ADHD – Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Children with ADHD

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects a person’s behaviour. It is seen in both children and adults.

Currently the symptoms used to diagnose ADHD fall into 3 areas:

• inattention
• hyperactivity or impulsivity
• a combination of the above

Children with ADHD often struggle with emotional regulation.

ADHD symptoms can occur occasionally and mildly in most people. For a diagnosis of ADHD, there must be evidence that the key symptoms above are ‘getting in the way’ in more than one situation. This is called ‘impairment’. For example, if a symptom is getting in the way of home life and school life, or home life and another setting.

It is important to recognise that people with ADHD can have many strengths such as creativity, energy, and an ability to express themselves quickly and freely.

Please see our What is ADHD? resource for more information on ADHD.

Referrals

Parents: How do I request a referral for an ADHD assessment?

If you feel your child may have ADHD and you would like a referral, please speak to your GP.

We now have a single point of access for all autism and ADHD referrals, to help us ensure you see the right team. Take a look at this flyer for more information Autism and ADHD single point of access.

As part of the referral process, we will contact you to complete a questionnaire about your child, as well as asking your child’s school for information. We can provide support with this if you need it.

Professionals: How do I request a referral for an ADHD assessment?

We can only accept autism and ADHD referrals from GPs who sit under Sheffield ICB and which are sent using Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust forms.

Referring professionals will need to complete the referral front sheet and submit it with a clinic letter outlining the main reasons for referral (see forms and guidance below). GPs should send this via ERS and other external and internal professionals should send referrals direct to Ryegate Appointments (scn-tr.ryegate.appointments@nhs.net). Once received and processed, the single point of access (SPA) will organise the collation of the relevant questionnaires with parents and schools.

Who can refer?

Our current accepted referrers are:

• GPs
• Educational psychologists
• Community paediatricians, neurodisability paediatricians and other Sheffield Children’s clinicians including, speech and language therapists, clinical psychologists and CAMHS clinicians
• Early years teachers

What ADHD support is available?

Did you know that support is available for families of children on the waiting list or those with a diagnosis of ADHD?

We are working closely with the Sheffield Parent Carer Forum Peer Support Service who can offer information, support, and signposting. If you would like to access this service please call 0300 321 4721 or email peersupport@sheffieldparentcarerforum.org.uk. Find out more at sheffieldparentcarerforum.org.uk.

To discuss support for your child within school, you should contact your child’s SENCo (Special Educational Needs Coordinator).

You can find the range of support available at the following weblinks: 

• Sheffield Parent Carer Forum.org.uk
• Sheffield City Council Local Offer – sheffielddirectory.org.uk
• Sheffield Mental Health Guide – sheffieldmentalhealth.co.uk
• ADHD Family Action – family-action.org.uk
• NHS website (ADHD) – www.nhs.uk
• Dr Russell Barkley YouTube videos YouTube.com
• ADHDfoundation.org.uk
• ADHDUK.co.uk