ADHD National testing?

[pregnancyandbaby]

Over the last few weeks I've been in touch with various friends and without exception either they or someone they're related to, have either been diagnosed with or think they have ADHD (partners / husbands / children).

I'm not doubting a for a minute that those who are undiagnosed have really good reason for thinking they have it but only those who can afford private are going to get a proper diagnosis and it seems like so many people could potentially have it that it would make sense to have a rollout of testing. I know this would be expensive but surely if there was a national testing rollout then there could be a way of making the process quicker and more efficient (and cheaper).

My brother has ADHD and was tested abroad and it was much quicker and they used something to measure his brainwaves (sorry I might've misunderstood what exactly that entailed).

Not sure if this is the answer but I really think something is needed.

I think it all comes down to money. Too many services need money, from what seems to be a decreasing pot. The public would have to consider what they are willing to lose to find this.

Yes for sure, just this seems to be so prevalent.

Sure they can do MRI on brain activity but it's not really necessary and would be a poor use of those resources. Heston Blumenthal mentioned a brain scan was part of his private ADHD assessment.

It would help even if they just thought to use the current screener forms for both ADHD & autism along with there being more awareness of current research and lived experiences of ND people as even with medical professionals there's still some terrible stereotypical views 'Oh they can make eye contact, so it's not autism' 'You've got a degree so you can't have ADHD'.

They reckon untreated ADHD leads to 13yr reduction in lifespan. Given also at higher risk of MH problems, eating disorders, H/EDS, various addictions, poor work history and to end up in prison so it would be a worthwhile investment to not only improve lives & aid meeting capabilities but in reducing cost burden + better tax income. Though there need to be a social shift towards disabilities as a whole to really make a difference.

Having followed support groups online for past few years, even some of the psychiatrists doing the assessments are crap ( private & NHS as often they work in both sectors) and yet you'd expect they would've have been keeping up with CPD. So while the public go on about over diagnosis I think it's more likely that a % are wrongly not diagnosed when should be or given a different wrong diagnosis like bpd/eupd/ social anxiety especially with autism.

It was also wrongly believed you'd grow out of ADHD by adulthood so they are now catching up with adult research and females as hormones have a big effect. Only more recently could you be diagnosed with both ADHD & ASD and now it turns out it's fairly common but the Autism diagnostic criteria doesn't seem to account for the effects that would have so it must rely on assessors opinions.