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Private adhd assessment, Staffordshire, please help

7 replies

Helpw0383 · 30/04/2026 18:07

Weve tried to get my son an adhd diagnosis to access medication three times through cahms with no success. Ourselves and school are pulling their hair out. Hes 15.
Im going to ask for right to choose but still long waits

Can anyone recommend anywhere that could help me in staffordshire or the midlands privately? Want to pay for the diagnosis somewhere thet allows the gp to take over the medication?

OP posts:
Quietasamouse3 · 30/04/2026 18:11

What happened with the 3 times you went for assessment..did they say he didn't have ADHD .

Helpw0383 · 30/04/2026 18:20

Every teacher hes ever had, every school hes gone to, all family members since he was 1 years old convinced he has adhd and pda.
School treat him as if he has a diagnosis. On sen register. Accommodations made. But he needs the medication

He is excellent at masking noe hes older , apart from the classroom that he cant cope in. Because he was able to sit and talk for the duration of the cahms first meeting they wouldnt put him on the adhd diagnosis pathway

OP posts:
Quietasamouse3 · 30/04/2026 18:34

That's odd
That doesn't sound like my experience of CAMHS .
Plus being able to talk well doesn't rule someone out from having ADHD .
You said 3 times ..what happened the other two times

Quietasamouse3 · 30/04/2026 18:35

Have you applied for EHCP ,or got one ?

Quietasamouse3 · 30/04/2026 18:37

The waiting lists with CAMHs are very long anyway ..but it's worth trying again to get him seen ..can you doctor help by contacting CAMHS to get them to see you again

Sunseansandandautism · 30/04/2026 18:38

Quietasamouse3 · 30/04/2026 18:34

That's odd
That doesn't sound like my experience of CAMHS .
Plus being able to talk well doesn't rule someone out from having ADHD .
You said 3 times ..what happened the other two times

Sounds like my experience of CAHMS.

I would ask on a local facebook SEND parenting page. They tend to jave lots of knowledgable people.

Twasasurprise · 30/04/2026 19:38

I'm just another mum of a 15/ 16yr old, so not giving advice, just experience. My DS masked so well, did well academically at school etc, that he wasn't picked up on at school. No GP involvement as health was good,etc.

He deteriorated with behaviour at around 13 or 14. No help from school. Eventually at 15, we decided to get a private diagnosis, as just from on MN etc, I was aware waiting lists were too long and GCSEs were impending. His handwriting is terrible, etc, but school wouldn't help.

We used an online service, Autism Assessment Hub, who do assessments to NHS NICE standards, with a multidisciplinary team, including both face 2 face and zoom appts, etc. We did test for Autism and ADHD, and he was diagnosed with both. We had a clinical psychologist, occupational therapist and speech & language therapist assessing him.

Mostly online seems to be acceptable at this age, and they have therapists available at hubs across the country for the in-person assessment. I considered another similar service too, just happened to go ahead with AAH.

Our NHS GP has so far accepted the in-depth report and diagnosis. We are currently getting medication through a pharmacy online, who partner with the AAH. They do their own assessment too, including zoom calls for each new prescription, but the AAH diagnosis and report are a large part of it.

We are still paying for the prescription privately, but I think if my DS stays settled on this dose for 3 months, they will ask the GP for shared care prescribing. But it is up to the GP to agree, and we aren't at that point yet.

Good luck!

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