ADHD is a condition that affects people's behaviour.

The symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can be categorised into 2 types of behavioural problems:

• inattentiveness (difficulty concentrating and focusing)
• hyperactivity and impulsiveness

Many people with ADHD have problems that fall into both these categories, but this is not always the case.

Most cases are diagnosed when children are under 12 years old, but sometimes it's diagnosed later in childhood. Sometimes ADHD was not recognised when someone was a child, and they are diagnosed later as an adult.

ADHD is not an illness

The term “deficit disorder” places ADHD in the realm of disease. Individuals with ADHD do not have a disease, nor do they have a deficit of attention; in fact, what they have is an abundance of attention. The challenge is controlling it.

Watch this video to learn more about ADHD 

Click here to learn more about the symptoms of ADHD

For further advice see the NHS guide to ADHD

Autistic people may act in a different way to other people

Autistic people may:

• find it hard to communicate and interact with other people
• find it hard to understand how other people think or feel
• find things like bright lights or loud noises overwhelming, stressful or uncomfortable
• get anxious or upset about unfamiliar situations and social events
• take longer to understand information
• do or think the same things over and over

Autism is not an illness

Being autistic does not mean you have an illness or disease. It means your brain works in a different way from other people. It's something you're born with. Signs of autism might be noticed when you're very young, or not until you're older. 

Autism is not a medical condition with treatments or a "cure". But some people need support to help them with certain things.

Watch this video to learn how autism can affect every day life and how you can help support and understand autistic people

Click here to learn more about the signs of autism

For further advice see the NHS guide to Autism

If you are aged 18 or over and think you may have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Autism, also referred to as Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and want a referral for a diagnostic assessment, then please print off one or both of the following documents. Alternatively, you can collect either of the packs from Reception, or follow the link below complete the online form.

ADULT ADHD patients pack .docx

ADULT AUTISM patients pack.docx

Please return to Reception when you have answered the questionnaires and input your score. 

Please be advised that for both ADHD and Autism (collectively referred to as Neurodiverse Conditions), your symptoms must have been present since childhood, and must affect your day to day functioning in some way. 

Please also be aware that both conditions can genetically run in families.

If what you are experiencing can be explained by another mental health condition you will need to get in touch with your GP to see what else we can do to support you. In this case the referral will not be sent.  If in doubt, please book in with our Mental Health Specialist Nurse, or a GP, to discuss this further.

If you are under 18 and would like a referral, please scroll down for more information. You will also need to contact us to book in a routine GP appointment as all children are referred under a case by case basis.

If you, or your child are younger than 18 and you want to be diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and, or ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) please consider the following options and complete this information pack before your appointment:

We recommend speaking to the SENCO lead at your school to provide a referral to CAMHS (Children Adolescent Mental Health Service) or another appropriate service. We advise using the school that you, or your child attends, as they will be able to provide more information about symptoms and behaviours that are specific to you, than the GP.

You can also contact Brighton and Hove Wellbeing Service who serves as a referral gateway to CAMHS or ATS (Assessment and Treatment Service). You can complete a form which will include an option to request an ASD or ADHD assessment. 

For further advice and support SENDIASS have an advice line for parents or young people (0-25) that have (or may have) a special educational need or disability. They also offer free workshops and have lots of information on supporting parents, carers and children. 

• Use their online registration form
• Email sendiass@amazesussex.org.uk
• Leave a voice message on 01273 772289

Advisers respond to enquiries Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

You can also contact mASCot who support local families with autistic children. They are a parent led peer to peer support network for families from Brighton and Hove, but also extending further into East and West Sussex. They provide many projects, clubs, groups and resources geared to support you and your autistic child. mASCot offer support for those who are pre and post diagnosis.

However, if the school have advised speaking to a GP about making the referral, or you would prefer to speak to a GP, you can be booked in for a routine appointment. Please make a note of the symptoms and behaviours that you have noticed and bring this to your appointment. You will also need to inform the GP of the location of the service you would like to be referred to.

There is currently at least a 5 year wait to have a diagnostic assessment for ADHD/Autism with the local NHS Neurodevelopmental Service. Unfortunately, the services that we can refer to under the Right to Choose only see people from 18 or above, so we manage each Right To Choose applicant on a case by case basis. This will be discussed in your appointment with a GP.