Did you find out that you didn't have ADHD?

[PermanentTemporary]

I'll try not to navel gaze but I've been considering the possibility that I have ADHD for a while. Online screeners that don't look too trashy suggest it could be worth going further.

If that's me, it does explain some things and might help me make a career decision that's coming up. If not, it probably doesn't change that much - I could make the same decision, after all.

Was it worth going for a diagnosis? Particularly interested in those who were assessed but didn't have it.

When I worked out I had ADHD it suddenly made soooo much sense why I couldn't perform well at school despite having a good brain, why my house was a mess and I was always losing things and not able to concentrate in meetings, thrill seeking, promiscuous etc.

I mentioned the revelation to my mum who said 'Oh we've always known that Love!'

Once I knew I put in place plans to retrain my brain and my ways of working to be less ADHD - I now have a fantastically organised house, diary and a successful career but without the revelation I would have continued muddling along not realising I was wired differently and not actually a loser.

My son then had disabling ADHD for which he was medicated for due to it affecting his schooling. His sister identifies as having ADD but it was never diagnosed.

I see it as a super power and do not need a formal diagnosis.

Please apologise for this ignorant nonsense.
This comment, just like "we are all - little bit on the spectrum" is really offensive.
I have two ND children and the struggles and battles they face as do I, to advocate for them, will never be understood by those who are not ND.

I'm a clinical psychologist and have had friends ask me for help with their children who they think might have ADHD. I embarked on some research on assessors on their behalf and was amazed at how many people had no background in mental health - they were only trained in how to assess ADHD. I did some training on this myself recently and part of that was looking at cases where we (psychiatrists and psychologists) were asked to consider what other disorders might be at play. We were able to do that but the few people who attended with no mental health background could not. They would only be able to give an ADHD diagnosis but nothing else/no other explanation of what might be behind the symptoms people were presenting with. For that reason, if I were being assessed for ADHD I would only go to a psychiatrist (not even a psychologist as they can't prescribe meds unless you're completely opposed to meds in which case a psychologist would do) as then you get a comprehensive assessment that isn't just confined to yes/no re: ADHD at the end of it.

This really resonates with me. I was diagnosed by a Psychiatrist and it was a 3.5 hour assessment. They delved really deep into my childhood and I knew that they were making sure that my symptoms weren't otherwise explained by trauma. Good on them, I thought. Doing a bloody good thorough job. (I'm also Autistic; scrupulous attention to detail is a must in my world)

I've heard of a few assessments only taking an hour, and for this reason, I just don't know how it can be thorough enough to rule out other possibilities.

My daughter has just been referred via the Right To Choose pathway. I'll be very interested as to how her assessment pans out. To be honest, with myself and her Dad both having ADHD and her struggling with classic hyperactivity and attention deficit symptoms, I'd be surprised if she wasn't diagnosed. However, I hope and feel it should be conducted by a Psychiatrist, like mine was.

I work in a private clinic assessing ADHD and ASD in mostly children/ adolescents, though we do sometimes see adults. Of the children we see only around 60% get an ADHD diagnosis. Of the 60% at least 40% are more likely to have ASD. We screen referrals beforehand and ime, even if we flag up ASD traits, parents are insistent that it couldn't be, proceed with ADHD assessment and don't get a diagnosis.

We follow NICE guidelines and most of our clinicians also work for the NHS. You are paying for an assessment not a diagnosis.

We would never had considered ASD for my DS before. The ADHD traits were the ones causing him so many issues in school that we couldn’t see past those. As part of his ADHD assessment report (he was diagnosed) it suggested an ASD referral. Once he started his ADHD medication his ASD become much more visible as they were previously out weighed by his ADHD.

@FawnFrenchieMum that is very common and I will always tell parents that, especially with the highly anxious kids. Medication can 'dumb' down the adhd symptoms and massively exacerbate the ASD ones. So it's important that children get the right diagnosis (if any) and we always have to look for differential diagnoses.

The psychiatrists who are affiliated with these providers (as long as you use decent providers) are all accredited with the GMC. They are predominantly also working within the NHS and you can see their profiles. They are not charlatans who would risk their professional reputation and risk being struck off the register by falsely diagnosing. There are clinical directors of NHS trusts. Fellows of the Royal College of psychiatrists. They are all members of the Royal College. . Many are involved in teaching current medical students. Do you really think these people are risking their reputations?
Sure there will be some bum ones. There are in every industry. But you are quite wrong if you think that's the basis for how these providers are running things.

If you use a proper registered online clinics you ARE being assessed by a 'proper psychiatrist'. Go look online at their profiles. Most work within the nhs. They are all members of the royal college of psychiatry. There are Fellows of the Royal College, Clinical Director of NHS trusts, consultants who train medical students. These people are not risking ruining their careers reputations for a quick buck.

If an online clinic does not have the profile of the psychiatrists available then choose one that does.

And who would be challenging them exactly?

I was diagnosed through the NHS and by the time you get in front of a psychiatrist you have been through screening so it is almost certain you have ADHD.

The problem with the telephone screening though is that it cuts off those with ADHD where their actions when they are speaking on the phone scream of ADHD but can’t be seen by the person on the other end.

Pretty sure it's not phone. Pretty sure it is video conference.

@Summerhillsquare

And who would be challenging them exactly?
The same processes that monitor all private doctors including the CQC.
And any complaints will result in an investigation just as with NHS doctors. And as mentioned, most if not all the doctors are highly qualified consultant psychiatrists who still work in the NHS.

It was done by phone. I know because I was the one on the phone call and ds and Dd all had phone calls too

Fucksake. Not this again. You either have ADHD or you don't. You either have Autism or you don't. Everybody is NOT on the spectrum. Educate yourself. It's so ignorant.

Right, so you know better than them? You don't think realising they've been gaslit their entire lives might be having some effect? Or the fact - despite their diagnosis- you're continuing to gaslight them?

There's also the possibility that with meds controlling the ADHD, autism symptoms are more obvious. Many people have both, ADHD does a good job of masking autism. I seem weirder now I'm on meds, partly because of this and partly because I'm happier being myself at last. My life has also been transformed beyond recognition. Not everyone I know is happy with this. Bad luck.

Off to the ignorant corner Roxit.

You do realise it's the assessment you pay for? They paid whether you get a diagnosis or not - it's not 'no win, no fee' 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Ableist and vile.

My DD27 has a life affecting and disabling condition that's needs medication for and will HER WHOLE LIFE.

In fact I'm reporting this nastiness.

Me too!! Nasty post.

@NCGrandParent you can say that about yourself. You are not diagnosed by a psychiatrist as having ADHD.

Please do not describe genuine oeople who do have ADHD as having a personality type.

FFS.

Just go away.

You clearly have no comprehension of what you are talking about.

No compassion either.

My DS had assessments privately for ADHD and ASD, separately.

ADHD one came back as a blinding positive. They suggested we also seek an ASD assessment. We did. He did not receive a diagnosis of ASD, he didn't quite meet the threshold. There is a huge overlap between the two.

So not all private assessments will result in a diagnosis 😊

Private ADHD clinics exposed

BBC iPLAYER

Panorama

More and more people are turning to private clinics for an assessment to determine whether they have ADHD.

Watch nowPrivate ADHD clinics exposed
Panorama
BBC iPLAYER

Panorama
More and more people are turning to private clinics for an assessment to determine whether they have ADHD.

Watch now

No, they don’t.

I have an assessment for adhd in October so I'll let you know. I dont know if it's adhd or trauma from the way my mother treated me (INSTANT COLD SHOULDER if I ever expressed disagreement, or a need, or asked for change). So, it could be wounds from how I was raised. But I sometimes wonder if my mother has asperger syndrome as unlike me she did well at school but requires everybody around her to play the exact part she wrote for them, or she is the victim.

I feel different. Like I get things quickly, the bigger picture, but details are hard to stay on top of. I have all the usual flags. Either working 16 hours or on the sofa procrastinating. I have been unable to play along at times. Walked out of jobs I didn't want to lose. I'm single, relationships never fall into my lap (altho I have friends).

I just want to know. Either everything in my past will make sense or...... actually I don't know.