How to get ADD/ADHD diagnosis

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5yo DD is showing signs of ADD and we’ve spoken to the school Senco who was supportive. DD has very poor concentration, takes hours to go to sleep, fidgets all the time, picks her skin and nails, isn’t learning well at school and is falling behind. Senco has started the 12 week review before submitting a referral to the NHS triage team. We asked about a private assessment and she recommended an EdPsych who she has worked with. I contacted him and he says he can’t diagnose. He can only screen for likely problems. He offered an EHC Needs Assessment instead. Senco says our local authority don’t accept these. It looks like we’ll have to wait 2 years for an NHS assessment.

Does anyone know of a way of getting a private diagnosis?
Does a private diagnosis carry the same weight?
Should I involve my GP?
Could medication only be prescribed after diagnosis?

Sorry for all the questions but I’m new to this and I’m trying to work out what to do. Thanks.

You can get a referral for a private assessment via the GP. Have a look at some of the threads asking for recommendations on here - 2 I know others have used are Clinical Partners and Psychiatry UK.

ADHD medication will only be prescribed following diagnosis. If you go private for a diagnosis not all GPs will take over prescribing, so if you wouldn’t be able to afford ongoing private care and prescriptions you need to ask about this. Other medication such as melatonin can be prescribed prior to diagnosis.

Good private assessments are accepted, the validity is less likely to be questioned if you use someone who also undertakes NHS work. The school and LA cannot refuse to consider an assessment just because it is private.

The Ed Psych is right, they cannot diagnose.

He offered an EHC Needs Assessment instead. Senco says our local authority don’t accept these.

What do you mean by this? It is the LA who agree to (or not), and undertake, an EHCNA. You can apply for one of these yourself, IPSEA have a model letter you can use. The SENCO incorrect that the LA don’t accept an EHCNA, they are the ones that do them.

@Imitatingdory thank you very much for your reply. I’ve had a look at those two private psychiatrists and they look good. I’m going to book an appointment with the GP to get the ball rolling. Thanks again.

We went down the GP/NHS route. Mind you, it took YEARS. Got there in the end

We referred my son at a similar age (early in year 1) and he was assessed (ADOS) in school within a year. Formal diagnosis was about 13months (he was 6).
We referred on the NHS before he was 6 and in our area that meant his referral was taken up by the developmental paediatrics team rather than CAMHs. Developmental paediatrics have shorter waiting lists and seem much easier to deal with than CAMHs.
If I were you I'd refer on the NHS get an idea of times and then go private if don't want to wait. My eldest was referred to CAMHS - wait was v long so we went private. Then eventually went back to CAMHs to follow up with meds because couldn't afford that privately.

@darklampshade please can I ask if you received treatment plans with the NHS and the private diagnosis ? and if so did you find that the private one was more detailed or in depth ? I am considering going private not only for speed but also to get more substance and a more in depth plan, but I am not sure that really applies.
and also in the case of the development pediatrics were you offered meds shortly thereafter or did you have to queue up again to see a psychiatrist ? my D is also under 6, so we have been referred to dev pediatrics, not a sight of CAMHS and you have just explained me why !

many thanks !

Tbh my younger ones ADHD diagnosis is only just confirmed (ASD diagnosis was first) so I can't really say what the developmental paeds team will offer re support!
However the private diagnosis for my eldest didn't really offer much of a plan. Recommendations were generic and fairly vague. We did immediately get offered meds but my son struggled to take them and it was too expensive to keep trying different meds and pay for follow up consultations. So we went back to CAMHS who don't offer much at all unless you take up the offer of meds and then at least you get to talk to a clinician on a regular basis. I suspect the service we got privately was fairly identical (but much quicker) than what's offered on the NHS as the consultant worked in the NHS too. (If I were to go privately again I would consider using someone like ADHD 360 because their package includes the medication follow ups in the cost.)
If you want recommendations for at school I would recommend getting an independent Ed Psych to assess and advise once you've got the diagnosis as I've found this more useful and getting better support at school has been the most important thing for us.