Your appointment may be in person or by video call. At the appointment, you will meet a specialist from the ADHD service. They have the training and skills needed to carry out your assessment and, if appropriate, diagnose ADHD.
If your appointment is by video call, we will send you a link and simple instructions to help you join the appointment.
Face to face appointments are available in Taunton, Bridgwater, Wells, Yeovil and Frome.
The assessment can take up to 3 hours.
The clinician may ask about:
- your childhood
- school and education
- daily life
- work and relationships
- physical and mental health.
This information helps us understand how ADHD, or symptoms like ADHD, may have affected you throughout your life.
Sometimes, the clinician may need to arrange another appointment or talk to someone who knows you well. This helps us make sure we have all the information we need to make a safe and accurate decision.
After the assessment
After the assessment, the clinician will explain the results. You may:
- receive a diagnosis of ADHD, or
- be told that ADHD is not the best explanation for your difficulties.
The clinician will talk about what support may help and you will be able to ask questions about the outcome of your assessment.
ADHD treatment and support
If you are diagnosed with ADHD, we can:
- share helpful information and advice
- provide you with information and resources to manage your symptoms through the CONNECTPlus app
- discuss ADHD medication if it is suitable.
We do not provide ADHD counselling or therapy programmes.
If you start medication
If you are given ADHD medication, you will have regular appointments with your clinician while we find the right dose for you.
These appointments help us to:
- find the dose that works best for you
- check for any side effects
- make sure the medication is safe for you.
Following your treatment plan
It is important to follow the treatment plan you agree with your clinician. This helps make sure your medication works as well as possible and is taken safely.
Going to appointments
Please try to attend all your appointments. If you cannot come, let us know as soon as possible.
Tel: 01278 720231
Email: ADHDEnquires@somersetft.nhs.uk
This allows us to offer the appointment to someone else.
Please note, if you miss your appointment, you will be discharged from our service.
What to bring to each appointment
At every appointment, please bring:
- your blood pressure reading
- your resting heart rate.
These checks help us make sure your medication is safe for you.
Missed appointments
Assessment appointments
If you do not come to your assessment appointment and there is not an important reason (such as an emergency), you will be discharged from the service.
If you would like an ADHD assessment in the future, your GP will need to send us a new referral.
Please be aware that you will go back to the end of the waiting list. This means you may have to wait a long time for another assessment.
Medication review appointments
If you miss more than one medication review appointment, you will be discharged from the ADHD service and your care will return to your GP.
If you would like to continue treatment with our service, your GP will need to send us a new referral.
We can only accept a new referral after six months. If you miss any future appointments after returning to the service, you will be discharged straight away.