CAMHS ADHD Assessment
If your child or young person is struggling, they could be referred to CAMHS to conduct an ADHD assessment. They will usually be asked to bring with them their parent(s)/guardian(s) and a teacher who knows them well.
Parents and caregivers who were interviewed in response COVID-19 have highlighted the advantages of remote appointments, but also said that face-toface appointments would be preferable for assessment purposes.
Signs and symptoms
If your child or young person you know has ADHD, they might be unable to sit still or forgetting things, experience trouble falling asleep, and are easily distracted by other stimuli. They may also struggle to keep up with their tasks or activities at home or in school or at home, struggle to comprehend information and may find it difficult to follow directions. They might lose items or have difficulty completing homework assignments or assignments, and even have trouble keeping appointments. If they're not careful, they could harm themselves or others. They might have difficulties in relationships, find it difficult to find an employment or job, and have a difficult time getting along with their family.
A few children and adolescents with ADHD are highly impulsive. They may be impulsive, fidget, or struggle to wait their turn. They may not pay attention to other people and be more likely to engage in risky behaviors like taking drugs or engaging in sexual activity that is dangerous. Many adults suffering from ADHD also have issues with their moods and become irritable, frustrated or angry easily. They may also be extremely sensitive or feel like others are criticizing them.
The symptoms of ADHD differ for each person and they can change as a person gets older. They can affect people of any race, gender or background. ADHD is treatable with medication. It is crucial to understand that medication cannot remove all symptoms of the disorder and may cause adverse effects.
An assessment of the camhs adhd is the first step in receiving assistance for ADHD. The most common way to get this done is to visit your GP and ask them for an appointment. They can recommend you to a mental health service to conduct an ADHD specialist assessment.
The ELFT's Quality Improvement (QI) team worked with the City and Hackney ADHD team to speed up their assessment process. The average wait time between referral and feedback on assessment was reduced from 12 weeks to less than 12. This is in line the trust's goals.
Diagnosis
ADHD is a medical issue and can be treated with medication, behavioural therapy or education. Children and parents may find it difficult to comprehend but there are many resources available. Speak with your GP if you or your child exhibits 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 was referred to CAMHS ADHD Assessment Service and is referred to the CAMHS ADHD Assessment Service, they will be viewed by at least one member of the team. They will also solicit the caregivers or parents of the child, and a teacher who knows the child well to provide feedback. The team will use standard assessment methods and detailed history taking to evaluate the child's needs. They will also send Conners questionnaires to the child, the parent(s), or guardian(s), and an educator who knows the child well.
The CAMHS team may then decide that your child needs more tests and send them to a professional clinical psychologist. The psychologist will use different tests to determine how your child handles emotions and behaves under various situations. They will examine the behavior of your child in a variety of environments, including at the home, school and public places.
During the assessment, your clinician will discuss with you and your child what they've discovered. The clinician will issue a diagnosis, and then discuss treatment options with you. People suffering from ADHD are often treated with medication, but it's not enough to eliminate all symptoms.
Rotherham CAMHS is divided into multiple pathways, and the 'ADHD Assessment pathway' is part of the Neurodevelopmental assessment pathway. Some children and adolescents are assessed for ADHD through the Intellectual Disability CAMHS pathway. This is due to their cognitive abilities are greater and their difficulties more complex than the other children and adolescents who use CAMHS. This process is further explained on the "ID the CAMHS" page on this site.
Treatment
The NHS provides specialized help for children and adolescents with ADHD through local services in your region. This could be psychologists, psychiatrists, or even nurses. They will ask you to describe your symptoms and how they impact your life. They may also speak to your parents, teachers, or other carers. They might decide to prescribe medication or suggest alternative treatments. The NHS website offers information about treatments and what you can expect.
Recent reports2 have exposed the issue of long wait times for CAMHS services. Waiting times for the evaluation of ADHD are particularly long, even with high-quality care. While national guidelines3 as well as local transformation plans4 stress the need for early identification of children and young adults with ADHD and guidelines on assessment has been produced but there is no specific guidance regarding how long an individual child or young adult should wait before being seen.
This project was developed to speed up the time for the ADHD assessment. Iampsychiatry was achieved through the use of an easy data collection tool and embedding it in the clinical system. The average time between the date the referral was made to the date the ADHD assessment feedback was given was reduced. The QI team would like to thank the City and Hackney CAMHS ADHD team for their dedication and hard work throughout the project.
If a medication has been prescribed, the specialists discuss the options available with you and your loved ones. There are many medications that can be used to treat ADHD, but they all have different negative effects. It is important that you be aware of the potential side effects of any treatment.
There are many non-pharmacological treatments that can aid in reducing ADHD symptoms. These can include parenting programs, and behavior therapy. Sessions for groups or individuals are available. Apps that help with organisation and planning may be helpful for someone with ADHD.
The project involved 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 by using a deliberate sample technique. This method was chosen because it is considered more ethical than the randomised controlled trial approach that is normally employed in research studies.
Support
A diagnosis of ADHD can be distressing for parents and young people as the signs and symptoms are often misinterpreted and viewed as bad behaviour. Mental health services, as well as charities and organisations can offer support. It is crucial that families have a clear idea of what to expect during the process of assessment. CAMHS have provided guidance on this, and it is available in the links below.
CAMHS offers a range of treatments for ADHD including medication and lifestyle modifications. It is important to select the right medication for your child, as every person reacts differently to medication. A CAMHS assessment will involve discussions with a physician or nurse and may involve a variety of tests, like blood tests and brain scans, which can help identify possible causes for the symptoms.
The City and Hackney ADHD team recently launched a quality improvement project to cut down on wait times and improve customer satisfaction. The team met with service users throughout the assessment process, and identified the main themes that informed the improvement of the assessment process. For instance, some service users thought that the assessment was too long and there was not enough support on the post-assessment. They also would like to see more specific support for families and children who are diagnosed with ADHD.
After the QI project was completed the waiting intervals between referral and ADHD evaluation were drastically reduced. This is in line the trust-level targets, and reflects a focus on improving effectiveness and capacity across the CAMHS System. The team employed a change model and Plan-Do–Study–Act cycles to effect positive changes in the ADHD process.
A diagnosis of ADHD can also be helpful in getting an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) for your child. The EHCP allows schools to provide additional assistance for your child including training and medication. The school may also contact our CAMHS ADHD clinic for advice and support sessions for children who have received an ADHD diagnosis.