What is ADHD and how can it affect your life? Specialist says some are now 'waiting five years' for diagnosis

Adults are waiting up to five years for an Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) assessment, a specialist has said.

Cambridge-based Michael Ling, a private ADHD coach, told the BBC that social media and the pandemic might be among the reasons for a spike in demand for diagnosis.

“The waiting list in 2018 was six months,” he said. “[Now] I know someone who has waited for five years. I think a lot of it is to do with social media – social media raises awareness. People have put a lot of videos on social media about ADHD in recent years.

“It makes people wonder whether they have the symptoms and ask for an assessment.”

The BBC found that it would take years for all 200,000 people on a waiting list to be diagnosed.

Thea Stein, of the Nuffield Trust, said many schools expect an assessment and formal diagnosis of ADHD or autism to access support

Mr Ling added that the psychological impact of the pandemic might have led to people seeking out an assessment for the disorder.

He said: “Lots of people went from the safety of having a routine of going into work to working from home. I suspect one of the consequences was that people really struggled and wondered whether they had ADHD.”

The charity ADHD UK states that 2.6 million people in the UK are estimated to have the disorder.

There is currently no national data published on referrals or waiting times for assessments but a thinktank has warned that the NHS cannot meet the “avalanche” of demand.

Thea Stein, chief executive of the Nuffield Trust, told Sky News: “The extraordinary, unpredicted and unprecedented rise in demand for autism assessments and ADHD treatments have completely overtaken the NHS’s capacity to meet them. It is frankly impossible to imagine how the system can grow fast enough to fulfil this demand.

“We shouldn’t underestimate what this means for children in particular: many schools expect an assessment and formal diagnosis to access support – and children and their families suffer while they wait.”

But what exactly is ADHD, what causes it, and how can adults get diagnosed?

Here’s what you need to know.

Jessie J announced her diagnosis with ADHD and OCD in June 2024

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ADHD, which stands for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, is a condition that affects people’s behaviour.

Its symptoms include restlessness, impulsivity, hyperactivity, and issues with concentration.

Many people experience inattention or changes in energy levels from time to time. However, for a person with ADHD, the inattention, energy levels, and concentration difficulties are major and more frequent, which has the potential to put pressure on their work and home life.

ADHD is widely divided into three types: inattentive/distractable, impulsive/hyperactive, and combined.

There has been a surge in the number of adults seeking ADHD diagnoses in recent years, partly as a result of more awareness being raised about the condition. Support groups say it has long been under-diagnosed, particularly in girls and women, who usually only show signs of inattentiveness, such as ADD.

ADD is not as talked about, but it is basically the same condition – but without the hyperactivity.

For example, according to the NHS, “around two to three in 10 people with the condition have problems with concentrating and focusing, but not with hyperactivity or impulsiveness”.

People with the disorder often struggle with tasks that involve executive function.

ADHD is usually diagnosed in children and can cause restlessness and an inability to concentrate

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While the exact cause of ADHD is still unknown, evidence suggests that genetic factors might be at play.

According to Hopkins Medicine, children with ADHD have low levels of the brain chemical dopamine.

Additionally, their brain metabolism in the areas of the brain that control attention, social judgement, and movement seems to be lower.

The NHS believes that being born prematurely, having a low birth weight, and parents consuming alcohol, drugs, or cigarettes during their pregnancy could play a role, as well as genetics and diet.

How can you get diagnosed as an adult?

If you’re an adult who believes you may have ADHD, the NHS suggests that you speak to your GP.

GPs aren’t qualified to formally diagnose you with ADHD, but they can refer you for specialist assessment.

During your GP appointment, they may ask you questions about your symptoms, family history, health conditions, and recent life events.

If they conclude that you have undiagnosed ADHD, have symptoms that can’t be explained by a mental health condition, and/or have symptoms that significantly affect your daily life, they will refer you to a specialist.

Who you’re referred to depends on your symptoms, age, and what’s available in your area. It could be a psychiatrist or another appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

Getting diagnosed as an adult is more difficult because there is some disagreement over which ADHD symptoms are seen in adults compared with children who have the condition.

Under the current diagnostic guidelines the NHS uses, adults cannot be diagnosed with ADHD unless their symptoms have been present from childhood. This is because medical professionals currently believe that ADHD cannot develop for the first time in adults.

Their symptoms also have to have at least a moderate effect on areas of their life, like their social relationships, romantic partnerships, work or education, and driving habits.

The condition can be treated using medicine or therapy, but the NHS advises that a combination of the two is often the best treatment plan.

These do not permanently cure ADHD, but they help those with ADHD concentrate better, be less impulsive, and feel calmer.

Another possible treatment that has displayed good results is sticking to a healthy and balanced diet, and keeping a diary of what you eat and drink, and the behaviour that follows to see if there is a link between certain types of food and your symptoms. For instance, studies show that an overly processed diet contributes to a 25 per cent reduction in executive function.

You can also discuss taking omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid supplements with your GP, as there is some evidence suggesting that they may be beneficial for people with ADHD.

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