Adult ADD assessment – is it worth it??

So I’ve been doing some research in the locale where i live for possible ADD specialists.  I’ve found one that’s been highly recommended.  I am going to try to make an appointment by the end of the week.  

About a year ago I went to a different psychologist whom I met with twice and upon those visits and after the “interview” process that you need to do through to figure out if you have ADD or not he declared it was “highly probable” that I did indeed have ADD.   I went to see a psychiatrist after that and she said that the psychologist wrote up a really thorough evaluation and she seemed pretty convinced based on what she was reading in front of her.  Of course I never got to see it.  I never asked.  I should have.  I am going to call to get those records.  

Anyway – I had quite a few visits back to the psychiatrist and tried about 3 different meds.  Nothing really seemed to spur my focus, but I had a few other variables happening in my life at the time.  

1).I was trying to lose weight on the Weight Watchers program and doing very well – much to my surprise!  I had tried to do Weight Watchers in years past with a little success, but never quite got to my goal.  

2). It was late spring and my energy usually increases, depressive symptoms decrease mostly because the weather is getting nicer & I am happier.

3). I was exersizing more and therefore my anxiety symptoms were quieted at least for the time being.

 

So – when the time came for the follow-up appts for meds –  I was happy, confident, energetic, focused, and didn’t know if my hyper-focus was because of the meds or because I finally got motivated to make healthier choices in life.  The psychiatrist seemed to think that the meds would be doing more for me if they were really working.  

She did say something that has really struck a nerve and it didn’t hit me until a few hours later after I had left her office and we came to the conclusion that it was ‘just anxiety’  (which totally sucks anyway)- not ADD (I think i was so relieved at that point that it didn’t register).  This is what she said in the middle of our conversation: “

“Well, I really think it’s just anxiety because you’ve had accomplishments in your life.  You graduated from college, you’ve held down good jobs, you’re raising a family.”  

 

UGH – it still bothers me to this day because I feel like maybe her opinion about people with ADD is that they are just hopeless cases that can’t focus for anything and never accomplish anything.  

I think I was seeing the wrong psychiatrist. 

I’ve read books about Entrepreneurs and CEO’s and Olympic Athletes that have ADD – They have accomplished amazing feats even though they had ADD/ADHD.  I think our society isn’t quite there yet as far as understanding and appreciating the positive of this disorder.  Some of which include, but are not limited to:

- the amazing ability to multi-task

- creative minds that think outside the box

- the ability to hyper-focus at times

there are many, many more positives to this disorder.

 

Okay – so now it brings me to today – about a year after I was first diagnosed with ADD.   

I am once again convinced that I do have ADD and I am seeking out a specialist as stated in my first few sentences of this post.  The assessment is very expensive – $1800.00, thankfully the Dr. is in my health insurance network, but I still will have to pay a bit out of pocket.  Here’s a run down of all that is included in the assessment as described by this particular clinic :

“Initial Visit with Dr. XYZ lasts about 1-1/2 hours.  He takes a full history which includes health, education, developmental information.  From this information he decides what he would like to ‘rule out’ in terms of possible diagnosis.
 
Testing consists of 3 appointments totaling up to 4 hours each and are comprised of computer, questionnaires, face to face testing of IQ, achievement, memory, auditory processing, behavioral, learning disability and, neuropsych screens.
 
From these and information Dr. XYZ  has received from others (you have signed releases for) he comes to his conclusion.  
 
At the last visit Dr. XYZ  will go over each assessment tool given, what he was looking for and what he found. Based on that data he will come up with conclusions and many recommendations that may enhance quality of life.  Dr. XYZ does not prescribe medicine and is conservative in his suggestion of medicinal interventions.
 
You will receive a report which shows all testing done, scores and treatment recommendations.  This report is thorough and can be 15 – 20 pages long. “

 

Wow, I hope the $1800.00 will be worth it.

Should be a fun ride.  Wish me luck and leave me a comment if you’ve ever had an ADD assessment like this one, i’d love to hear about it.