Post by moseleyliz on Feb 17, 2022 15:14:17 GMT
Hi
I'm a 62 yr old woman who first became aware that the cause of some of my difficulties in life might be as a result of AADD about 10 years ago. After several false starts and difficulties with trying to convince my GP I finally had an assessment via video last month - and was given the result today. Not the one I was hoping for - but hadnt felt the assessment had gone well so not one I was surprised by.
I will be attempting to get a written report but that might take some time! But I am curious about the results I was given today and the rationale for their decision.
I was told I scored 7 out of 9 on the Adult inattention criteria - but only 4 our of 9 on evidence of childhood inattention. And unsurprisingly to me I scored nothing on hyperactivity at any stage of my life! But it appears to be this zero for hyperactivity that is the basis for my non-diagnosis. When I queries this I was told that for a diagnosis of ADHD you have to show some traits of hyperactivity. I've looked at the NICE guidelines and the DCM-V and my reading of it is that it should be possible to have a diagnosis of ADHD with 5 or more symptoms of inattention and/or 5 or more symptoms of hyperactivity. So if I read this correctly the fact that I show no signs of hyperactivity shouldnt preclude a diagnosis of ADHD (predominantly inattentive)? And my score of 4 for childhood inattentive traits would meet the criteria of 'Several symptoms (inattentive or hyperactive) before the age of 12?
Do I have grounds for appeal against the decision - and if so what would be the process I need to go through?
I should add that at the end of the assessment the topic of autism came up and I was sent the AQ50 test and asked to submit it - it came as no surprise to me that I scored very highly (43) and they are recommending that I seek a diagnosis of autism. I probably will but they seem to be excluding the very real possibility that I could have ADHD and autism. I pursued the ADHD assessment because I hoped that a positive diagnosis would result in the opportunity to try and find some medication that would help me in some aspects of my life/work.
I'm a 62 yr old woman who first became aware that the cause of some of my difficulties in life might be as a result of AADD about 10 years ago. After several false starts and difficulties with trying to convince my GP I finally had an assessment via video last month - and was given the result today. Not the one I was hoping for - but hadnt felt the assessment had gone well so not one I was surprised by.
I will be attempting to get a written report but that might take some time! But I am curious about the results I was given today and the rationale for their decision.
I was told I scored 7 out of 9 on the Adult inattention criteria - but only 4 our of 9 on evidence of childhood inattention. And unsurprisingly to me I scored nothing on hyperactivity at any stage of my life! But it appears to be this zero for hyperactivity that is the basis for my non-diagnosis. When I queries this I was told that for a diagnosis of ADHD you have to show some traits of hyperactivity. I've looked at the NICE guidelines and the DCM-V and my reading of it is that it should be possible to have a diagnosis of ADHD with 5 or more symptoms of inattention and/or 5 or more symptoms of hyperactivity. So if I read this correctly the fact that I show no signs of hyperactivity shouldnt preclude a diagnosis of ADHD (predominantly inattentive)? And my score of 4 for childhood inattentive traits would meet the criteria of 'Several symptoms (inattentive or hyperactive) before the age of 12?
Do I have grounds for appeal against the decision - and if so what would be the process I need to go through?
I should add that at the end of the assessment the topic of autism came up and I was sent the AQ50 test and asked to submit it - it came as no surprise to me that I scored very highly (43) and they are recommending that I seek a diagnosis of autism. I probably will but they seem to be excluding the very real possibility that I could have ADHD and autism. I pursued the ADHD assessment because I hoped that a positive diagnosis would result in the opportunity to try and find some medication that would help me in some aspects of my life/work.