Where to get evaluated for ADHD inattentive?

[Anonymous]

I posted the following in elementary aged kids and someone suggested posting in this forum. It seems pretty clear that I need to have my child evaluated - who would you recommend, any tips on how or what circumstances insurance would pay, and how would you deal with a teacher /School when the teacher says my child wouldn’t qualify for an IEP becaus she’s doing “ok” academically? I am pretty convinced there’s a disparity between his ability and achievement. Unfortunately, we aren’t well off enough to comfortably pay for a full neuropsych evaluation. Thanks in advance for any advice on what steps to take with the school and outside eval.

[Anonymous]

OP here - meant to include this link: http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/679493.page#11816592

[Anonymous]

Children's or kki will most likely be covered by your insurance. You need to do a full neuropsch b/c lots of things look similar.

[Anonymous]

Thanks so much - does either place need a referral and or do you just call their neuropsych department? Anyone have experience at Children's in Fairfax vs DC?

[Anonymous]

I don’t think Childrens does neuropsych exams in Virginia, but they do them at Shady Grove, in addition to the main hospital.

The biggest issue with Childrens or KKI is the wait list for an appointment.

Whether you need a referral depends on your insurance plan. You can probably just call unless you are in an HMO.

Figure out whether your child has ADHD or something at all before worrying about school accommodations. That’s a whole other post.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

First off - the school HAS to evaluate the child if you ask. And they CANNOT predetermine the outcome. That's illegal.

[Anonymous]

Recently did this with our teen. I just got the sheet of practitioners that our pediatrician gives out and checked to find one that was also on our insurance plan. In and out in a week and a half for testing - 3 periods of 2 hours and got the report 2 weeks later. This also included 2 meetings with the psychologist. Cost was $250-300 (we had to pay 1/10 the cost out of pocket).

Not sure why or who people on this board are going to where they are charged $2-3K and wait months to get in and so on. The practice through our insurance seemed perfectly fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Recently did this with our teen. I just got the sheet of practitioners that our pediatrician gives out and checked to find one that was also on our insurance plan. In and out in a week and a half for testing - 3 periods of 2 hours and got the report 2 weeks later. This also included 2 meetings with the psychologist. Cost was $250-300 (we had to pay 1/10 the cost out of pocket).

Not sure why or who people on this board are going to where they are charged $2-3K and wait months to get in and so on. The practice through our insurance seemed perfectly fine.

OP here - Thank you - would you be willing to share the name of this practice? Our pediatrician doesn’t have such a list.

[Anonymous]

http://www.kingsbury.org/services/diagnostic-services.cfm

[Anonymous]

I would get the school to do a full neuropsych. Check wih Wrightslaw.com and look up VA regulations as well. Pretty sure you can push the school to do it if you put the right things in writing. Don't expect them to just say "sure!" with a verbal request. It is A LOT of work for them and everyone is overworked. Not sure what kind of evidence you need to provide to justify an eval, but it can be done and it's free through the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would get the school to do a full neuropsych. Check wih Wrightslaw.com and look up VA regulations as well. Pretty sure you can push the school to do it if you put the right things in writing. Don't expect them to just say "sure!" with a verbal request. It is A LOT of work for them and everyone is overworked. Not sure what kind of evidence you need to provide to justify an eval, but it can be done and it's free through the school.

I have to caution that schools typically do not do 'neuropsych' evaluations. They do psycho-educational evaluations which are more limited, less 'in depth' than the neuropsychological evaluations. School staff are often limited to specific types of tests. These evaluations may be fine for run-of-the-mill issues but if there's anything complex about the student, I'd go with the neuropsych.

PP is correct that you shouldn't expect the school to just say, 'Sure! We'll evaluate!'. As she said, go to WrightsLaw.com and read up on your rights to an evaluation. Document their refusal (if they refuse), tell them you are invoking your right to an evaluation, get one and have them reimburse you. Even when you invoke your right to an evaluation, they'll try to limit you to certain providers or cap the cost. As long as your evaluation costs are 'fair and reasonable', they must reimburse you. To get 'fair and reasonable', contact a few providers and ask what they charge. I did this about 4 years ago. Wish I'd realized earlier how easy it really was.


http://www.cvillemindworks.com/EvaluationDescriptions.en.html

[Anonymous]

Www.testingld.com has offices in McLean and Bethesda /evaluations

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Www.testingld.com has offices in McLean and Bethesda /evaluations

Different poster. Checked out this link to see if I recognized the name.It's one person-no idea if she's good, but what a strange first sentence. "I am writing to introduce myself." Pretty sure my kid with ADHD and writing issues would not start a bio that way. Sorry. we've spent a small fortune on tutoring so it made me cringe. I'm too OCD perhaps. Carry on...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would get the school to do a full neuropsych. Check wih Wrightslaw.com and look up VA regulations as well. Pretty sure you can push the school to do it if you put the right things in writing. Don't expect them to just say "sure!" with a verbal request. It is A LOT of work for them and everyone is overworked. Not sure what kind of evidence you need to provide to justify an eval, but it can be done and it's free through the school.

They don't have to unless there's cause.

[Anonymous]

Check with your insurance. You do not have to go to a famous fancy place with a long wait list