ADHD- what do I need to know once the media clamour related to diagnoses has abated?

Neuro-diversity is often associated with mental health and anxiety difficulties and frequently with learning difficulties too. One such condition is ADHD- short for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It’s been in the news recently because some private clinics have been giving ADHD diagnoses without due process. 

ADHD diagnoses have risen dramatically in the UK over recent years, and prescriptions for ADHD medication have roughly doubled since 2016. This belies a much more significant issue however as the number of prescriptions falls far short of the 3-7% of the population that is estimated to have ADHD. Women and girls are the fastest-rising groups because until relatively recently, ADHD  was considered to be almost exclusively a male condition. 

ADHD symptoms include poor concentration, working memory difficulties, sleep difficulties, emotional dysregulation and excess drive to move. These symptoms can equally be driven by other medical and psychological factors. These include Post-traumatic stress disorder, thyroid dysfunction, Long Covid and other complex syndromes such as Mast Cell Activation. Hence the need for expert assessment and diagnoses. 

With public knowledge of ADHD, Autism and neurodivergence more generally, the number coming forward for diagnosis and treatment is outpacing the capacity of fully trained assessors. Sadly, it’s those with the persistence and advocacy to acquire health care treatment through the NHS or resources to go private who are most likely to secure the diagnoses. The shortage of assessors has also left the door wide open for opportunists who offer assessment through unqualified personnel. 

ADHD assessment is usually done through the specialist Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services, commonly referred to as CAMHS. There is no single test for ADHD. Specialists will base clinical diagnosis on a combination of observations of your child; discussions and questionnaires (with you and your child); and information from your child’s school. They will consider how long the symptoms have been present; their impact on your child’s daily  life; and whether they might be due to another condition. 

What can parents do to help? 

• Give simple instructions when they are needed- eg- getting ready for school- one step at a time;

• Set clear boundaries and be consistent in their application- eg a limit on screen time;

• Make sure everyone in the family understands what ADHD is and knows about these tips;

• Build healthy routines so that your child or young person knows what to expect and when;

• Recognise the triggers that cause issues and try to avoid them; 

• Offer constructive praise. 

You can find more information here.

When neurodivergent people have the accommodations and flexibilities they require, they frequently do well at school and work. They need families, carers and schools to advocate for them and we all need to campaign for more investment in CAMHS and in particular in early diagnoses.