Dr. Dahlgren and WISC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, cancer testing would be covered by insurance. This kind of testing is all out of pocket.

So, you won't be out of pocket to determine if your child has ADHD?
And if you did pay out of pocket and it was determined that your child has ADHD, then does that "justify" the cost?

Child was doing well academically and socially. We, as parents, looked at the list of ADHD characteristics and did not think DD came close to meeting the criteria. DC's teachers did not believe that ADHD was a concern with DC. Dr. Dahlgren was the first and only person to raise the issue of ADHD during DC's AAP WISC, and was very dire about the consequences of ignoring it. She didn't refer DC out for testing-- she said she could do the testing herself. She charged us several thousand dollars to test a child with good grades, plenty of friends and no behavioral issues. Sure enough, no ADHD. Of course in retrospect, we should have just declined testing. But she made us feel like we were doing the equivalent of ignoring cancer if we did. No ADHD. Several years later, DC still has good grades and no behavioral issues. Then I heard that this had happened to other parents. I think she raises the issue so that she has something to keep her practice afloat outside of the AAP testing window.

You are right, if you are now second guessing your decision, then you should have declined the testing. Maybe declining would have given you better peace of mind.

Our insurance covers testing for ADHD, but since it's not psycho-educational testing, our provider said that they miss the diagnosis all the time, finding someone doesn't have ADHD when they actually do, especially for girls.

The point is that she seems to suggest ADHD in a high number of kids. Multiple posters have said that. You can keep arguing with the pp, but there are multiple posters making that point.

I am so grateful to the honest postings here since I did read the mix and did NOT even consider Sr D. I also didn;t think paying the same for a GMU student than a Psycologist was the same. We went with not a GMY student but a PHD (not Dr D) and were happy. I also don't get that part of Dr D taking A log time on reports. We got ours 15 MINUTES after we met with our PHD anad had already spent 20 minuytes reviewing the results.

I think the point is that Dr. Dahlgren doesn't just give you a score report. She gives a 4-5 page report that breaks down the WISC and explains each section, and gives behavioral observations (she said DD was casually but appropriately dressed but had unkempt hair, LOL-- at the time she wanted long hair and keeping it brushed was an issue, so it always looked stringy). I doubt much in the report matters to the committee except the actual scores (did they care that DD hated to have her hair bushed-- I doubt it. She was still admitted). But getting the actual report out of her was a challenge. We knew based on the CogAT/ NNAT that we would probably need to appeal, and actually scheduled the WISC before the denial. Still, despite multiple follow ups, we did not get the final 4-5 page score report back until the day AAP appeals were due. I had to drive to her office, where there must have been 40 score reports lines up, grab DD's then run it over to the school. So she must have pulled on hell of an all nighter.

Had she told you a date you'd be able to pick it up by and failed to deliver it by then or was it always scheduled to be ready close to the deadline? Getting the full report from her in a timely manner was no issue for me. It was ready and received right when she'd predicted it would be.

It's been a couple years, but I don't think she gave s hard deadline. More like-- the report should be ready in about two weeks. Checking in 2 weeks later and nope, not even a draft done. In the end it came out the day before AAP speaks were due-- 3 weeks after when she "thought" it would be ready.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, cancer testing would be covered by insurance. This kind of testing is all out of pocket.

So, you won't be out of pocket to determine if your child has ADHD?
And if you did pay out of pocket and it was determined that your child has ADHD, then does that "justify" the cost?

Child was doing well academically and socially. We, as parents, looked at the list of ADHD characteristics and did not think DD came close to meeting the criteria. DC's teachers did not believe that ADHD was a concern with DC. Dr. Dahlgren was the first and only person to raise the issue of ADHD during DC's AAP WISC, and was very dire about the consequences of ignoring it. She didn't refer DC out for testing-- she said she could do the testing herself. She charged us several thousand dollars to test a child with good grades, plenty of friends and no behavioral issues. Sure enough, no ADHD. Of course in retrospect, we should have just declined testing. But she made us feel like we were doing the equivalent of ignoring cancer if we did. No ADHD. Several years later, DC still has good grades and no behavioral issues. Then I heard that this had happened to other parents. I think she raises the issue so that she has something to keep her practice afloat outside of the AAP testing window.

You are right, if you are now second guessing your decision, then you should have declined the testing. Maybe declining would have given you better peace of mind.

Our insurance covers testing for ADHD, but since it's not psycho-educational testing, our provider said that they miss the diagnosis all the time, finding someone doesn't have ADHD when they actually do, especially for girls.

The point is that she seems to suggest ADHD in a high number of kids. Multiple posters have said that. You can keep arguing with the pp, but there are multiple posters making that point.

I am so grateful to the honest postings here since I did read the mix and did NOT even consider Sr D. I also didn;t think paying the same for a GMU student than a Psycologist was the same. We went with not a GMY student but a PHD (not Dr D) and were happy. I also don't get that part of Dr D taking A log time on reports. We got ours 15 MINUTES after we met with our PHD anad had already spent 20 minuytes reviewing the results.

I think the point is that Dr. Dahlgren doesn't just give you a score report. She gives a 4-5 page report that breaks down the WISC and explains each section, and gives behavioral observations (she said DD was casually but appropriately dressed but had unkempt hair, LOL-- at the time she wanted long hair and keeping it brushed was an issue, so it always looked stringy). I doubt much in the report matters to the committee except the actual scores (did they care that DD hated to have her hair bushed-- I doubt it. She was still admitted). But getting the actual report out of her was a challenge. We knew based on the CogAT/ NNAT that we would probably need to appeal, and actually scheduled the WISC before the denial. Still, despite multiple follow ups, we did not get the final 4-5 page score report back until the day AAP appeals were due. I had to drive to her office, where there must have been 40 score reports lines up, grab DD's then run it over to the school. So she must have pulled on hell of an all nighter.

Had she told you a date you'd be able to pick it up by and failed to deliver it by then or was it always scheduled to be ready close to the deadline? Getting the full report from her in a timely manner was no issue for me. It was ready and received right when she'd predicted it would be.

It's been a couple years, but I don't think she gave s hard deadline. More like-- the report should be ready in about two weeks. Checking in 2 weeks later and nope, not even a draft done. In the end it came out the day before AAP speaks were due-- 3 weeks after when she "thought" it would be ready.

This was not my experience with her last year. We received the report by mail before she said we should expect it by.

[Anonymous]

I'm one of the posters who did not like Dr. Dahlgren's abrasive personality and how rushed she was or that she scared me into thinking my child had ADHD but I will say her report was not late. It came quickly in the mail. No complains about the report.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm one of the posters who did not like Dr. Dahlgren's abrasive personality and how rushed she was or that she scared me into thinking my child had ADHD but I will say her report was not late. It came quickly in the mail. No complains about the report.

I also wonder if the rushed feeling was from the brief meeting she has with parents immediately following the testing, which is not the longer one provided at an extra charge. I did not pay for the extra (longer) meeting, and felt that I got enough from the shorter (immediately after the testing) meeting since my main goal was to get the score.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm one of the posters who did not like Dr. Dahlgren's abrasive personality and how rushed she was or that she scared me into thinking my child had ADHD but I will say her report was not late. It came quickly in the mail. No complains about the report.

I also wonder if the rushed feeling was from the brief meeting she has with parents immediately following the testing, which is not the longer one provided at an extra charge. I did not pay for the extra (longer) meeting, and felt that I got enough from the shorter (immediately after the testing) meeting since my main goal was to get the score.

If she is going to tell a parent info beyond the scores (concern for ADHD or LD or, as happened to us Aspergers), then she needs to just schedule the longer meeting, and not try to cram that info into the score report session in a five minute block. She needs to give parents time to process and ask questions. In our case, she told us that she suspected HFA &
ADHD during the 5 minute feedback session after the WISC and to follow up. But had someone booked immediately behind us. So no real time for her to explain her reasoning or let us ask questions. I left her office sobbing. The ADHD diagnosis was valid in our case, but I had certainly never considered HFA. DS is quiet, very bright, a strong introvert, and yes, quirky. But he makes eye contact, participates in give and take conversations, and makes jokes. Sometimes he seems to tune people out, but that's the ADHD. The psychologist and psyciatrist we work will say she missed the ADHD diagnosis, and that they are confident there is no HFA. Adderall has made a night and day difference. And I don't "Doctor shop" to get a Dx I could live with. If he had HFA, we would have gotten the help he needed and moved forward. But you can't tell a parent you suspect a significant learning disorder or developmental disorder, and immediately hurry them out the door. You need to schedule 1/2 hour to an hour to have that discussion, explain your concerns, and answer questions.

The same thing happened to a friend of mine, whose DD tested into AAP. However, Dr. Dahlgren told my friends as she was walking out the door from WISC testing that she sudpected PDD-NOS & ADHD. These may have been part of this child's problem (i.e.- I'm not sure that either Dx was wrong in her case)-- but telling mom with 2 minutes left in the feedback session was cruel. She was devestated, and had tons of questions. I have no idea why Dr.D Didn't just schedule a feedback session to raise and explain these concerns (my friend would have paid. I would have too with the potential/ wrong HFA diagnosis).

[Anonymous]

^^ sorry. Dr. D caught DS's ADHD , she'd isn't miss it. She was off in diagnosing HFA though.

[Anonymous]

We worked with Dr. Dahlgren for our middle schooler (diagnosed with ADHD at age 6) to have testing done in order to receive College Board accommodations. We had an extremely tight window to get the testing done so we could have accommodations in place for fall College Board testing.

Dr. Dahgren was very flexible with her schedule, in order to schedule the testing appropriately (no morning meds for part of the testing, then morning meds a separate day to show the difference medication provided). She had an already planned vacation after the testing was done, and she was able to get her (quite detailed) report to us on the last day of her vacation. (Again, we needed to get the report to the College Board in a tight timeframe.)

We received the report sooner than expected and Dr. Dahlgren knew the specific testing to best address the College Board accommodations' request. We did receive College Board accommodations thanks in large part to Dr. Dahlgren's testing, evaluation and report.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm one of the posters who did not like Dr. Dahlgren's abrasive personality and how rushed she was or that she scared me into thinking my child had ADHD but I will say her report was not late. It came quickly in the mail. No complains about the report.

I also wonder if the rushed feeling was from the brief meeting she has with parents immediately following the testing, which is not the longer one provided at an extra charge. I did not pay for the extra (longer) meeting, and felt that I got enough from the shorter (immediately after the testing) meeting since my main goal was to get the score.

No she rushed me out saying she had to eat before her next appointment and asked me to close the door on my way out. She left as I collected my child and our things and she told me to put the check for her services in a box.

[Anonymous]

Some people need a whole whack a load of handholding, it seems. And just imagine the outcry if your little darling DID have ADHD and the Dr would have missed that. So she informs you of possible hazards, so what? How insecure are you as a parent?
We went to Dr Dahlgren as well. She was able to squeeze us in at the last moment. She told me over the phone exactly what I was going to get on that appointment and yes, that's exactly what we got. WISC ran very true and yes, she did mention the possibility of ADD, which, when I look at DC's performance, is a true possibility. (Let's not forget, a lot us who go to her need to bolster their school test scores, which means the kid did not perform as expected, which means there's a reason for that.) However, I'm taking no action and do no further testing before I see a real need for that, and right now the need is not there. That aside, I got a lot of useful info out of the testing. Oh yes, and DC liked her and the entire experience.

[Anonymous]

It seems those who like her, have similar personalities with her. ^^^^

[Anonymous]

"A whole whack of handholding". Ummm No. Upset by the possibly my DC could have Autism Spectrum Disorder? Yes. Especially spince no one had suggested that was an issue before. If wanting to have the doctor who suggested that diagnosis slow down, explain their thinking, make further recommendations, etc. makes me unreasonable, so be it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"A whole whack of handholding". Ummm No. Upset by the possibly my DC could have Autism Spectrum Disorder? Yes. Especially spince no one had suggested that was an issue before. If wanting to have the doctor who suggested that diagnosis slow down, explain their thinking, make further recommendations, etc. makes me unreasonable, so be it.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm one of the posters who did not like Dr. Dahlgren's abrasive personality and how rushed she was or that she scared me into thinking my child had ADHD but I will say her report was not late. It came quickly in the mail. No complains about the report.

I also wonder if the rushed feeling was from the brief meeting she has with parents immediately following the testing, which is not the longer one provided at an extra charge. I did not pay for the extra (longer) meeting, and felt that I got enough from the shorter (immediately after the testing) meeting since my main goal was to get the score.

If she is going to tell a parent info beyond the scores (concern for ADHD or LD or, as happened to us Aspergers), then she needs to just schedule the longer meeting, and not try to cram that info into the score report session in a five minute block. She needs to give parents time to process and ask questions. In our case, she told us that she suspected HFA &
ADHD during the 5 minute feedback session after the WISC and to follow up. But had someone booked immediately behind us. So no real time for her to explain her reasoning or let us ask questions. I left her office sobbing. The ADHD diagnosis was valid in our case, but I had certainly never considered HFA. DS is quiet, very bright, a strong introvert, and yes, quirky. But he makes eye contact, participates in give and take conversations, and makes jokes. Sometimes he seems to tune people out, but that's the ADHD. The psychologist and psyciatrist we work will say she missed the ADHD diagnosis, and that they are confident there is no HFA. Adderall has made a night and day difference. And I don't "Doctor shop" to get a Dx I could live with. If he had HFA, we would have gotten the help he needed and moved forward. But you can't tell a parent you suspect a significant learning disorder or developmental disorder, and immediately hurry them out the door. You need to schedule 1/2 hour to an hour to have that discussion, explain your concerns, and answer questions.

The same thing happened to a friend of mine, whose DD tested into AAP. However, Dr. Dahlgren told my friends as she was walking out the door from WISC testing that she sudpected PDD-NOS & ADHD. These may have been part of this child's problem (i.e.- I'm not sure that either Dx was wrong in her case)-- but telling mom with 2 minutes left in the feedback session was cruel. She was devestated, and had tons of questions. I have no idea why Dr.D Didn't just schedule a feedback session to raise and explain these concerns (my friend would have paid. I would have too with the potential/ wrong HFA diagnosis).

But you were meeting with her for 5 minutes following the WISC for the initial score, no? If so, she didn't miss the ADHD diagnosis...as she didn't evaluate him for that. (Had she done so, you wouldn't have had the 5 minute meeting with her, but rather a lengthier one.) Sounds like you're unfairly blaming her for something she didn't do. She was telling you of possible issues, and you were thinking she was diagnosing...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm one of the posters who did not like Dr. Dahlgren's abrasive personality and how rushed she was or that she scared me into thinking my child had ADHD but I will say her report was not late. It came quickly in the mail. No complains about the report.

I also wonder if the rushed feeling was from the brief meeting she has with parents immediately following the testing, which is not the longer one provided at an extra charge. I did not pay for the extra (longer) meeting, and felt that I got enough from the shorter (immediately after the testing) meeting since my main goal was to get the score.

No she rushed me out saying she had to eat before her next appointment and asked me to close the door on my way out. She left as I collected my child and our things and she told me to put the check for her services in a box.

But you got your initial score in that time, right? I'm a professional and I'm paid for my time. SHe is not paid extra if she spends 5 minutes after the testing or 25 minutes after the testing. She financially benefits if parents return for further explanations. Isn't that how business works? She is upfront before the testing that there is a BRIEF meeting after the testing for the score. The fact that you seem to be surprised by it, is what is surprising.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm one of the posters who did not like Dr. Dahlgren's abrasive personality and how rushed she was or that she scared me into thinking my child had ADHD but I will say her report was not late. It came quickly in the mail. No complains about the report.

I also wonder if the rushed feeling was from the brief meeting she has with parents immediately following the testing, which is not the longer one provided at an extra charge. I did not pay for the extra (longer) meeting, and felt that I got enough from the shorter (immediately after the testing) meeting since my main goal was to get the score.

No she rushed me out saying she had to eat before her next appointment and asked me to close the door on my way out. She left as I collected my child and our things and she told me to put the check for her services in a box.

But you got your initial score in that time, right? I'm a professional and I'm paid for my time. SHe is not paid extra if she spends 5 minutes after the testing or 25 minutes after the testing. She financially benefits if parents return for further explanations. Isn't that how business works? She is upfront before the testing that there is a BRIEF meeting after the testing for the score. The fact that you seem to be surprised by it, is what is surprising.

A true professional wouldn't schedule sessions so close that one is made to feel that they need to hurry up and get the F out. I went to someone else for my DS's WISC this year. The experience was vastly different and still professional. The Dr. still made her money without spending significant extra time after the testing and I didn't feel shoved out in the least. The Dr. was also very calming to my DS, unlike Dr. Dahlgren was with my DD. I would avoid Dr. Dalhgren if possible. I think she is very proficient in testing. That is not where my issues are. But her bedside manner leaves much to be desired.