CAMHS ADHD Assessment
If your child or teenager has issues, they may be directed 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 pointed out the positives of remote appointments, while also stating that face-to–face appointments would be preferred during assessments.
Signs and symptoms
If your child or young person you know has ADHD, they might be unable to sit still or forgetting things, experience difficulties falling asleep and are easily distracted by other stimuli. They may also be unable to keep up with tasks or activities at school or home and have difficulty understanding information and may find it difficult to follow directions. They may lose things or have difficulty completing homework or assignments and may miss appointments. If they're not careful, they might cause harm to themselves or others. They might have difficulties with relationships, find it difficult to find a job or work and have difficulty making friends with their family.
Some kids and teens with ADHD are impulsive. They may be impulsive, fidget, or struggle to wait for their turn. They might not listen to what other people say and are more inclined to take risks, such as drinking or engaging in risky sexual activities. Some people with ADHD also have issues with their emotions. They can be angry, frustrated or angry easily. They might also be excessively sensitive or feel like others are criticizing them.
The symptoms of ADHD can differ from person to person and may change as you get older. They can affect anyone regardless of race, gender or background. ADHD can be treated with medication. It is important to know that medication is not able to remove all symptoms of the disorder and can have side effects.
An assessment of the camhs adhd is the first step to getting assistance for ADHD. It is usually completed by contacting your GP to make an appointment. They may refer you to a mental health service to conduct a specialist ADHD assessment.
The ELFT's Quality Improvement (QI) team collaborated with the City and Hackney ADHD team to speed up their assessment process. The result was that the average waiting time from referral to feedback from the assessment was reduced to less than 12 weeks. This is in line with the trust's goals.
Diagnosis
ADHD is a medical condition which can be treated through treatment with medication, behavioral therapy or education. Parents and children may find it difficult to grasp however, there are plenty of resources available. Speak to your GP If you or your child is showing symptoms of ADHD. They can refer you a specialist CAMHS who will examine and determine if your child is suffering from ADHD.
If your child has been sent to the CAMHS ADHD Assessment Service, they will be seen by at least one member of the team. They will also request feedback from the child as well as their parent(s) or carer(s), and a teacher that knows them well. The team will use standard assessment techniques and detailed histories taking to assess your child's challenges. They will also send Conners questionnaires to the child or the parent(s) or guardian(s) as well as a teacher who knows the child very well.
The CAMHS team will then determine that your child is in need of additional tests and will send them to a professional clinical psychologist. The psychologist will employ a variety of tests to determine how your child manages emotions and behaves in different situations. They will assess the way your child behaves in a range of different settings, including school, home and other public spaces.
During the examination the doctor will speak to you and your child about what they've found out. They will then formulate an assessment and discuss the options for treatment with you. People suffering from ADHD are usually treated with medication, however it's not enough to eliminate all symptoms.
Rotherham CAMHS is split into different pathways and the "ADHD assessment pathway" falls within the Neurodevelopmental Assessment pathway. Some children and adolescents are assessed for ADHD through the Intellectual Disability CAMHS path. This is due to their a higher level of cognitive ability and their difficulties are more complex than those of other children and young people who use CAMHS. This pathway is explained in greater detail on the 'ID CAMHS" page on this website.
Treatment
The NHS provides specialist help for children and young people with ADHD through an in-person service within your region. This might include a psychiatrist, psychologist or a nurse. You'll be asked to describe 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 provides information on treatments and what you can expect.
Recent reports2 have exposed the issue of long wait times for CAMHS services. The waiting times for assessment of ADHD are particularly long even with high-quality care. National guidelines3 and local plans for transformation4 stress the importance of early identification and evaluation of adolescents and children with ADHD. However, there are no explicit guidelines regarding how long they should wait.
This project was developed to reduce the waiting time for the ADHD assessment. This was achieved by using a simple tool for data collection and integrating it into the clinical system. This has enabled the average number of weeks from the date of referral to the date of the ADHD assessment feedback to be cut down. The QI team would like to express our gratitude to the City and Hackney CAMHS ADHD team for their commitment and hard work during this project.
If you are prescribed a medication by a specialist, they will discuss the options with you and your family. There are a variety of medications that can treat ADHD. However they all have different side-effects. It is important that you be aware of the potential side effects of any treatment.
In addition to medications There are a myriad of non-pharmacological strategies that can help improve the symptoms of ADHD. These include parenting programs and behaviour therapy. They can be delivered individually or in groups. A person who suffers from ADHD might also find it beneficial to use applications for planning and organisation.
The project involved twelve participants who had been referred recently to the CAMHS ADHD route within a local Trust. Interviews were structured and were conducted over the phone. Participants were recruited using an intentional sampling technique. This technique was chosen because it is considered to be more ethical than the randomised controlled trial method that is normally used for a research study.
Support
A diagnosis of ADHD can be distressing for parents and young people as the signs and symptoms can be misinterpreted and seen as bad behavior. However, there is a wealth of services available to help through mental health services along with organizations and charities that can help. It is crucial that families are aware of what to expect during the process of assessment. CAMHS has produced guidelines on this, and it is available in the links below.
CAMHS also provide a range of different treatment options for ADHD which include medication and lifestyle changes. It is essential to select the right medication for your child, as each person responds differently to different medications. A CAMHS assessment will involve discussions with a doctor or nurse and can involve a range of tests, such as blood tests and brain scans which help to determine possible causes of the symptoms.
The City and Hackney ADHD Team recently completed a project to improve service quality and cut waiting times. The team consulted with service users throughout the assessment process, and identified key themes that informed improvements to the process. Service users, for instance were of the opinion that the assessment was too long and they felt that there was not enough post-assessment support. Additionally they would like see more targeted support for families and children who receive a diagnosis of ADHD.
As a result of the QI project, the wait times from initial referral to ADHD evaluation have been reduced significantly. This is in line with targets for trust-levels, and shows 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 drive positive change within the ADHD pathway.
A diagnosis of ADHD may also help you get an Education, Health and Care Plan for your child. The EHCP allows schools to provide additional support for your children, such as medication and training courses. Our CAMHS ADHD clinic will provide assistance and support to children with ADHD.