Edinburgh student’s undiagnosed ADHD left her ‘£30k in debt’

Kaitlyn Smith spent six years on an NHS waiting list before spending thousands on private treatment

2 mins ago

Kaitlyn Smith, an Edinburgh student, waited six years on an NHS waiting list for ADHD assessment before spending £2,000 on a private diagnosis.

She says her condition contributed to a “chaotic” lifestyle, which involved dropping out of university and accumulating £30,000 of debt due to undiagnosed “impulsive” behaviour.

The NHS defines ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) as a condition affecting behaviour, which can cause “inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness”.

NHS waiting lists for ADHD assessment can stretch years, with many feeling forced to shelve out for private care in order to receive a diagnosis.

In Edinburgh, residents are referred for ADHD diagnosis at a rate of “10-a-day” with 3,500 waiting for assessments as of 2023.

Kaitlyn Smith says her diagnosis from a private clinic was “life-changing”, and she experienced significant improvements in her symptoms after starting medication.

She restarted her studies at Edinburgh Napier, and found she was better able to focus on her university work.

She said: “My brain is so much clearer. I can actually focus on something for a few hours

“I’m getting better marks. I only went to two lectures in September prior to getting medication. After meds, I was able to catch up with three months worth in just a week or two. My teachers are taking me more seriously.”

The NHS states that ADHD can be treated with either medication or therapy, but that a combination of both is often best.

Smith said, “I am very impulsive. My life has always been chaotic. I was in overdraft on my credit cards and couldn’t save money. That was my life for a while, I was ruining my life.”

“Looking back knowing what it was now, I understand [it was my ADHD]”