Can they get an adhd assessment wrong?

Ultimately part of the criteria for a diagnosis is the fact that symptoms were present in childhood.

I do understand that unfortunately, for many adults ,that can be tricky and hard to evidence. Did the provider assessing you not ask for someone from childhood to confirm/corroborate your experience? Anyone I've known to get a diagnosis has had evidence, be it from parents or school reports etc. whilst I don't personally have unschool reports there were more than enough examples from childhood given that supported the diagnosis.

Ah ok, that sounds like there is a difference in wording, perhaps between different providers. I went through right to choose (just in time before they started pulling it back!) after being on the NHS list for about 18 months. The steps were:

• GP appointment where I had already chosen my preferred provider from the ADHD UK RTC list. I was very fortunate in that my GP sat and did the online referral there and then.
• I had already completed the pre-assessment questionnaires for the NHS pathway but was required to complete them again for this provider, along with BP reading and having an ECG.
• It's possible that as I was already on the NHS assessment pathway, they accepted me for what they call the Assessment A and B (or 1 and 2) - but as I said, that may be what that provider refers to it as. The two appointments were held with separate clinicians, as I think I said in my original reply to you. They were both 60-90 minute diagnostic interviews which went through lots of things including personal history and the effects on life as a child and now.
• At the end of the second appointment (Assessment B for me!) we discussed diagnosis and options, including titration.
• I opted for medication and the titration took about 4-6 weeks from there, in a separate appointment. Each time they produced a report, which was send to my GP surgery to be added to my records.

I've only typed that out in case it's of help to others - I know you've decided not to seek out a second opinion!

The ADHDUK website is absolutely fab IMO, there is so much useful info and advice on there. Hopefully it will help you get some more answers and alternative support x

You're absolutely right and I apologise for not realising you meant the pre-assessment, which would be completed by you based on your answers to the diagnostic questionnaires. My understanding is that the questionnaires would then be considered by a multi-disciplinary team, who would assess whether you meet the criteria. Apologies for taking from what you wrote that you meant the actual assessment process.

It's understandable for it to play on your mind - and the reading thing, as others have said, is a very narrow view and shouldn't be used as a terms of reference for diagnosis! I was a massive bookworm as a child - I don't read much these days but that is out of choice, not because it's impossible!

Have you checked out the ADHDUK website? There are great resources there including support sessions, online sessions about different topics, etc - you don't need a diagnosis to access support from there and you might get some more informed answers x

Oh sorry, no it's not as I've been through the process of an ADHD diagnosis myself, my mistake 🙄- what is the point in posts like this?

Absolutely drs get it wrong all the time this is how some people end up with about 5 or 6 different diagnoses because everytime they go to see someone they get told something completely different

Others will disagree - but ADHD is a spectrum and you can have traits without having 'full' diagnosis.

A friend was assessed for autism before and was told she does not have it, with a similar reason for it given as yours. She disagreed at the time and she has traits - but she now says she agrees it was the right decision for her.

I’ve recently been diagnosed with ADHD. One of my favourite things to do is to read - my entire life I’ve buried my nose in a book because it quietens my brain, I hyper focus on it until I’m finished, and I can read quickly. I just really happen to enjoy it!

Ironically I started looking at ADHD about 6.5 years ago because my DD was so extra in her behaviour and realised I ticked every single box.

I’ve spent my entire life wondering why I couldn’t be ‘normal’ like everyone else. I pursued a diagnosis because holding on to life got too much and I wanted confirmation that it’s not just because I’m shit at it. I’m now medicated and life is easier now.

I think my DS was misdiagnosed as not having it because he can mask significantly better although he has a lot of markers, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he is when he’s older. DD is still not even in the process of being diagnosed, she masks at school and therefore nobody will refer her.

'As for the assessments, have you had the Assessment A and B? '

I'm confused - there is no assessment A or B for ADHD?

OP, if you're not that pressured to have a diagnosis, I'm not sure why you seek more opinions? Ultimately, diagnostic criteria are not clearcut and lots of other things can look like ADHD, but it sounds like the service looked at all your experiences before deciding?

I know exactly what you mean and what you’re looking for.
You do need to pay privately I think, though can’t be sure. I believe the cost is around £1500.
A family member had a diagnosis in London within the last couple of years. As I recall, this guy came at ADHD from neuro psychiatry and was involved long before it became fashionable.
Someone like that would give you full attention and share their expertise.
If you’re interested, I could find out his details and pm you?

Hello,
can i ask how you managed to get your assessment? What process did you go through? Thaks

If you had a ADHD if you would already know and be fairly certain of that. What are your indicators for
ADHD?

I think to get a successful diagnosis you need to be clued up which buttons to push, what to say and what not say.
I know someone who does ADHD diagnoses and she does 4 a day, including writing them up.
It’s not like she’s listening that hard, just looking out for key things.
A good source of income for someone I don’t think particularly perceptive/ intelligent / educated. She jumped on the bandwagon early.

It isn’t a judgmental take. It’s a reasonable opinion , which is different from your opinion. I hold it and many, many other people do.
ADHD diagnosis is an exploding industry which many people are profiting from, some quite unreasonably.

From what I understand you won’t get diagnosed unless traits were present in childhood. My adult DD is going about to start the process and I am sure I’ll be expected to give an account of her childhood issues.

I’ve been diagnosed with ADHD as an adult and read for hours, I always had a reading level that was a few years above my age so that’s not true.

Like you I didn’t have much to go on from my childhood, I don’t speak to my mother so getting information was difficult. I was under a child psychologist as a teenager which might have helped with my diagnosis.

Women are notoriously overlooked when diagnosing ADHD and autism because we mask it better and adapt to fit into our surroundings. I believe that they definitely could have gotten it wrong, there’s no medical tests such as bloods or X-rays for it so it’s not difficult for people to get misdiagnosed either way.

They absolutely do, sadly.

@Mintchocsi can get immersed in a book for hours/days however long it takes to finish it but if it doesn’t hook me in the first chapter, I’m done. Reading literature for learning I have to scan and copy down the important parts so it sinks in, that’s strategic as I find non fiction too boring to get immersed in. And why I managed to study to masters level but I often forget it as soon as the exam is done!

I feel exactly the same as you. I’m adhd’d out my nut due to ongoing issues with my ex who I separated from 4 years ago (he counterparents). As I child I remember being a bit impulsive, had doom piles, felt panicky having to sit too long, but could concentrate etc. I think I probably had traits that have been turbo powered by trauma and burnout. I wish I knew how to go back to how I was. The brain fog and lack of motivation now is debilitating

The question I always come back to at work is : what would a label give you that you do not already have?

Sometimes for adhd people want to access medication but more generally it is to give a reason to the difficulties they are experiencing. However it sounds as though the op already knows why they are having difficulties - they have experienced trauma.