How many times do you need to be told that what you described is neither necessary nor sufficient to diagnose ADHD? |
You're not listening. Number 1 I am not talking about ADHD. I am a DP. Number 2, you seem to think only people with straightforward cases should be diagnosed, and that is wrong and harmful. |
No. I am saying that a diagnosis (straightforward or not) does not require the generic, expensive battery of cognitive tests commonly called a “full neuropsych.” |
I’m not the PP but what would you suggest instead? |
I would ask the person offering the “full neuropsych” to list each test they are going to do and explain the function and how the outcome will affect your child’s treatment plan/therapy. But preferably, I would start with therapy for the obvious challenges then explore what kind of diagnostic assessment needs to be made. Then I would research the best practices for the various possible diagnoses. It’s never going to be one size fits all. |
This makes sense. But in our case, the kid with the ADHD/DMDD diagnosis, all of this was done. Getting testing is a step in the process. It’s not the full process. At least not for us and we didn’t use the generalist pediatrician either. I didn’t comment on the full process, which actually lasted a couple of years. Not all providers are created equal and it takes time to figure out best practices. Your knee jerk responses don’t necessarily reflect people’s reality. |
Sigh. I’m not saying never to get testing. I’m talking about the battery of tests that is overkill in many many situations. |
You don’t know what people are doing with respect to testing. You used the term “full” neuropysch. No one is saying that they’re getting every test know to man. They’re using a typical term to describe a set of tests. You’re doubling down on the specific makeup of the tests in a some obsessive way. It’s remarkable, actually. If your overall point is this industry tends to over-test and not every professional is competent, point taken. Agreed. |
I am the PP and I and everyone else I know in our situation got therapy for the obvious challenges first. I don't understand why you are promoting this narrative where people are just wandering into neuropsych practices for no reason. |
It looks like you could benefit be having a full neuropysch yourself. Judging by your posts on this thread, you have several issues that really should be addressed. |
I mean, I’m not the one who posted this thread. Clearly a lot of other people agree. I’m sure in some cases it is indicated but the knee-jerk “pay $8000 for a full neuropsych” advice is misleading. And also the reason why places like Children have had to outright say that they won’t schedule neuropsychs except for the kids that really need them (eg epilepsy or brain tumor). |
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Do what you can afford. Or get the school to pay for it, if it’s desperately needed. The full neurology test is worth it, but not if it puts you in debt and makes it hard to pay for rent.
My kids main disability isn’t ADHD, but I so wish I had known what she had earlier. It haunts me. |
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I do not regret it but for our ADHD DC it was not an earth shattering revelatory document. It did help us find some more subtle issues (like a need for speech therapy) that we wouldn't have been able to ferret out. It's a gateway to treatment.
We are being asked by DC's school to update the testing. I'm neutral about it, but understand the need as it has been 8 years. |
Institutions like Children's and KKI have had to limit their criteria for evaluations because of the immense need creating unmanageably long wait-lists. You make it sound like they looked at their multiple years long wait-lists and thought, "these people don't really need evaluations" instead of "we do not have the capacity to serve all these people so we need to prioritize". You also seem to think it's fine to delay accurate diagnosis. It can be tough to untangle multiple concerns like social issues, learning issues and mental health issues. The time it takes to do that costs money. |
I absolutely think Children’s and KKI looked through their waitlist and realized that a good percentage don’t need the full neuropsych testing. AGAIN - the point I am making is not about diagnosis but the belief that an expensive, resource intensive “full neuropsych” is the only way to get a diagnosis. Most of us have limited financial resources and it is better to spend them on therapy and focused assessment. |