There are two main ways to get an ADHD diagnosis in Malta – either through the Government services for free, or through a private assessment that you pay for.
1. Getting a Private Assessment
A private assessment can be expensive, but it is usually faster than the Government service.
There are three main ways to get a private assessment for an ADHD diagnosis:
- From a psychiatrist
- From an educational psychologist
- From a clinic
Some psychiatrists do carry out ADHD assessments for diagnosis (for adults), but many psychiatrists will instead send their clients to an educational psychologist for the assessment. Check in advance! A psychiatrist is able to prescribe ADHD medication, but a psychologist cannot, so if you want to access ADHD medication you will need to have a diagnosis and also go to a psychiatrist.
An “educational psychologist” is a person who specialises in assessing people (mostly children) for different conditions such as ADHD and autism, and there are various educational psychologists who work independently in Malta doing this type of work. The psychologist will usually have multiple sessions with the person and give several tests to see if the person shows signs of ADHD.
There are also clinics which offer ADHD assessment services, and in that case, different people might carry out different tests as part of the assessment. WARNING: some clinics offer “extra” tests or services that are not actually essential to the assessment, and this can really increase the cost. If budget is important to you, then ask for a breakdown of the costs in advance, and compare costs between different clinics before choosing one.
For an adult who only wants to know if they have ADHD, the process is usually not long or complicated.
However if you also want the person to have access to special arrangements in school, for example extra time in exams, or to apply for an LSE, then you will need a detailed report from an educational psychologist or clinic. This report has to follow a certain format, and is very detailed – there will be an extra cost if you need or want this report. You cannot proceed to apply for certain services without this report.
2. Getting an ADHD Assessment through the Government service
Getting an ADHD Assessment through the government system is free through the National Health Service, however there can be, and often is quite a long waiting list to access this service.
Government Assessment for Children
Children can get an assessment through Child, Adolescent and Youth Services (CAYS). CAYS offers services to children from birth till 18. (Formerly younger children used to get assessed at CDAU – Child Guidance and Assessment Unit, whilst older children used to attend CYPS)
For children to be assessed through the NHS, parents must go to their GP, family doctor or consultant at Mater Dei Hospital. They may also be referred to CAYS from the Lenti Project (which is an early years autism screener). If the child is already in school, a referral may be made through the school.Â
(If you are in Gozo, CAYS is in Victoria, whilst in Malta, CAYS is located on the B’Kara bypass. Apart from assessment, CAYS offers other services which can be found on their website.)
Follow-up if Support is Needed in School
Following the assessment and diagnosis, it will be decided whether the child needs additional support in school or not. If extra support is deemed necessary, the professionals, the school and parents will be asked to fill in a form to apply for statementing board. The board will review documents and recommendations and the parents and child will be called for a short meeting. After this meeting there is a short period of waiting time before the board submits their result. If an LSE is needed the school will then apply to be given an LSE, and the child will start receiving support at school.
Government Assessment for Adults
When an adult is suspecting they have ADHD and wishes to get assessed through the NHS, they need to go to their family doctor and ask them to refer them to the mental health service to be assessed for ADHD.
Initially there will be an appointment at one of the mental health clinics depending on your locality (see more on the community mental health services website). At this appointment a doctor will discuss your current difficulties with you and ask some questions about your history. This Doctor will then apply for an assessment for ADHD. (It may take a while to receive an appointment, however you will be monitored and supported at the mental health clinic in the meantime.)
Once you receive an appointment, you will be asked to go to the psychology department at Mount Carmel Hospital for your test. It is important to take your ID card with you! (Once you get there, you can ask at the gate for the psychology department and they will guide you.)
The assessment questionnaire includes many questions about childhood as well as adult experiences. If you have a trusted person who knew you when you were younger, it will be beneficial for the person to attend the assessment with you (they can help give perspective of your younger years).
Following the assessment, a report will be written. The mental health clinic will receive this report. Doctors at the clinic will follow you up and will prescribe medication if this is required. Â
A summary of the psychological report can be requested from the psychology department but the full report is not currently given to the adult.