https://www.openlearning.com/u/bondeseneskesen-sluaur/blog/ThisIsTheAdvancedGuideToAdhdUkDiagnosis Getting an ADHD Diagnosis Adults who suspect they have ADHD can find it difficult to determine if they are suffering from ADHD. Many times, medical professionals are ignorant of the condition, leading to uninformed responses. Waiting times can be lengthy. Thankfully, you have the right to choose your own mental health care provider. This could help speed up your ADHD assessment. Symptoms If you're experiencing symptoms of ADHD such as a tendency to lose your keys or finding it hard to complete tasks at work, obtaining an assessment is the first step in gaining control over your life. A thorough ADHD evaluation is conducted by a mental health professional, who will require you to complete a series of questionnaires and rate your behaviour over time. This information is then used to determine the severity of ADHD and recommend treatment options, if appropriate. Psychiatrists are experts in their field of mental illness and have access to specialized diagnostic tools. They use guidelines from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) to identify every disorder. These criteria include the presence of at least six of the following symptoms: For adults with ADHD, the psychiatrist will also look at your past history and if you've had similar problems since childhood. The psychiatrist may request school records and questionnaires about family history. They may also want to schedule an organized interview which could take up to two sessions. It's usually helpful to bring a family member for support and to have an original copy of your medical records, but this isn't always necessary. The NHS has a long waiting list for adult ADHD assessment. This can leave people feeling attracted to seeking a private diagnosis, however this could be risky, and it is difficult to compare approaches between different doctors. Psychiatrists are concerned that certain private