Assessment Process for Customers
Assessment Process
1. Screening
A GP referral is not required for a Screening Assessment.
Once you have paid for the screening assessment, and completed the registration form, links to the screening forms will be sent to you and the person or people you nominated to gather collateral information.
Collateral Information
You will be asked to fill in a registration form with your personal details, as well as the names and contact details of people who know you well, both now and as a child. This is referred to as collateral information and is required to proceed with our services.
Why do we collect Collateral Information?
To ensure all ADHD diagnostic criteria are met, collateral support of both current and childhood symptoms is required.
The information from collateral sources is typically gathered using questionnaires that will be sent directly to the nominated person(s).
Current Symptoms
- Collateral information about your current symptoms can be provided by anyone who knows you well now.
Childhood Symptoms
- Collateral information about childhood symptoms can come from:
- Caregivers
- Parents
- Siblings
- Extended family or
- Anyone who knew you well enough to report on your symptoms during childhood (before age 12 years).
- School reports can also be helpful in documenting childhood symptoms and difficulties.
Review of Screening Assessment
Once all the screening forms have been completed, the information submitted will be reviewed by a registered psychologist and you will be provided with feedback about whether the information that is submitted supports the pursuit of a formal diagnostic assessment.
After the screening forms have been reviewed, you will receive an email from our team advising the next steps.
- You may have all the information and can proceed with a diagnostic assessment.
- You may be asked to provide a GP referral before proceeding with a diagnostic assessment.
- You may be asked to provide more collateral information.
2. Diagnostic Assessment
We can offer appointments within 1-2 weeks after the screening forms have been completed and reviewed.
Appointment
The diagnostic assessment interview usually takes about an hour, and is used to follow up on responses from the completed screening forms and to gather additional information about the person's history and any other potential causes of the person's difficulties, including other mental health conditions.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of ADHD in adults is determined by the answers to four key questions:
- Does the person have symptoms and difficulties that are consistent with ADHD?
- Is there evidence that those symptoms and difficulties were present during childhood?
- Are the symptoms and difficulties associated with impairment across multiple settings?
- Is there a better explanation for the person's symptoms and difficulties? (e.g., head injury, chronic insomnia, or other acute mental health conditions).
Diagnostic Report
After the forms are completed and the diagnostic assessment interview has taken place, a report is generated that includes any appropriate diagnoses and treatment recommendations.
We aim to have the report ready within 10 business days of the assessment and you will receive a notification via email once it is available.
Prescriptions
Our team does not prescribe stimulant medication. Instead, we apply for special authority and then refer you back to your GP who will then be responsible for initiating your medication and providing ongoing prescriptions.
Medication Changes
Medication changes due to ineffectiveness or side effects
As part of our duty of care, our clinical team is available for GPs to consult with regarding medication changes, side effect management, or alternative medication options.
We are happy to provide ongoing support to ensure patients find the most suitable treatment plan.
To change medication, your doctor will need to send us a referral with the following information:
- Medication/s that have been trialed
- Dose
- Duration of trial
- Effects / Side Effects
3. Treatment Options
Research shows that outcomes for ADHD are more effective when behavioral and medication treatments are combined.
ADHD Medication
There are various medications approved to treat the symptoms of ADHD and the medications are typically prescribed by your GP.
If you wish to consider stimulant medications, a special authority is required. Consideration of a special authority is included in the Multidisciplinary Diagnostic Assessment option.
If our team determines that the information provided is sufficient to meet the diagnostic criteria for ADHD, and there are no contraindications, our multidisciplinary team will apply for special authority and then refer you back to your GP who will then be responsible for initiating your medication and providing ongoing prescriptions.
Mental Health Therapy
We offer coaching and therapy services to help create strategies that can be used to manage ADHD symptoms.
Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can also be effective in helping reduce the negative effects ADHD symptoms can have on your life and experience.