Pediatric psychiatrist for 6 YO

[Anonymous]

I suspect my 1st grader has ADHD and would like to start exploring medication. She was identified as autistic when she was 3 YO, but wasn't evaluated at the time for ADHD because of her age. Two questions:

(1) Do you have a recommendation for a pediatric psychiatrist in DC or MD?
(2) Given the full clinical psychologist evaluation she underwent for ASD-1, do we need a full ADHD eval from a clinical or developmental neuropsychologist to start working with a psychologist/discussing meds, or is a parent/teacher self report sufficient?

I would prefer to not spend thousands of dollars again to get an ADHD diagnosis, which seems fairly obvious given her behavior and that she has ASD-1.

[Anonymous]

Try going through the pediatrician first. Some of them will manage easy ADHD med situations. The pediatrician will probably give you some forms to start the process.

I have trouble locating even an adult psychiatrist, not DO or NP. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

When we were researching psychiatrists after getting an anxiety diagnosis, some of the psychiatrists wanted to do an evaluation themselves. It would only be slightly cheaper if we had a neuropsych within the past year.

So in answer to your question, I don't think you need a neuropsych to get a diagnosis/meds for ADHD, but you may have to pay a couple thousand for the psychiatrist to do their evaluation, especially if they don't take insurance.

Some recommendations we got for our kid with anxiety (so not all of these will necessarily specialize in ADHD)
Dr. Jennifer Costello - psychiatrist, we work with her virtually and love her, she takes insurance
Dr Morse or Dr. Marcou at the Chesapeake Center -- Dr. Morse is a psychiatrist and Dr. Marcou is a developmental pediatrician, they don't take insurance, I believe they specialize in ADHD
Dr. Michelle Seelman - doesn't take insurance

[Anonymous]

I second the recommendation for Chesapeake Center.