what's the fastest way to get an ADHD dx and more importantly----> medication for a highschooler?

[Anonymous]

We are on a 6 month waitlist for a neuropsych exam at Stixrud and elsewhere.
We are not looking for accommodations. Would just like to trial a med.
I have ADHD. Kid is very much like me. Was doing well---many compensatory behaviors-- but this year is going horribly as class difficulty in high school has ramped up.

I believe in doing a full neuropsych exam for sure but in the short term, the kid is really struggling in school. It is very difficult to have to tread water in our current crisis state and wait until spring.

Is there anyway to get abbreviated testing and trial treatment in the meantime? I have not asked the pediatrician yet but i imagine they will say no.
Can we see a child psychiatrist in the meantime?

Thank you, thank you for any thoughts.

[Anonymous]

Maybe ADHD eval at Mount Washington Pediatric.

[Anonymous]

My child had neuropsych testing at school for ADHD, and the school denied services based on the result. Around the same time, DC was diagnosed with anxiety by a psychologist and began therapy. (Like many kids with ADHD, DC had some behavioral issues which we think is why the school denied services and why we sought assistance from a non-educational psychologist.) We continued asking for interventions, and were repeatedly denied, but conducted no further neuropsych testing. We eventually made an appointment with a psychiatrist who diagnosed DC with severe depression caused by the school's failure to address his ADHD. Psych prescribed medication. I'm not sure whether or how much the psychiatrist relied on the school's neuropsych testing; the testing was a couple of years old at the time of our first psychiatric appointment.

I would make the psychiatric appointment now. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I don't know why your pediatrician would say no. Ours diagnosed and prescribed medication while we waited for an opening with a psych for medication management.

[Anonymous]

You can get into a psychiatrist faster. They can prescribe meds. I don’t know if they require the full neuropsychological exam prior to medicating, but that’s certainly something you can ask. Where do you live? Quince Orchard Psychotherapy in Rockville does testing and treatment for ADHD.

[Anonymous]

Why would your ped say no? It’s pretty common to get a diagnosis and meds from a ped. And it is the fastest route.

[Anonymous]

My pediatrician sent me the rating scales the same day I asked. I sent them to the teacher. We had a diagnosis and started meds within a week.

[Anonymous]

Start with your pediatrician for sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why would your ped say no? It’s pretty common to get a diagnosis and meds from a ped. And it is the fastest route.

There’s so much overlap between different disorders that it can be hard to pinpoint the diagnosis. Our pediatrician wants to leave that to specialists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My pediatrician sent me the rating scales the same day I asked. I sent them to the teacher. We had a diagnosis and started meds within a week.

Yikes. That’s the bare minimum effort to arrive at a diagnosis l

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My pediatrician sent me the rating scales the same day I asked. I sent them to the teacher. We had a diagnosis and started meds within a week.

Yikes. That’s the bare minimum effort to arrive at a diagnosis l

I knew what the diagnosis was, as the parent and as an educator. It's a starting point to get things rolling while waiting to see someone more specialized.

[Anonymous]

Do the Vanderbilt survey with your pediatrician, get a stimulant Rx, see if it helps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would your ped say no? It’s pretty common to get a diagnosis and meds from a ped. And it is the fastest route.

There’s so much overlap between different disorders that it can be hard to pinpoint the diagnosis. Our pediatrician wants to leave that to specialists.

1 week in a stimulant and you’d know if your kid is focusing or feeling better. Best case? Less hyper, more focused= likely adhd. Medium case? Need to try a different dose on week 2 or different med. worst case? Nothing improves, stop the stimulant. Try and anti anxiety med until he neuropsych test and read up in autism.

[Anonymous]

agree with pediatrician.

[Anonymous]

Pediatrician and come armed with lots of details about symptoms from when your kid was younger. Go through the diagnostic criteria and if your kid displays a symptom, write it down and give examples. Just say you are on the waiting list and looking for something to bridge the gap because they’re struggling. I’m sure it goes without saying that you should mention your diagnosis as well and any other family history of ADHD.