3 Things to do before you book an Online Adult ADHD Assessment with me - Part 3
Posted on 29th August 2024 at 12:24
Implications of an ADHD Diagnosis in the UK
An ADHD diagnosis may exclude you from certain careers and opportunities and it may have other implications, for example for driving in the UK. Although these issues will only be relevant for a minority of people, it is obviously important to understand them before you have a Virtual Adult ADHD assessment and potentially, an ADHD diagnosis.
The Armed Services
Everyone joining the army, navy or RAF in the UK will need to pass a medical examination. An ADHD diagnosis in itself, will not prevent you from joining the armed services as long as you:
Do not also have a common mental disorder (such as depression or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)
Do not also have substance misuse problems
Have not had behavioural difficulties for at least a year
You may be asked for evidence that you have been functioning well r and without behavioural difficulties for the last year. This might include evidence that you have been attending regularly and performing well in your job or at school or college.
In March 2023, ADHD UK, made a Freedom of Information Request to the British Military to ask how many people currently serving have a formal diagnosis of ADHD. The answers were:
1240 in the British Army
265 in the Royal Navy
114 in the RAF
Pilot’s Licence
The Civil Aviation Authority in the UK states that individuals with ADHD will not usually be able to complete pilot training:
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
This condition is diagnosed (according to DSM-5) when an individual demonstrates inattention, hyperactivity or impulsiveness sufficient to cause significant impairment… anyone applying for pilot licensing who has been diagnosed with this condition must undergo neuropsychological assessment to assess the likelihood of them being able to perform safely as a pilot. An individual with ongoing ADHD will not (by definition) be able to complete pilot training. Medication used for this disorder is normally disqualifying.
ADHD and Driving in the UK
DVLA (the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) states that:
You must tell DVLA if your attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or your ADHD medication affects your ability to drive safely…
You do not need to tell DVLA about your condition unless you think that it may affect your ability to drive safely.
Ask your doctor if you’re not sure if your condition will affect your driving.
These are just some of the areas where an ADHD diagnosis may have implications for you. It is your responsibility to check out any questions you have with the relevant organisations before you book an Online Adult ADHD Assessment. However, of course many people with ADHD excel in their work and in other activities they engage in, such as sporting, cultural or creative activities, sometimes precisely because of the gifts and skills which are linked with their ADHD. So, it is important to be aware of this information, but also to keep it in proportion!
ADHD Adult Assessment
If an adult, who thinks they may have ADHD, wants to ask for “reasonable adjustments” to be made by their employer, college or university, then they will need to have gone through an ADHD Assessment and received a formal diagnosis.
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