SPECIALIST ADHD ASSESSMENTS AND TREATMENT FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE (6-17)
We only offer gold standard ADHD assessments for children and young people. Our consultants are specialists in Child and adolescent psychiatry and also hold qualifications in paediatrics. They are registered on the UK’s General Medical Council’s Specialist register in Child Psychiatry. Our patients describe our doctors as empowering, child-centred, educative, warm, sensitive and providing a life-changing experience. These patient testimonies speak for themselves and evidence the excellent clinical experience our patients enjoy.
Download and read our assessment guide here:
ADHDdoctor UK Assessment guide
Delay in diagnosis is often the rule with ADHD not the exception
Between 5-6% of children and adolescents are affected by ADHD. That’s roughly 2 children per average UK class size; making ADHD one of the most frequently encountered disorders/conditions within child and adolescent psychiatry.
ADHD presents in many different ways and it may overlap with other conditions. It is also sometimes not readily observed by teachers and a host of factors often lead to a delay in diagnosis.
The average age of diagnosis in the UK is about 11 years, but later for girls who are often easily missed.
Early recognition of symptoms and prompt assessment and treatment is vitally important to ensure no child with ADHD is disadvantaged or ‘left behind’.
ADHD is Treatable
ADHD is a ‘treatable’ neurodevelopmental condition. It occurs more often in boys ADHD affects each individual differently, and everyone’s story of living with ADHD is uniquely different. The difficulties from ADHD are present at home, at school and in other social settings such as sporting clubs. ADHD has a heritability of between 60-70%, which suggests that it runs in families. It is believed to be the result of several genes, each with a small effect contributing to the clinical picture. It occurs in about 5-6 in every 100 children, regardless of geographical or cultural variation. ADHD symptoms are categorised as difficulties of impairments in three domains: inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. ADHD may persist into adulthood in about two-thirds of children diagnosed with the condition.
ADHD UNTREATED?
Without treatment, children and young people with ADHD have poorer outcomes in all categories. Outcomes include academic attainment, anti-social behaviour, non-medicinal drug use/addictive behaviours, obesity, occupational difficulties, self-esteem, relationships and social functioning. Treatment for ADHD improved long-term outcomes compared with untreated ADHD
*Shaw et al, BMC Medicine 2012, 10:99 | Arnold et al, Journal of Attention Disorders 2020, vol.24 (1) 73-85
Most times, a child or young person may have ADHD alongside other behavioural, emotional or neurodiverse conditions such as autism, oppositional defiance disorder, conduct disorder, substance misuse problems or a mood and anxiety disorder. This coexistence (or co-morbidity) requires the quality of specialist management we offer
GET STARTED HERE IN 4 SIMPLE STEPS
Book a gold standard assessment at our London ADHD clinic to confirm the diagnosis. A ‘gold standard’ assessment has four elements. First, we’ll get you and your parents to complete a general health form. Then, we’ll send you, your parents, and your teacher a link to complete Conners’ assessment forms. The consultant psychiatrist then meets you for a clinical interview during which the DSM-5 clinical interview is completed. There’s also a review of any relevant school or previous assessment reports.