Good sources of information about ADHD and ASD (particularly re teenagers/girls)?

[MsFogi]

The more I am looking on the web, the more confused I am getting. I strongly suspect that dd may have ADHD and/or ASD and this is having a severe impact on her now. So I want to get her assessed and will need to go private given the waitlists. Clearly this is an enormous amount of money for us to spend so I am trying to do a sense check before I book anything. Can anyone point me in the direction of good checklists of potential symptoms of ADHD and ASD so that I can work through these and think about examples before contacting clinics (I know that a simple google brings up 'symptoms' however I am unclear which websites are reliable and which are some random person making up a list of symptoms that any teenager may have).
Also If anyone can give any insight on whether it is best to do an ADHD or ASD assessment first or second I should be grateful. And, if anyone can suggest factors to think about when deciding on a clinic (or indeed recommend one in London/Kent or SE England) that would be great - I want to ensure that any diagnosis is one that will be recognised by the school, exam boards (is that even relevant?) and the NHS.
Thank you - I am feeling a bit lost and overwhelmed starting on this journey but even talking to dd about it was a huge relief to her as it seems she had started to wonder herself and tells me that just 'knowing' would help.

ADHD is under diagnosed in girls. It’s hard to spot but can explain a lot and be medicated for very effectively. You could do an initial online test (Clinical partners do one) then if convinced pay for a diagnosis by one of their consultants. It’s expensive but life changing. It creates the opportunity to understand what’s happening & medicate. Your daughter will thank you for it. Schools will accept diagnosis & you can shape her studies going forward to suit her strengths & weaknesses. Good luck.

Thanks WorkingMumD that's really helpful.

@MsFogi Not sure where you've got to with this but our experience was that I dithered for ages about getting DD (who is 14) assessed and eventually plucked up the nerve to call the GP who was super helpful. She encouraged me to get her assessed but warned me that CAMHS could take around 2 years by which time she'd be taking GCSEs without getting any support so if we could afford to pay for an assessment it would be worth doing. We're going through the process now - it's a lot of money, £995 in our case - but I'm really glad we're doing it because DD has been really struggling. I did check with the GP first that they would accept the results of the assessment and that we'd be able to have shared care and she was totally fine with that provided the assessing psychiatrist followed NICE guidelines etc was a recognised provider. She said to look for practitioners who also did NHS work when choosing a provider. The school are also part of the process so I had to speak to DD's form tutor (again I put it off for ages because I was worried he'd think we were fussing over nothing) and he will be part of the assessment (he has a 30-min phone meeting with the clinic) and the SENDCo will be made aware of the findings so that we can get DD support in school as appropriate if she is diagnosed.

GP told me to visit this site with DD and do the initial screening: www.adhdcare.co.uk

Anyway, you may have gone through all this by now just sharing our experience because I was v anxious about the process / whether we'd be taken seriously etc and it's actually been pretty straightforward. In terms of starting with ASD vs ADHD, the first part of the assessment DD is doing is, I think, designed to assess what kind of further assessment the patient needs. Feel free to PM me if you'd like any more detail. Good luck!

@Thisweeksdrama thank you so much, that is hugely helpful because I am dithering somewhat (mainly because I am sort of spinning around through too much/too little information - not sure which!!) and due to the cost don't want to make a big mistake in which assessments and with which provider.

no probs - I basically dithered for over a year before getting the ball rolling on it. I think most people, by the time they've got to the point of posting about it, looking at assessments etc have read enough to know that there's a good chance of it being a real issue and therefore something that is likely to be taken seriously by professionals.

I am considering this for my DD. She has recently been diagnosed with ASD but many of her symptoms don't really fit. School say they don't see much evidence for ADHD but acknowledge that she masks really well (from the ASD experience!) I think we need to discuss the evidence with school and/or GP but am worried that she doesn't seem "bad" enough. eg she was very fidgety as a primary age child but has learned to not fidget so as to not annoy those around her at secondary. She holds it all in... but mentally her brain is so hyperactive - constantly on the go, sleeping very little, talking excessively and so fast we can't understand her. Any suggestions from those who have been there before us?

@handmademitlove this sounds very much like it could be ADD. Get her diagnosed and then medicated. It could be lifechanging for both of you.

@handmademitlove and just to say, the school wont solve it, they are not hugely well trained in these things. You need a medical professional - private or mental health specialist.

@WorkingMumD I think I need to ask the GP who they will agree to do a shared care / accept diagnosis from a private assessment. School will refer but I will need to suggest evidence for them to get the referral accepted - camhs are hard to get to!

Yes, good luck. Ours accepted a private diagnosis without a quibble.

Got mine assessed privately over a year ago DD13 now on medication for school days and it makes a massive difference, her teachers say it's like night and day. It's definitely worth it if you can afford to do it. GP just made a referral and I cracked on and we see the consultant every 6 months because they like to keep an eye on development. There is some evidence the medication can impact appetite and growth but so far all good.

Thank you. Currently a six week wait to see the GP (!) to even ask about shared care and who the would recommend for a private assessment. The school think it is all related to anxiety and asd... I am not convinced but they also admit she presents in an unusual way with ASD so they don't really know how to help!

Just to update - NHS referral made and private assessment recommendations also given. They don't like to do shared care but did say that hopefully by the time we had been assessed and if medication useful, appropriate dose found, the CAMHS referral should be in sight and then we can move over to them for ongoing monitoring.

I am in the sane place so interested to read others' experiences.

I strongly suspect 17yo has ADHD and ASD. I think she has masjed but Symptoms are getting more obvious. She raised it herself a year ago and we got CAMHS referral via GP and they said to get referred via school....
DD didn't want to see SENCO.

She really is struggling now so I think I am going to have to find the money (god knows where) to get a private assessment - and I am trying to get her to talk to SENCO.
I looked at Psychiatry UK (amongst others) and like @MsFogi am wondering which way to go.

Reassuring to read others' experiences .

@comfortablyfrumpy For speed, personally I would recommend getting a private assessment if you possibly can - they cost around £900 - so not cheap - but they are an investment in your child worth more than any school trip etc. Once diagnosed it unlocks many things that will be extraordinary helpful to you both I suspect, including medication and strategies. The assessment asks the school for input anyway, so they will be onboard with it. They essentially send questionnaires to people who spend time with your child in various settings. Your GP will then accept the assessment for purposes of medication and the school accept if for SENS. Better than ping ponging around the NHS, CAMHS and the school perhaps? The whole process takes a lot of time 6-8 months all in - so the sooner the better...

Thank you.
I've been trawling assessors' websites.Prices vary don't they! It's a huge chunk that I don't have right now so trying to find an assessor that offers instalments (one I found that did, can't offer an appt until November). I doubt her Dad will contribute , unfortunately.

She's pretty convinced she has it, and I am too... I'll report back how we get on.

Just to report back - have found a provider with good reviews, have started the ball rolling. Daughter completed screening questionnaire (which said yes she should have an assessment), she's done the detailed questionnaire and as soon as I've arranged the afternoon off we can book the appointment - not a very long wait.

I'm really relieved to feel we are on the way. No doubt it'll be a bumpy road but I am sure it will be worth it.

Well done. It should be life changing - in a good way :)

Thanks for sharing your journey. DD(15) I'm now convinced has ASD and we are going for a private route. Good hear that this is a way to help fastest.

Reporting back.... we went with ADHD-360.
Daughter has had her assessment and, unsurprisingly, has been diagnosed.

She has decided to try medication, which has now arrived, so she will start that tomorrow.

We have a follow up meeting in a fortnight.

I am glad we have gone this route. It is crippling me financially but I hope it will put her in a better place.

Letter is on its way to GP and once medication has been stabilised, she will be handed over, so to speak.

Well done - I am sure it will make a noticeable difference. Fingers crossed!

Well done. Hopefully it will be a positive impact on the rest of her life.

Thank you.
We are keeping everything crossed!

Thanks @comfortablyfrumpy we have also gone with ADHD-360 however I was a bit shocked that the "assessment" took under an hour (much of that taken up with their risk questions). Also it was a nurse doing the assessment (I understand that many GPs will only accept shared care if it is a consultant that has prescribed and stabilised the meds). DD has been diagnosed with ADHD (not surprising however part of me wonders if anyone isn't) however before parting with a lot of money I have been looking at the reviews on TrustPilot and the 1 and 2 reviews don't make for pretty reading.
Has anyone here got experience of ADHD-360 (and, in particular, whether their prescribing is accepted by GPs and the costs of private prescriptions via their 'preferred provider')?

My DD's assessment took nearly 2 hours, I am very surprised it can be done in less than an hour. Is it worth raising this with the company?

If the GP won't accept the assessment I will be livid... I will report back.