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Best professional to see for an ADHD assessment

JumpingJames

Hello, my university have said that they will pay up to £300 for me to get a professional ADHD assessment but I have to find the assessor and way to do this myself.

I am wondering if it is best to get this assessment off an Educational Psychologist or Psychiatrist. Or if there is a third option, and where best to find these people?

I would rather get it off an educational psycholoist but would this assessment and diagnosis of ADHD if I have it be 'worth less' than if it was off a psychiatrist? For instance, if I wanted medication further down the line.

I would prefer a psychologist because I do not want ADHD on my medical record right at the moment in case I join the army and to participate in medical trials.

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Ross_Alumni

Morning @JumpingJames, how are you today?

Thanks for making this post, how do you feel about the prospect of the ADHD assessment? This isn't something I have any experience of, but I found this page over on the ADHD UK website about diagnosis pathways in case it can be of any use to you.

It does mention visiting your GP as a first port of call, but I'm not sure whether that is something you would be interested in doing considering what you say about not wanting it to be in your medical records. Definitely worth considering though

Have you had a look for any educational psychologists or psychiatrists who you could have the assessment with?

JumpingJames

Thank you for this link it is interesting.

I will go to the GP further down the line not just yet depending on if I am accepted into the army which is in progress, I hope to get a diagnosis to help me in university and to find out if I really have this condition or not.

"Have you had a look for any educational psychologists or psychiatrists who you could have the assessment with?"

I have had a look at psychiatrists, they charge about £1200 which is way too much, educational psychologist I am researching, that would be best, I am not sure if they are qualified to give a diagnosis or not.

Tori_Scope

educational psychologist I am researching, that would be best, I am not sure if they are qualified to give a diagnosis or not.

I had a quick look online, and it seems like it varies @JumpingJames, which I realise isn't a very helpful answer for you! Perhaps you could contact some educational psychologists local to you to see whether this is a service they can offer?

It could also be worth checking with them what'll happen after the diagnosis. There's some information about this on the website Ross sent you the link to, but it could be worth clarifying whether you could continue support and treatment through shared care with the NHS, or by being discharged back to your GP fully. This could be especially important if you're considering medication as a treatment option.

I will go to the GP further down the line not just yet depending on if I am accepted into the army which is in progress

Do you mind me asking whether this is because you're worried that you may not be accepted if you're diagnosed with ADHD through your GP?

JumpingJames

Tori_Scope said:

educational psychologist I am researching, that would be best, I am not sure if they are qualified to give a diagnosis or not.
I had a quick look online, and it seems like it varies @JumpingJames, which I realise isn't a very helpful answer for you! Perhaps you could contact some educations psychologists local to you to see whether this is a service they can offer?

It could also be worth checking with them what'll happen after the diagnosis. There's some information about this on the website Ross sent you the link to, but it could be worth clarifying whether you could continue support and treatment through shared care with the NHS, or by being discharged back to your GP fully. This could be especially important if you're considering medication as a treatment option.
I will go to the GP further down the line not just yet depending on if I am accepted into the army which is in progress
Do you mind me asking whether this is because you're worried that you may not be accepted if you're diagnosed with ADHD through your GP?

I wouldn't be, ADHD is an automatic bar for the armed forces.

L_Volunteer

@JumpingJames How have things been for you more recently? I appreciate it has been a little while since you last posted on this thread now.

I want to make sure you have access to the support you need and deserve but I am also aware that things might have changed since.

Please don't hesitate to let us know if we can do anything to help. We are all here for you

JumpingJames

Yes I got it sorted now, thank you.

Amazonianup

A lot of people get diagnosed late on nhs. A lot of people say about the 'right to choose'. Look into it I think your gp then refers you more quickly. I don't know that much about it.