ADHD testing for older teen?

[Anonymous]

My child’s therapist has rec’d this testing. Ftr, my DH thinks he has undiagnosed adhd and has thought for awhile my DD does too. Looking at how it presents in girls, I can’t rule it out.

What does this testing entail? If your older teen or young adult received this diagnosis how was it treated?

[Anonymous]

My kid’s therapist did it and thankfully charged an hourly rate. The process involved asking them questions and a parent filling out an extensive questionnaire.

We cannot afford thousands just for an adhd diagnosis.

I can’t afford to get myself diagnosed so I inch along without help. My kid’s therapist only helps kids.

[Anonymous]

For our teen, we had a pre-meeting with the psychiatrist to help determine the scope of testing needed. Then we did a survey, two teachers did a survey, parents had an interview with the testing professional, then the teen went in for a day long battery of tests (they offer to break it into two days). After we read the report, we and the teen separately had follow up discussions with the doctor.

We discussed the doctor's recommendations with the teen, and agreed to a plan, which we shared with the pediatrician. We shared the diagnosis with school, met with the school counselor about how to help DC manage the diagnosis in school. We follow up with the pediatrician as needed to adjust medication or at least 4x a year, the psychiatrist 1x a year, and meet with school as needed. DC has medication, an EF coach several times a week and progressed to just weekly, some physical changes to assist with handwriting issues (there is a neuromuscular issue going on here as well), and extra time.

FWIW, I found the report and the scope of testing fascinating, and somewhat guilt-inducing. Hindsight and all that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For our teen, we had a pre-meeting with the psychiatrist to help determine the scope of testing needed. Then we did a survey, two teachers did a survey, parents had an interview with the testing professional, then the teen went in for a day long battery of tests (they offer to break it into two days). After we read the report, we and the teen separately had follow up discussions with the doctor.

We discussed the doctor's recommendations with the teen, and agreed to a plan, which we shared with the pediatrician. We shared the diagnosis with school, met with the school counselor about how to help DC manage the diagnosis in school. We follow up with the pediatrician as needed to adjust medication or at least 4x a year, the psychiatrist 1x a year, and meet with school as needed. DC has medication, an EF coach several times a week and progressed to just weekly, some physical changes to assist with handwriting issues (there is a neuromuscular issue going on here as well), and extra time.

FWIW, I found the report and the scope of testing fascinating, and somewhat guilt-inducing. Hindsight and all that.

Thank you. This is interesting and I did not realize it was that comprehensive/long.

My DD has some issues that seem to fit with ADHD but I think has developed some coping mechanisms to compensate. But is at the limits of those mechanisms. I don't think teachers would id her as ADHD, actually. But, my DH is convinced of it. And so is my DD.

[Anonymous]

We went through a psyciatrist and they evaluated older teen with a questionnaire. They did not need a full neuropsych exam.

This came up after ADHD was discovered in a younger kid through a neuropsych exam. We were not expecting ADHD at all. Learning disabilities yes, but not ADHD.

Turns out older sibling, DH and a younger kid all have it. Looking back they all share many of the same habits which are ADHD.