ADHD testing: school or ped?

[Anonymous]

Hi all, my kid has been displaying more and more adhd signs (he is 12), to the point where his grades suffer not because he isn’t doing the work but because he forgets or loses things or doesn’t hear what the adults are saying. His dad definitely is undiagnosed adhd and I think my dad (his grandparent on the maternal side) is as well.
I am thinking about actually testing him. My main interest is being able to provide him with as many accommodations at school as possible, so its better if he is over diagnosed than if my concerns are brushed off.
In terms of this, as well as spending less, should I go through school or through his ped?
And how do I make sure that my concerns aren’t brushed off?
Thank you!

[Anonymous]

NEITHER.

ADHD is a complex psychiatric disorder. It needs either a psychiatrist, or a psychologist with a PhD, to make the most accurate diagnosis. Pediatricians and school "psychologists" (usually without PhDs and lacking practical training with the right assessment tools) are emphatically NOT appropriate evaluators.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi all, my kid has been displaying more and more adhd signs (he is 12), to the point where his grades suffer not because he isn’t doing the work but because he forgets or loses things or doesn’t hear what the adults are saying. His dad definitely is undiagnosed adhd and I think my dad (his grandparent on the maternal side) is as well.
I am thinking about actually testing him. My main interest is being able to provide him with as many accommodations at school as possible, so its better if he is over diagnosed than if my concerns are brushed off.
In terms of this, as well as spending less, should I go through school or through his ped?
And how do I make sure that my concerns aren’t brushed off?
Thank you!

I would get on a waiting list for a psychiatrist and go see your pediatrician in the meantime. My pediatrician is actually fantastic with ADHD; he has ADHD himself, is up to date on all the newest research, etc. Some are going to be better than others.

If the kid's grades are suffering, you have a diagnosis in hands, and you have an idea of what to ask for as far as accommodations go, you have a much better chance of the school not brushing off your concerns. As for your pediatrician and psychiatrist, go through the DSM and look at all the symptoms of ADHD. Write down each symptom that applies and underneath each one, list specific examples of the symptoms. Make sure you're including early childhood behavior as well. I did this and it wasn't actually necessary but better over-prepared than under-prepared.

You'll be in much better shape, as both a parent and advocate, if you have a good idea of what ADHD is, and there are a lot of great resources out there for that. Youtube is actually a good resource: Dr. Russell Barkley and "how to ADHD" are good channels to start with.

[Anonymous]

If your pediatrician is willing to diagnose and treat, I'd start there. Some pediatricians are trained in ADHD and are good with diagnosis and treatment, and they already have a relationship with your DC, and can start right away.

If your pediatrician is unable or unwilling, then ask for are a referral to a psychologist - not necessarily a full neuropsychological evaluation but just a psychologist who will see your family and may be willing to evaluate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NEITHER.

ADHD is a complex psychiatric disorder. It needs either a psychiatrist, or a psychologist with a PhD, to make the most accurate diagnosis. Pediatricians and school "psychologists" (usually without PhDs and lacking practical training with the right assessment tools) are emphatically NOT appropriate evaluators.

Thank you! I completely agree with you on school psychologists - had a bad experience.
But I thought at least they could diagnose on a yes or no scale?
Do I need to get a referral to a psychiatrist or do I just call their office and try to get in? Sorry I am so clueless

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi all, my kid has been displaying more and more adhd signs (he is 12), to the point where his grades suffer not because he isn’t doing the work but because he forgets or loses things or doesn’t hear what the adults are saying. His dad definitely is undiagnosed adhd and I think my dad (his grandparent on the maternal side) is as well.
I am thinking about actually testing him. My main interest is being able to provide him with as many accommodations at school as possible, so its better if he is over diagnosed than if my concerns are brushed off.
In terms of this, as well as spending less, should I go through school or through his ped?
And how do I make sure that my concerns aren’t brushed off?
Thank you!

I would get on a waiting list for a psychiatrist and go see your pediatrician in the meantime. My pediatrician is actually fantastic with ADHD; he has ADHD himself, is up to date on all the newest research, etc. Some are going to be better than others.

If the kid's grades are suffering, you have a diagnosis in hands, and you have an idea of what to ask for as far as accommodations go, you have a much better chance of the school not brushing off your concerns. As for your pediatrician and psychiatrist, go through the DSM and look at all the symptoms of ADHD. Write down each symptom that applies and underneath each one, list specific examples of the symptoms. Make sure you're including early childhood behavior as well. I did this and it wasn't actually necessary but better over-prepared than under-prepared.

You'll be in much better shape, as both a parent and advocate, if you have a good idea of what ADHD is, and there are a lot of great resources out there for that. Youtube is actually a good resource: Dr. Russell Barkley and "how to ADHD" are good channels to start with.

Thank you so much, this is extremely helpful!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your pediatrician is willing to diagnose and treat, I'd start there. Some pediatricians are trained in ADHD and are good with diagnosis and treatment, and they already have a relationship with your DC, and can start right away.

If your pediatrician is unable or unwilling, then ask for are a referral to a psychologist - not necessarily a full neuropsychological evaluation but just a psychologist who will see your family and may be willing to evaluate.

Thank you!
That’s what I will probably do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NEITHER.

ADHD is a complex psychiatric disorder. It needs either a psychiatrist, or a psychologist with a PhD, to make the most accurate diagnosis. Pediatricians and school "psychologists" (usually without PhDs and lacking practical training with the right assessment tools) are emphatically NOT appropriate evaluators.

Thank you! I completely agree with you on school psychologists - had a bad experience.
But I thought at least they could diagnose on a yes or no scale?
Do I need to get a referral to a psychiatrist or do I just call their office and try to get in? Sorry I am so clueless

Going to depend on your insurance. Do you usually need referrals?
Also, be forwarned that many psychiatrists do not take insurance (although they will give you receipts to be reimbursed, if your insurance allows)

[Anonymous]

Use your health insurance company’s website to find psychiatrists who are in-network, see children, and treat ADHD. A developmental pediatrician can also diagnose. Our regular pediatrician wanted an expert to make the call.

[Anonymous]

OP here:
Is it even worth it to try and get diagnosed via school, for free? In terms of habit an official diagnosis, portable one too, and a full range of accommodations?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NEITHER.

ADHD is a complex psychiatric disorder. It needs either a psychiatrist, or a psychologist with a PhD, to make the most accurate diagnosis. Pediatricians and school "psychologists" (usually without PhDs and lacking practical training with the right assessment tools) are emphatically NOT appropriate evaluators.

Thank you! I completely agree with you on school psychologists - had a bad experience.
But I thought at least they could diagnose on a yes or no scale?
Do I need to get a referral to a psychiatrist or do I just call their office and try to get in? Sorry I am so clueless

Going to depend on your insurance. Do you usually need referrals?
Also, be forwarned that many psychiatrists do not take insurance (although they will give you receipts to be reimbursed, if your insurance allows)

Thank you, we have PPO but referrals speed things up sometimes
What pay range am I looking at for just diagnosing? Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Use your health insurance company’s website to find psychiatrists who are in-network, see children, and treat ADHD. A developmental pediatrician can also diagnose. Our regular pediatrician wanted an expert to make the call.

Thank you, will do!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here:
Is it even worth it to try and get diagnosed via school, for free? In terms of habit an official diagnosis, portable one too, and a full range of accommodations?

You can give it a try, but generally, you want to be armed with as much evidence as possible when you try to get accommodations. The older your child is, the harder it is to get much beyond preferential seating, extra time on tests, small testing groups — in other words, things that take no money and little time or effort to implement. Schools want to provide fewer supports to middle schoolers than elementary students, and fewer to high school students than middle schoolers.

There will be accommodations that you don’t know to ask for, and they won’t mention. For example, our middle school offered a resource class that students could take instead of the arts rotation. Students in the resource class get some hand holding: help with organization, reminders of the due dates for every assignment, reminders about what hasn’t been turned in, communication between the resource teacher and classroom teachers. This was never mentioned to us, as parents of a student with both HFA and ADHD. She had to hit rock bottom before we were told about it. They can’t put every kid with ADHD in resource classes because they don’t have the staffing.

The school psychologist wants to help your child, but he or she is employed by the school district, so your child can’t be his or her first priority.