHD could also assist in obtaining an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) for your child. The EHCP will permit your school to implement additional assistance for your child, such as medication or training courses. The school may also refer to our CAMHS ADHD clinic for advice and support sessions for children who have received an ADHD diagnosis.