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!

From hair twirling to maladaptive daydreaming to forgetfulness to internet addiction to sporadic hyperfocus to RSD I have all the symptoms.

I’m on the waiting list to be assessed, however the list is 6 years long (I’m 2 years in). However, I’m 50 years old. Having a good menopause, as menopauses go, but battling that too. Is it worth seeking treatment at my age. Or (as one friend cruelly commented) it’s too late for me now?

Also - I’ve always loved sitting on the floor. Is that an ADHD thing? It’s risked disrupting status dynamics when I’m with my in-laws!

Also also - thank you for doing this. Interesting thread!

If you are thinking about switching to Right to Choose, I would be incredibly sure first that your GP will accept your shared care from your Right to Choose provider at the end of it (as in, will agree to accept your private diagnosis and prescribe you future NHS medication).

I found out later that mine wouldn't so I would have ended up at the back of the NHS waiting list and basically need to start the process again with the NHS. They did also tell me that the medication I was trying at the time wasn't one that they prescribe. In the end, none of the medication I tried worked for me so I didn't need to ask for shared care, but just something to be aware of.

It's so ridiculous how hard the NHS make it to get support!

Good luck with your wait and your assessment 😊

@Dunderheided regarding the sitting on the floor, are you Hypermobile? It can be one of the signs that someone is hypermobile.
I’ve always done this too and I’ve read recently that there can be significant links between ADHD and hypermobility.

As a nurse I respectfully disagree that nursing does not need to be graduate entry. The RN4CAST study proved very clearly that the more graduate nurses you put on a ward, the lower the mortality rate is. I like keeping patients alive. It may be a practical job but it’s a highly skilled one, one that requires careful analysis of data and the ability to act accordingly.

Medication is first line treatment. The only other options are lifestyle changes and neurodiversity (which can be accessed through Access to Work). Headaches from the medication are usually either caused by too much caffeine or not enough water, and both can be easily fixed.

Hi!

Go online and print an ASRS form, fill it in then book an appointment with your GP and discuss it with them. The ASRS is the screening tool used for ADHD, and if you have a positive response on that the GP should refer you. If they refuse, try a different GP in your practice. Good luck!

Hi again!

Thats right, we cannot assess for ADHD until they are 6. But a thought has come to me. Has your husband/son been screened for autism? There’s such an overlap in conditions, many who have one also have the other, particularly if they are quite rigid with routines. This may not be the case, so only take what resonates!

If you’re uncertain why don’t you look at a screening tool for adhd and autism online? One may fit, neither may fit, or both might fit, but either way it may give you some clarity?

For me personally I find it pretty obvious, I can normally tell within 10 minutes of the assessment starting! But that might be because I have ADHD and traits of autism so my pattern recognition is excellent!

Yes, for a company to offer right to choose assessments they must hold a nhs contract in at least one ICB meaning they have to adhere to NICE guidelines. Some companies choose to utilise the QB test whereas others do not, this all sounds very normal.

I’ve not seen women misdiagnosed with bipolar, but I see a LOT of women misdiagnosed with BPD/EUPD. The main differential is symptoms present in early childhood that are not preceded by any ACES.

To book a private assessment you can just contact a provider of your choice. If they offer right to choose assessments then they adhere to NICE guidelines. Prices vary from £400 to over £1000.

Masking is extremely negative as it’s forcing people to conform to societal standards in a world not built for them, which can cause exhaustion and a negative impact on people’s mental health. Remember - people are only disabled by the lack of support around them! Most people with disabilities would cope extremely well if society adapted for them.

No, not hyper mobile as far as I know..

Exercise, good diet, and access to sunlight/nature!

I can’t comment re Parkinson’s, I don’t have enough knowledge in this area.

No, there is a marked difference between people that are neurotypical and neurodiverse. That’s like saying “everyone’s a bit autistic” - they aren’t!

Thanks for replying. 😀
So, what would you say are the obvious differences then? ie how do you so easily tell those conditions apart?

Say if someone can't focus on their studies, gets distracted, forgets things within a couple of seconds... that kind of stuff... how do you know if that's ADHD, depression/anxiety, or malnutrition?

If the child is not gillick competent and the parent refuses to consent to their child taking controlled drugs then that’s their choice. I would not judge them, it’s my job to give them all the facts so they can weigh them up and come to a decision.

My DD has finally (after 4 years) got an appt for ADHD assessment, but I'm worried.

My mother, sister and brother have bipolar disorder. Sister was diagnosed years ago, but brother was first diagnosed with ADHD last year, trialled medication and came off it again, then had a psychotic break that saw him sectioned and was diagnosed bipolar instead.

I'll make sure that dd (young adult) knows the family medical history for her appointment but is this anything you've heard of before? A different disorder being mistaken for ADHD or even triggered by the meds in some way?

Actually, that's quite similar to Wandawaves' concern.

Many things put you at increased risk of dementia, ADHD is one of them. An ageing population also means many more people will be at risk of developing dementia.

Perimenopause can really exacerbate ADHD symptoms, I too am in that awful phase.

in terms of non pharmacological treatments, the one that has helped me the most is neurodiversity coaching.

That’s fine, I have no issue with your skepticism. You’re entitled to your opinion.

I’m really sorry, I can’t make predictions on treatment outcomes, especially for someone who is not my patient that I have never met.

Yes, go to the GP and ask for right to choose as a second opinion. My daughters school did this with the SNAP too, her ADHD assessor actually laughed at the end of her assessment because he couldn’t believe how ignorant they were, he said it’s like they completed the form about a different child entirely!

Some adults I have assessed have had difficulties remembering childhood, but I wouldn’t say it’s typical.