I’m an ADHD assessor that has ADHD - AMA

[DisabledNurseofTiktok]

This topic was incredibly popular on another social media site so I thought I would open it up here!

Im an Advanved Nurse Practitioner that assesses, diagnoses and treats ADHD. I have ADHD, and my daughter has ADHD.

if you have any questions about right to choose, assessments, treatments, or just ADHD in general ask away!

There does seem to be a correlation with neurodiversity and dyslexia however!

This confuses me because dyslexia is a ND condition. Can you expand on what you mean?

I thought only Psychiatrists could assess/diagnose ADHD... has it always been the case that Nurse Practitioners can or is that a recent change?

And what evidence from childhood do you need in order to meet the diagnostic criteria?

Particularly with private assessment, it’s very unlikely than a neurotypical person would go to the trouble of booking the appointment, going through the whole pre assessment process, getting observers and then paying £1000 for the assessment if they weren’t sure they had it. Thus, private assessment is likely to have a high diagnostic rate.

OP what are your thoughts about trauma vs ADHD and how do you think about this in the context of your assessment?
I am a specialist nurse for Children in care, and feel I’m holding back a relentless tide of pressure to refer all our kids for autism and/or ADHD assessment. I recognise the huge crossover in how these conditions present, but it feel fundamentally wrong to me to identify our CIC as having an organic neuro condition, when we know that they are dealing with the fallout of developmental trauma

I have DC with autism and ADHD

I also have ADHD ( not officially diagnosed)

one of my bugbears is people thinking that ‘every one has ADHD nowadays’ and everyone who goes for an assessment is going to get diagnosed because everyone is ‘ a bit AdHd ‘

do you honestly think that ADHD is being diagnosed too readily?

Are there any people who come for assessments who don’t get an ADHD diagnosis?

have you had any cases where a person has wanted an ADHD diagnosis and you suspect that they only want to because they want to feel different?

Thank you DisabledNurse. Very interesting

Yes I agree. I have a woman who is severely depressed. She barely spoke to her child and now he is apparently autistic. Surely they can see that his communication issues are from his first three years being only with his very depressed mother.

Hyper focus can also be a feature of ADHD.

Sorry that was a reply to opalescent

From your experience does it seem that ADHD and excessive use of mobile phones and social media are correlated? If so which do you think is cause and which is effect?

With over 50% of my child’s class having been diagnosed with ADHD do you think that actually being neurotypical will become less common than being neurodivergent?

This is a perfect example. There are no resources or pathways for children and adults who are growing up with the tangible effects of trauma, and so all end up being funnelled into ASD/ADHD pathways instead,

Really??? Christ.

Fab thread OP thank you!

Why do you think there is such a clear difference between diagnosis on NHS versus private. I was pretty much told by the NHS that because I have a job, did ok at school etc I couldn’t have ADHD but the private clinic just ‘got it’ and asked me actual relevant questions. Why is there such a difference here?

How do you know that?

@Gymmum82 how do you know that half of the class have a diagnosis? There are about 7 boys in ds’s class that have some additional needs but I only know of one with a diagnosis and that’s because his mum put it on Facebook. They are 9/10 and she put it on a few years back. Another child is struggling to get a diagnosis but his behaviour is very challenging as is another child’s. I couldn’t be sure if it’s ADHD or not and I'm diagnosed. I’m surprised that so many parents share their child’s confidential medical information.

I have a son aged 10 awaiting assessment, he shows so many signs of ADHD at home, but is able to mask alot in school. Are assessors aware of children masking in one or more settings and if so, will this affect whether hes diagnosed or not? Hes very well behaved at school generally but is easily distracted, whereas at home he is bouncing off walls, aggressive, frequent meltdowns, cant focus on much, doesn't stay on one task, eats paper/cardboard (hes done this since a baby). His bloodwork was all normal and ive been advised its a sensory issue. He has a brother who's diagnosed ASD but not adhd.

Will the fact hes not displaying these behaviours in school stop him from being diagnosed? Thank you

Hi, My DD is waiting to be reassessed for ADHD and shes just done the QB check test, waiting for school to fill out their forms but she doesn't necessarily show as many signs at school than what she does at home or in public. I was told that she can't have ADHD as you can't mask it in school but she could just have subtle signs. What do I do if school are very dismissive of her and whar shes like. Will she still be assessed properly and will they take into consideration what she's like outside of school?
Thank you

Yes they were masking. They must have been exhausted!

We have to screen for differential diagnoses in the assessment to meet the DSM-V diagnostic criteria eg e everything else needs to be ruled out.

VERY outdated. Hyper focus on something of interest is one of the diagnostic criteria.

Class what’s app group. Small class and knowing every other parent and child personally

Is his ADHD being treated? The lack of motivation is actually executive dysfunction. If he’s on medication already, I’d ask for a review.

No, this can also be ADHD.

Small village school. With a chatty WhatsApp group. I know every parent and child very well.