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Mumsnetters aren't necessarily qualified to help if your child is unwell. If you need professional help, please contact your GP or local mental health support services.
Child mental health
Cost of ADHD test
anne2650 · 20/04/2022 05:45
I've been quoted £1350 for a private ADHD test for dd. Does this sound about right?
BelleTheBananas · 20/04/2022 06:14
I would say it’s expensive. DS1’s was around £750 about a year ago, with Psychiatry UK.
anne2650 · 20/04/2022 06:23
Thanks for your replies. This is the test:
This would be to undertake an ADHD assessment using two formal assessment tools - the TEACh (Test of Everyday Attention for Children) and parts of the WISC (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children) along with the Conners ADHD Questionnaires (school and home).
It is at Spectrum North West
passport123 · 20/04/2022 06:33
Be aware that GPs usually can't share care with private providers and so if a diagnosis is made you'll likely need to get meds privately until the child is seen on the NHS.
BelleTheBananas · 20/04/2022 06:35
I would ‘shop around’, OP. ADHD consultations can be done online. I just found an initial assessment for £640. There are additional costs such as follow-up appointments for getting the meds right, but care can be passed onto the GP.
anne2650 · 20/04/2022 06:40
Thank you.
I actually don't think she has ADHD. She definitely didn't have hyperactive traits. I think she might be ADD, so I don't know if this is the right test or whether i need to look for a different assessment.
Aintnosupermum · 20/04/2022 07:08
The WISC test has different versions and lots of parts to it. The more parts you complete the more accurate the assessment, until you get to the point where completing more parts is detrimental to the child. The price isn’t far off what I was quoted by Axis in Chester.
We originally went through the process in the US and the school did the assessment. They did the bare minimum and the results had my gut instinct ringing. I asked around in the special needs community, and my sons occupational therapist recommended a doctor based on the quality of the report. The doctor is fabulous. We paid a lot more because her fee was based on income of the parents. The average cost was $1500 3 years ago.
If your child has ADHD, I highly recommend additude magazine. It’s very informative. Also, I wish I had been more aware of the link between ADD and high IQ. My elder two are both ASD and ADHD but their IQs are 140+. To ‘control’ the ASD and ADHD we drive the academics. Just this morning my 10 year old was making eggs for breakfast and asking why water turns to gas when it’s heated but eggs turn to solid when heated. It’s exhausting but once I realized the key was to keep them academically stimulated, the rest fell into place.
Aintnosupermum · 20/04/2022 07:10
The new diagnosis buckets don’t separate ADD and ADHD. We were told we have to have the kids reassessed to change their diagnosis. Quite frankly if everyone is in one bucket now, I’m saving my money!
EllaDisenchanted · 20/04/2022 07:50
Did they give a reason why they are assessing using the WISC? Are there other concerns besides possible adhd?
Assessment for adhd is the same whether youre looking at the inattentive subtype (formerly 'ADD') or hyperactive/impulsive (formerly 'ADHD') and they are now both included under an ADHD diagnosis.
I'd look for other quotes, personally, as it does seems steep. I'd also be querying why they are using the WISC, ask them specifically what value is the WISC adding to the assessment, as that may be driving the price up. Look for services offering a qbcheck.
zafferana · 20/04/2022 08:07
anne2650 · 20/04/2022 06:40
Thank you.
I actually don't think she has ADHD. She definitely didn't have hyperactive traits. I think she might be ADD, so I don't know if this is the right test or whether i need to look for a different assessment.
ADD is now know as ADHD (inattentive type), so it is the right test.
Aintnosupermum · 20/04/2022 08:37
The WISC test is what started us on the ADD diagnosis. Both children had very low processing speed and everything else was high. The doctor explained this was the gold standard for identification of ADD. I have no idea if this is true or not, but this is what I was told and both elder children were 99th percentile in every category except processing speed which was 35th and 37th percentile for each child. Both kids have zero short term memory but their long term memory is better than an elephants.
SRK16 · 20/04/2022 08:41
If it’s including the WISC I would say it’s about right if you’re south/London based. Though a WISC does not necessarily need to be done for ADHD assessment, it can be helpful though. It’s still worth shopping around, try to find a provider who will do the initial screening without an obligation to do the entire assessment if the screening isn’t indicative.
EllaDisenchanted · 20/04/2022 08:47
I've just had a look at spectrum North West and they seem to be specialised in ASD assessment, not adhd?
Grumpysister · 20/04/2022 08:54
passport123 · 20/04/2022 06:33
Be aware that GPs usually can't share care with private providers and so if a diagnosis is made you'll likely need to get meds privately until the child is seen on the NHS.
This isn’t necessarily true - my child has a private diagnosis and a shared care arrangement with the NHS GP. Once the prescription had been settled (they try you on different doses to see which works best), the NHS now pays.
Make sure that whoever does the test can prescribe though. We used a psychologist suggested by the school but then had to find a psychiatrist who could prescribe (which obviously had an extra cost). Initial diagnosis cost £800 in south-east.
anne2650 · 20/04/2022 10:04
Thank you for your replies. She had a CTPP test at school which showed rapid symbolic naming was low but everything else within normal range. She also had a dyslexia screen which was within normal range.
Behaviour at home can be a problem – she can be awful. Refuses to eat anything but the most basic of foods, we have to call her many times before she comes to the table. Argumentative etc if I ask her to do something like get on with her homework. Last night she started revising for a test today after being off school for two weeks. Other homework hasn’t been done. She expects me to sit up helping her with it late at night. I’m weary at times with her to be honest. No issues at school and she gets good reports for efforts. She is behind though with many subjects. She has many friends, so that isn’t an issue. She has been like this since she was small – she was an early baby. She can also be very loving and emotional. I can’t work things out and have asked for help from the GP and HV in the past but got nowhere.
Tippexy · 20/04/2022 10:15
Aintnosupermum · 20/04/2022 08:37
The WISC test is what started us on the ADD diagnosis. Both children had very low processing speed and everything else was high. The doctor explained this was the gold standard for identification of ADD. I have no idea if this is true or not, but this is what I was told and both elder children were 99th percentile in every category except processing speed which was 35th and 37th percentile for each child. Both kids have zero short term memory but their long term memory is better than an elephants.
That's strange - 35th and 37th percentiles are in the 'normal' range and would never have been described as 'very low.' Interesting that on Working Memory they were on the 99th percentile as well!
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