We specialising in pre-screening assessments and coaching for the complex neurological condition known as Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD).
We fully appreciate and understand the challenges people have with ADHD or characteristic traits of ADHD like symptoms. Sometimes having a disorder like ADHD can leave you feeling alone and like an outsider. Trying to explain what it’s like to another person, and have them walk in your shoes for a day, is virtually impossible, but diagnosis of ADHD doesn’t have to put a you at a disadvantage in life.
Ever been stuck in a boring conversation? Well, that will never happen if you chat with someone who has ADHD their superb conversationalist. So yes, you might have to work harder than others, especially if you have a memory of a goldfish — but you can still achieve and be successful!
If you’ve been diagnosed or have characteristics traits of ADHD, you probably have a bundle of energy in abundance, and known for being the fun factor character to be around. You think differently to others, but that’s actually a good thing! It means you’re more dynamic and your ideas are outside the box.
Start your journey today! Embrace your uniqueness and celebrate those personal strengths that can make having the condition or character traits an advantage, not a drawback.
There is no single test that definitively diagnoses ADHD, no medical or genetic tests. Here at D R Downes & Associates, we offer you a choose of objective, subjective and scientific screeners for ADHD. Choose from one of our pre-screeners for ADHD is the first step towards stopping symptoms from interfering with everyday life. ADHD pre-screening and QbCheck is the most cost-effective way forward, before financially committing to an average cost of £1,500, plus onward costs for private prescriptions and 6 months of private aftercare. So if you want to get to the bottom of whether your behaviour or the behaviour of a friend or loved one could be signalling ADHD, it’s absolutely possible.
Unlike diagnosing ADHD in children, there is no criteria designed to diagnose ADHD in adults specifically. However, we are trained by the United Kingdom Adult ADHD Network (UKAAN) at King’s College London to administer a specific ADHD psychometric. This is combined with 14 years clinical experience as Accredited Psychotherapists using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) from the American Psychiatric Association, as a checklist to help us assess ADHD, as a condition.
We offer a safe space to explore and talk you through options including onward referral for a formal diagnosis, medication and what to expect. Although, we cannot prescribe medication, we work collaboratively with a few psychiatrist’s who are medically qualified doctor’s specialising in psychiatry and ADHD. Enabling our clients to access the only ‘licensed mental health professions’ who can prescribe medication other than a GP.
We’re more than happy to provide an onward referral letter to either your GP or to your private healthcare insurance provider. We can even provide a supporting letter to your workplace or educational institution to help you gain access to reasonable adjustments.
ADHD Initial Consultation
ADHD Psychometric Assessment in Adults (ASRS)
Face-to-Face or Remote
60 minutes
£140
ADHD Pre-screener
Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults (DIVA)
Face-to-Face or Remote
90 minutes
£210
Report
Onward referral report written to either your:
GP or Healthcare Provider
Emailed or Posted
£140
While a diagnosis of childhood ADHD is more common in boys than girls, adult ADHD has a more even 1 to 1 ratio for men and women.
This might be because girls are less likely to have hyperactivity symptoms than boys with ADHD but more inattentive symptoms that aren’t as disruptive. As it interferes with adult goals, a young or mature woman may seek a diagnosis as an adult.
90% of adults and 40% of children are not recognised or treated for ADHD. Dr. Barkley Retired Professor of Psychiatry and Neurology
In the UK, the prevalence of ADHD in adults is estimated at 3% to 4%, with a male-to-female ratio of approximately 3:1. The National Institute of Clinical Excellence
Forget or lose things
Poor time management
Procrastinate
Hyperfocus
Lack emotional control
Disorganised
Lack of focus
Difficult with attention to detail
Trouble staying on topic while talking
Fidget and squirm when seated
Get up frequently to walk or move around
Trouble doing things quietly
Overthinking
Impatience
Impulsive buying habits
Having a hard time waiting your turn to talk
Blurt out answers before someone finishes speaking
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a disorder marked by inattentive and/or hyper-impulsive behaviours that can impact development and functioning. Sometimes referred to as Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).
Usually, when people think of ADHD, their first thoughts conjure up a picture of a hyperactive, louder-than-life child who bounces off the walls with energy – but this isn’t always the case. Yes, it goes without saying some people with ADHD do display the common symptom of hyperactivity. The hint is in the name, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, but not everyone with the condition will experience this symptom.
3 presentations of ADHD:
Predominantly hyper-impulsive. People with this type mainly show behaviors associated with hyperactivity and impulsiveness. This is the textbook stereotype we mentioned earlier.
Predominantly inattentive. People with this type of ADHD mainly show behaviors associated with inattention, but do not display hyperactivity. Those who are predominantly inattentive can often go unnoticed, as their symptoms aren’t as obvious, but their short attention span can cause a lot of difficulties. This type is usually differentiated with the name Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).
Combined. Some people may have a combination of the above traits, showing both a mix of inattentive and hyper-impulsive symptoms.
So when it comes to ADHD, not everyone will have the same subtype and within each category, there is a range of symptoms that a person with ADHD could display.
Adults may also have more inattentive symptoms like forgetfulness or difficulty concentrating, while children with ADHD have more hyperactive symptoms.
If you had milder ADHD symptoms during childhood and were not diagnosed, the demands and responsibilities of adult life may intensify your symptoms.
Some symptoms from childhood ADHD can also change in adults. For example, hyperactivity may look like restlessness or getting bored easily and taking unnecessary risks as an adult.
Not every person with ADHD has the same personality traits, but there are some personal strengths that can make having the condition an advantage, not a drawback.
Examples of these traits include:
Being energetic. Some individuals with ADHD often have seemingly endless amounts of energy that they’re able to channel toward success on the playing field, in school, or at work.
Being spontaneous. Some people with ADHD can turn impulsivity into spontaneity. They may be the life of the party or may be more open and willing to try new things and break free from the status quo.
Being creative and inventive. Living with ADHD may give the person a different perspective on life and encourage them to approach tasks and situations with a thoughtful eye. As a result, some with ADHD may be inventive thinkers. Other words to describe them may be original, artistic, and creative.
Being hyperfocused. Some people with ADHD may become hyperfocused, according to research. This makes them so intently focused on a task that they may not even notice the world around them. The benefit to this is that, when given an assignment, a person with ADHD may work at it until its completion without breaking concentration.
Sometimes a person with ADHD needs assistance in harnessing these traits to their benefit. Through our ADHD coaching services we can explore your creative side or help you devote energy to finishing a task.
A diagnosis of ADHD doesn’t have to put a you at a disadvantage in life.
Instead, ADHD can and has contributed to the success of many performers, athletes, and businesspeople. There are many people who’ve reached the pinnacle of their respective fields with ADHD.
ADHD is a highly manageable condition, and a number of treatments are available to help improve your concentration and behaviour. These include medications, therapy or ADHD coaching.
When taught adaptive techniques to help with time management and organization skills, people with ADHD are able to achieve better levels of concentration.
