Adult ADHD diagnosis - evidence from childhood

[Fiddlesticks25]

Hello

Wondering if anyone has had an ADHD diagnosis as an adult, and how much evidence they needed of having had it under 14 yrs?

I was pretty disruptive in primary school (back chatting to the teachers, running out of school, even slapped one of the teachers once 😮) but don't have any reports.

By secondary I had mellowed out a bit. I found my yr 8+9 reports and they were generally very good, although they do mention lack of concentration/ late homework/ lack of confidence in about half the subjects.

My parents are quite elderly and unwell and I can't ask them to help.

I definitely have quite compelling ADHD symptoms now! (inattentive rather than hyperactive). I'd like to try to get a diagnosis but don't want to throw my money away if the lack of childhood evidence is going to rule it out.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks 🙏

I would talk to the organisation you use and ask them that very question. It seems to me that if you have examples you can give like that, and also some evidence in reports, it’s likely to be enough. But if it isn’t, they’ll say. They have more custom than they can manage, they won’t want to waste your time.

Yes ask them. I am going through a diagnosis at the moment and don’t have any access to anything, no accounts from family and no school reports. They said they’re still able to try and diagnose but it will be harder to do. Will know more on Thursday at my next appt.

Thanks both.

I asked ADHD360 today, they said the don't require evidence as such but can rely on recollections. Waiting for a chat with MyPace.

Good luck with your appointment @Pibolar . I'd be interested to hear how it goes.

Thanks, I’ll try and remember to let you know, lol

one thing I would bare in mind…. If they’re anything like mine they will want to rule anything else out before giving the diagnosis. For example, mine is quite complex. I have anxiety which was diagnosed many years ago and a history of trauma. I went for the initial assessment for adhd, then was sent to a psychiatrist and came out with a diagnosis of bipolar. BP and ADHD overlap hugely so it’s proving tricky, but not impossible I’ve been told…. Even without evidence.
(mine is with nhs though so may be different)

if yours is more straight forward, it shouldn’t be too hard.

best of luck