Professional adolescent & adult ADHD assessment clinic. If you are looking for a clinic with a difference you have come to the right place.
Service available for age 14 years and above
We strive for personalised care with direct communication from day one of your ADHD assessment journey
What is ADHD?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that typically starts to appear in childhood, although for some children, symptoms don’t become obvious until teenager years. ADHD occurs in around 5% of children and 4% of adults, although there are many that remain undiagnosed. Common symptoms include inattention, distractibility, disorganisation, over activity, restlessness, impulsivity and mood instability.
Typically, symptoms of ADHD are recognised at an early age, however, many symptoms can easily be dismissed as something else and can lead to ADHD going undiagnosed until adolescents or even adulthood.
ADHD may also result in additional problems, such as poor sleep, low self-esteem, substance misuse, difficulties managing finances, relationship problems and mental health disorders. It is important to understand that ADHD can manifest itself in very different ways for different people and symptoms can also change throughout a persons life with some symptoms becoming more or less prominent.
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How ADHD can appear in adults
Previously, ADHD was believed to be a condition that only affects children. Fortunately, it is now widely recognised that ADHD can continue to be present in adulthood. This means that more adults who received a diagnosis as a child are realising that ADHD doesn’t just ‘go away’ and that their symptoms may have just changed as they grew older. This new understanding has also meant that more adults are realising there is an explanation behind their behaviours and are now seeking diagnosis in their adult life.
In adulthood ADHD will look less like the child who is inattentive and/or hyperactive, and more like a person who suffers with forgetfulness, disorganisation, impulsivity and being constantly on the go. For adults with ADHD, they can find themselves feeling overwhelmed and may also struggle with aspects of adult life such as relationships, finances, employment and parenting.
ADHD in adults can also lead to other challenges including anxiety, chronic boredom, depression, sleep disorders, substance misuse, and emotional instability.
The benefits of treatment
ADHD can be treated using medication, therapy, life style changes or a combination of all of these. There is no question that medication, for many people can be life changing in many ways. It can help improve their ability to concentrate, task initiation, control impulsivity, improve organisational skills and helps with emotional regulation.
Many of those who are affected by ADHD have reported life-changing responses to treatment including a new sense of clarity, self-control and emotional stability.
Common misconceptions about ADHD
For a long time, ADHD has been a very misunderstood condition, and this has commonly resulted in misdiagnosis. Although there has been more awareness raised about ADHD, there are still common misconceptions about what it is and how it affects people.
One of the biggest misconceptions is that ADHD is something you ‘grow out of’, however, this is not the case. ADHD does not simply go away, and it can in fact worsen as someone reaches adulthood due to the added pressure and responsibilities as an adult.
ADHD has previously been perceived as just “naughty hyperactive boys”, who cause disruption and behave erratically. However, this is a stereotype and ADHD can in fact be present in anyone. These harmful misconceptions can mean symptoms are often missed in children/ adults who struggle with crippling shyness (inattentive symptom of ADHD).
It is also common for some people to internalise and mask their symptoms to be able to get by, even excelling academically and therefore increasing the chance that signs of ADHD will be missed and go untreated.
Another misconception is that everyone has symptoms of ADHD and therefore it is down to the individually to be able to overcome them. While it is true that many symptoms of ADHD are experienced sometimes by all people, someone who has ADHD the symptoms will be present all the time and will be to such a severe extent that it makes everyday life an extreme challenge.
Do you have more questions?
Booking an assessment with The ADHD Nurse
Booking a private ADHD assessment is understandably a big step, one which can feel incredibly daunting.
Our experienced clinicians at The ADHD Nurse conduct thorough assessments, following NICE guidelines. We allow time to really get to know you and understand your current difficulties to ensure the outcome of your assessment is accurate & reduce the risk of a misdiagnosis.
The ADHD Nurse is dedicated to ensuring a correct diagnosis of ADHD and where other conditions may be present, can offer you referrals or signposting to other professionals for further support if required.
Following your assessment we will support you through the next steps to understanding your diagnosis and treatment planning personalised to you.
Complete a free online pre-assessment today.
About The ADHD Nurse
Founder, Vicki George a Clinical Nurse Specialist with over 10 years’ experience as a qualified mental health nurse in the NHS. Vicki has spent the last 6 years specialising in ADHD diagnosis and is qualified to diagnose and prescribe medication to treat ADHD.
The ADHD Nurse has a mission to change the stereotype of ADHD and to raise awareness about many of the unspoken challenges of living with ADHD.
Vicki & her team are here to support you throughout the process of being assessed for ADHD and provide on-going support following a diagnosis including medication & non-medication interventions.