ADHD has long been recognized as a disorder impacting children, especially young males. More recently, society has begun acknowledging a growing prevalence of “adult ADHD”.

I acknowledge that this is not an illness that is specific to childhood, though in most cases I feel comfortable in stating that it likely has been present since childhood. This illness can have serious and profound outcomes on lives, especially when left undiagnosed and untreated.

I developed a new interest in ADHD after research led me to the recognition that women present VERY differently than men when it comes to symptoms; something that was not addressed in any of the training I received during my education. As a result, many have been improperly diagnosed with depression and anxiety when the underlying cause of their distress is ADHD. This led me to readdress some of the symptoms with my own patients and I have been able to help many that have struggled for years and are finally receiving proper treatment.

Please note that I am very conservative with all medications, and stimulants are no exception. I consider every option before using them. I’ve also identified research on some natural supplements that have shown success in treatment that can be considered as an option. I do realize stimulants have their place in treatment, but they bring their own set of challenges to both children and adults.

Another problem facing individuals who struggle with ADHD – or believe that it is a possibility – is finding a provider who conducts assessments. They exist, but the wait list can be anywhere from 4 to 8 months or more. This is why I made the decision to offer assessment. Please understand this is a very time consuming and work intensive process, thus the higher cost. The availability of appointments will be based on demand.

ADHD Assessment

The process can be rather lengthy and involves:

1) the completion of certain measures that help provide an objective view of symptoms and helps rule out possible other diagnoses. We can plan to have the measures sent to your home so that they can be completed prior to the office appointment for the interview or may be completed in office.

This will be followed by:

2) the administration of additional measures in office, this can take anywhere from 15-45 minutes

3) an in-depth interview, which may include speaking with spouses, siblings, or other family members.

The results of these activities will then be used to determine the overall outcome.

4) The findings will be compiled into a report that will be added to your chart and a copy will be provided to you as well.

Treatment options will be discussed and collaboratively, we will decide which is the best option to explore.

Know that I always prefer to start with non-stimulant medications, and there is a growing body of medical evidence that some natural substance/ supplements have been shown to have some efficacy for some people – so basically, an ADHD diagnosis does not mean you will automatically be put on Adderall or Ritalin.

ADHD TREATMENT

A few things to know about ADHD treatment

-you do not HAVE to take stimulants, there are other alternatives that have been tried, studied and shown to be successful

-should controlled meds become an option, then you MUST have one in person appointment every year to meet DEA requirements.

-If you lose your meds, it is HIGHLY unlikely that they will be refilled and you will have to wait until the next time they can be filled (every 30 days)- so make sure they are kept somewhere safe

-you also are required by law to have an appointment with your provider every 3 months – even if stable. These can be scheduled as short 15 minute check in appointments and so long as this requirement is met, I will be able to continue prescribing for you.

-only 30 days of medications can be written with no refills, which means you need to reach out to me monthly to let me know when you need refills. Please reach out when you’re down to your last 6-7 pills. Don’t wait until there is only one left – because that will most definitely be the time your pharmacy doesn’t have them in stock and the search will be on to find somewhere that DOES have them available

As with anything, please feel free to reach out and ask questions. There is no such thing as a stupid question. I want you to be educated on everything we do, the choices we make and what these chemicals are doing to your body.