ADHD Assessments
ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is a neurodivergent condition that affects children and can persist into adulthood. It is characterised by a persistent pattern of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that significantly impacts various aspects of a child or young person's life, including academic performance, social relationships, and daily functioning. Some young people with ADHD show significant emotional dysregulation and anger.
There are 3 subtypes of ADHD:
Inattentive type ADHD
Inattentiveness is a key symptom of ADHD, where children may struggle to maintain focus, easily become distracted, have difficulty staying organised, and frequently lose track of tasks or instructions. They may find it hard to sustain attention on tasks that are not inherently stimulating, leading to academic challenges and difficulties in completing tasks.
Hyperactive/Impulsive type ADHD
Hyperactivity and impulsivity are also common features of ADHD. Children with ADHD often display excessive levels of energy, constantly fidget, and have a difficult time remaining still or quiet. They may also exhibit impulsive behaviors, acting without considering the consequences, interrupting others during conversations, and struggling with impulse control.
Combined type ADHD
Where features of both inattentiveness and hyperactivity/impulsivity are present.
It's important to note that ADHD is a spectrum disorder, and its symptoms can vary significantly from person to person. To diagnose ADHD, a comprehensive evaluation is necessary. It must be present in a range of settings so information from home, school or other environments is crucial to make the diagnosis.
Understanding when ADHD when is present can help children and young people thrive and lead successful lives, by putting the right support and strategies in place. Through early identification, appropriate intervention, and a supportive environment at home, in school, and within the community, children and adults with ADHD can reach their full potential and achieve their goals. Without recognition these children can often get labelled as ‘naughty’ or ‘badly behaved’ and receive a lot of negative responses further damaging their self esteem.
“Coming to a Paediatrician for an ADHD assessment means you get the complete solution: a thorough, holistic assessment and access to medication as a treatment option”
Guidance for ADHD diagnosis
NICE GUIDELINES and DSM-V DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) is an independent organisation in the United Kingdom that provides evidence-based guidance and advice to healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the public.
NICE aims to reduce variations in diagnosis and treatment across different regions or institutions.
To diagnose ADHD there is NICE guideline [NG87] Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: diagnosis and management and this is followed as much as practically possible. The focus on multidisciplinary assessment is important to get a full understanding of a child’s abilities. To do so, any existing reports will be taken into consideration and then further assessments may be recommended.
The DSM-V, also known as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, is a comprehensive and widely used classification system for disorders. It provides guidelines and criteria to help clinicians diagnose and classify various conditions.
The DSM-V 314.01 criteria are used to plot the child’s profile against and demonstrate whether they meet the criteria for a diagnosis of ADHD.
To date schools and other NHS services have accepted the private diagnosis made by Dr Sarah Mills because of the clear and thorough reports provided during the assessment.
ADHD Assessment Process
Step 1:
Neurodevelopmental assessment
Information is gathered about the child, any concerns, past medical history, development and school progress.
Step 2:
Observation & Examination
During the assessment the child’s behaviour will be observed and a short physical examination will be carried out.
Step 3:
Assessments
For ADHD Conners questionnaires are completed by parents/carers and usually teachers. Your child will be invited to complete a QbCheck computerised test.
Step 4:
Feedback
Following all of the assessments a feedback session is planned to discuss the findings and further recommendations.
What Happens At an Assessment?
The consulting room is a relaxing environment that doesn’t feel medical at all.
Your child will be encouraged to share their experiences and participate as much as they wish. There will be toys, books and colouring in for them too.
We will talk through your concerns and your child’s medical history. If they are willing, your child will be weighed and measured, and have a brief physical examination.
Any existing reports or assessments completed on your child are used to inform the process.
What Happens After an Assessment?
Following the feedback session, the reports will be compiled and shared with you securely via email, usually within 14 days.
There is the opportunity to review the report to ensure you are happy with it, it will then be shared with your child’s GP. You are welcome to share the report with nursery, school or other professionals involved in your child’s care.
Included with the final reports is the payment invoice.
There is a post-assessment final discussion included in the assessment fee, this is arranged by video consultation around 8 weeks later. Here we can discuss any further questions or concerns prior to discharge.
ADHD Assessment Cost
ADHD Assessment: £1,350
ADHD can be diagnosed from age 6 onwards. This is to allow for the early years developmental period to pass and for higher executive functions to have developed.
This package includes:
A neurodevelopmental assessment
Gathering all of the home and school based information and ADHD questionnaires
Qbcheck assessment
Feedback
Combined Assessment: £1,850
If you are concerned that ADHD may be present with other conditions or just aren’t sure it may be worth completing assessments for a range of conditions at the same time.
This package includes:
A neurodevelopmental assessment
Gathering all of the home and school based information
ADOS assessment
ADHD questionnaires
Qbcheck assessment
Feedback
Medication Consultation: £325
If your child already has an ADHD diagnosis you may be considering whether medication is the right option for them. Even if you have received a diagnosis from elsewhere a medication consultation can be arranged.
Contact us to arrange a discussion about the strategies in place, ongoing concerns and about medication options.
Medication is carefully increased over a number of weeks, with regular reviews at each point. Private prescriptions are initially provided at an additional cost with the aim to develop a shared care agreement with your Childs GP once appropriate.
Payment terms: You will receive an invoice with the final reports. This is payable by bank transfer within 28 days. If card payment is preferred this can be arranged and a card link will be sent. All major debit and credit cards are accepted. It is possible to pay by instalments leading up to or following the assessment, please ask for this to be arranged. Dr Sarah Mills is registered with health insurance providers, please contact us to discuss your requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
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ADHD can be effectively managed through a combination of strategies, including behavioural interventions, educational support, and, in some cases, medication.
Behavioural interventions may involve implementing structure, routine, and rewards systems to help individuals with ADHD better organise their tasks and manage their time. Educational support, such as individualised education plans (IEPs) can assist in optimising academic performance.
Medication may be prescribed to help alleviate symptoms and to improve focus, impulse control and response to behavioural strategies. It is not the go to approach in many cases.
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Yes, please arrange a medical consultation to do so. During this the diagnosis and paperwork accompanying it will be reviewed to assess compliance with guidelines. Current concerns and strategies will be discussed and options around medication discussed.
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There is a lot of opinion and cynicism about ADHD medication out there. It is a highly funded and researched area of medicine and new more advanced preparations are being released all the time. ADHD medication is carefully given to ensure only the right amount is prescribed for your child and any side effects are assessed and taken into account.
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Many conditions can present like ADHD. As the assessment is holistic and carried out by a Paediatrician a number of conditions can be considered. Even if your child does not meet the diagnostic criteria recommendations about their strengths and weakness can be made and support recommendations given to school.
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ADHD symptoms are common to those seen in other conditions so a child may present like ADHD but not have it. There is the option to arrange a Qbcheck assessment to screen for ADHD in the child before completing a diagnostic assessment. Please contact us to discuss this further.
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Being assessed privately for a diagnosis of ADHD can greatly reduce the waiting times that you would experience, due to the lengthy delays for diagnosis within the NHS.
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There is often a concern that NHS service or educational places will not recognise a private diagnosis. To date this has not been an issue as the assessments follow NICE and DSM-V guidelines and the reports provided are thorough and provide all the required evidence.
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In 2023 BBC’s Panorama investigated some private ADHD clinics and found their assessment were rushed, poor quality and did not take the full history into account. Some of the clinics where not using medical professionals to make the diagnosis and where prescribing stimulant medication without full discussion around the side effects . This is not the case with Dr Sarah Mills who is a licensed medical professional who offers thorough and holistic assessments.