1) Why can’t my doctor or my child’s pediatrician diagnose ADHD? Answer: They can! Many doctors are an excellent place to start for concerns around ADHD or Anxiety. Sometimes physicians or nurse practitioners might want a more detailed assessment or might have questions around possible co-occurring diagnoses, so they refer their patient’s to an outside mental health provider or psychologist.
2) We have concerns that our child might have Autism Spectrum Disorder, would your practice still be able to evaluate our child? Answer: If you have concerns regarding ASD, we recommend seeking out a provider with specialized training and experience with this population. Evaluation for ASD includes tests such as the ADOS-2, that our practice is not suited for. You’ll want to look for a licensed Psychologist to perform the appropriate testing.
3) We are concerned that our child has a learning disability, can you help us with that? Answer: While we can screen for some intellectual disabilities and learning disabilities, your child’s school is the best place to discuss possible learning disabilities. If, during the course of our evaluation, we suspect there might be the presence of a learning disability, we will communicate that to you ASAP and guide you in the right direction, however we are not able to diagnose specific learning disabilities.
4) I am an adult and think I might have ADHD, is it too late to seek a diagnosis? Answer: No! It is never too late to get the proper medical care, whether it is for physical or mental health.
5) I am scared that if we receive an ADHD diagnosis, someone will force me or my child to take medication. Answer: A diagnosis is a set of criteria that explains what is happening for you in your or your child’s life and can guide treatment. Treatment for ADHD includes education, awareness, accommodation and modification of the environment and sometimes medication. ADHD medications have been researched for a long time and are highly effective, but some people opt to not take them or some people cannot tolerate the side effects. No one should force ADHD medication upon you or your child. You deserve to know all your treatment options so you can make an informed choice in your care or your child’s care.