Getting an ADHD Diagnosis: What to Expect

I paid out of pocket for a psychiatric nurse practitioner who specializes in late diagnosed ADHD. I was referred to her by a friend who was diagnosed a couple years before me

I was seeing a therapist at the time and asked them what they thought and she referred me to a psychologist in the same clinic who does the testing. I went through the whole formal diagnostic battery, a few hours for adjusting a standard IQ test, surveys to multiple people who knew me in different areas of my life, and a clinical interview. I got a full write up of my results printed out and given to me. I've heard more recently that this is becoming less common and someone who specializes in ADHD should have a pretty good idea just from interacting with you. But that was my experience.

I was referred by my GP to a psychiatrist. When I mentioned my attention issues and concerns about possible ADHD, she ran me through a couple tests and tried me on a stimulant medication to see if/how my symptoms changed. Based on the results of the screening tests and the fact that I experienced massive improvement on medication, she concluded that ADHD was pretty likely the correct assumption. I never had official ADHD testing done, because A. it's expensive, and B. it was largely unnecessary to do further testing to conclude that I had ADHD in my case.

I got lucky and got tested in college. My school had a great counseling center that did free ADHD testing. I just noticed it more because my sister had been diagnosed (so I knew what to look for) and I was an English major (lots of focus I didn't have)

I didn't know that I actually had it till I gave birth to my daughter. I just thought it was my anxiety or depression that was getting bad and couldn't focus on anything even my daughter. Then early this year I got tested for it and I was put on Vyvanse 30mgs. The doctor told me that women don't know that have till they have a kid. It was holy crap moment for me. Now I'm more focused and motivated than I was before. Also I was in icp classes cuz I was slow of focusing in school and needed extra help with homework.

I contacted a psychiatrist. Got treated for depression. After a bit she thought I had Adhd. I didn't think so but I took the test ($250). Turns out I have severe Adhd. She gave me the diagnosis.

Easy to get the referral but still on a waiting list. Have you got as far as talking to your GP?