Hi, just found these forums. I suspect I might have ADHD and have been thinking about going to a doctor to get a diagnosis. Very silly question, can I go to a general practitioner, or do I need to see a specialist?

What should I expect during a diagnosis appointment?

Thanks for your help.

You might start with a general practioneer. A lot aren't real familiar with Adult AD/HD, but they hopefully know who to refer you to for a proper assessment (probably a clinical psychologist or other mental health professional) familiar with AD/HD. Be sure and ask some questions about their experience in working with AD/HD in adults and you might want to do some reading first yourself on the subject.

As far as diagnosis goes, whoever does it should do a thorough history on your AD/HD, utilize some appropriate checklists (IE: Connors or others), and may want to hear from those close to you and/or do some sort of testing. But as we're frequently reminded around here, checklists top tests in diagnosis AD/HD.

Welcome to the forums!

Scattered

I agree go to your family doctor. I was diagnoised by my family doctor saved alot of time and money. Good Luck

Any Dr. can diagnosis but I'd pay the extra bucks for someone who had a lot of experience in the field, so that you get a better handle on yourself. You can't be true to yourself if you are unsure who you are.

I'm with scuro!! I believe it's best to go to a doc who knows what he/she is doing and keeps up to date with all the newest information, research, meds, etc. .

What she said. I sat in a room with my daughter and a psychiatrist who told my daughter that if she had ADHD, it would have disappeared by her current age. As a person whose medical file states ADHD, adult diagnosis, I was literally speechless. The man shouldn't even consider diagnosing ADHD without more education.

I have the same questions. Here is my experience in trying to get my partner, who is obvious combined type ADD, diagnosed.

Therapist (MFCC) when I brought up the possibility (after over two years in therapy with little benefit, after hearing that she has cousins diagnosed and reading books by Hallowell, Amen, and Solden) "She doesn't have ADD, she can sit in the chair and doesn't have to move around."
MD (Board Certified Internal Medicine and Family Practice) Smiling: "You're a bright, vivacious, intelligent woman. You don't have ADD"
Psychiatrist Talks to her for a few minutes, looks at her and says, "I don't think you have ADD but I'll ask you some questions" Reads four or five questions off a sheet and says with an all knowing smile "No, you don't have ADD, but I will prescribe medication if you want. If you do have ADD any symptoms will vanish within minutes after taking the medication and you will feel calm and clear headed. If you don't have ADD then you may feel hyper because of the medication and there will be no effect" (Adderol)
She took the medication for a couple of weeks and was much more efficient at work and able to easily discern things she was not able to comprehend before but the medication made her feel hyper and like she had a couple of drinks. Her therapist was happy when she got off of it.

I am now trying to talk her into going to the Hallowell or Amen Clinic for a real diagnosis. I wish there were a less expensive way but I have had my fill of incompetence.

I have the same questions. Here is my experience in trying to get my partner, who is obvious combined type ADD, diagnosed.

Therapist (MFCC) when I brought up the possibility (after over two years in therapy with little benefit, after hearing that she has cousins diagnosed and reading books by Hallowell, Amen, and Solden) "She doesn't have ADD, she can sit in the chair and doesn't have to move around."
MD (Board Certified Internal Medicine and Family Practice) Smiling: "You're a bright, vivacious, intelligent woman. You don't have ADD"
Psychiatrist Talks to her for a few minutes, looks at her and says, "I don't think you have ADD but I'll ask you some questions" Reads four or five questions off a sheet and says with an all knowing smile "No, you don't have ADD, but I will prescribe medication if you want. If you do have ADD any symptoms will vanish within minutes after taking the medication and you will feel calm and clear headed. If you don't have ADD then you may feel hyper because of the medication and there will be no effect" (Adderol)
She took the medication for a couple of weeks and was much more efficient at work and able to easily discern things she was not able to comprehend before but the medication made her feel hyper and like she had a couple of drinks. Her therapist was happy when she got off of it.

I am now trying to talk her into going to the Hallowell or Amen Clinic for a real diagnosis. I wish there were a less expensive way but I have had my fill of incompetence.
Welcome to the forums.

What was the dosage of Adderall? Was it regular or XR?

Interesting response. If you suspect ADHD/combined, do you notice a pattern to her moods and personality? Does she get hyper for a while and then become inattentive for a while?

I am not a doctor, so please do not treat this as a diagnosis.

It sounds like the symptoms of Bipolar Disorder II (subtle swings between hyperactivity and depression). This is different from Bipolar Disorder I, which can be really extreme changes that really effect a persons life (job loss, debt, unhealthy life style). A lot of the Bipolar symptoms line up with ADHD.

Do you feel like you're walking on egg shells around her? Are you always unsure of how she will respond to you?

What was the dosage of Adderall? Was it regular or XR?
It was a generic mixed amphetamines. Dose was 20mg A.M, 20mg P.M.to start. She tried 20, 10 and 10, 10, then 10mg A.M only to try to get rid of the buzz

Interesting response. If you suspect ADHD/combined, do you notice a pattern to her moods and personality? Does she get hyper for a while and then become inattentive for a while?
I had her take the Amen on line test. Her self description gave her a "possible inattentive". When I took the test and put in my observations from living with her it came back with a "highly probable" inattentive type and a "possible" combined type.

I am not a doctor, so please do not treat this as a diagnosis.

It sounds like the symptoms of Bipolar Disorder II (subtle swings between hyperactivity and depression). This is different from Bipolar Disorder I, which can be really extreme changes that really effect a persons life (job loss, debt, unhealthy life style). A lot of the Bipolar symptoms line up with ADHD.
From the reading I've done she doesn't really fit the bipolar diagnosis. I do biomed research for a living (not an MD, not ADD or neuro related) and am pretty good about noticing patterns.

Do you feel like you're walking on egg shells around her? Are you always unsure of how she will respond to you?
Yes, she is very reactive, and unpredictably so.
BTW, it has become apparent to me that her 12 year old son also has the symptoms of inattentive ADD. She sees the symptoms and is frustrated by them but because he is bright she discounts them. His teacher's written end of the year summary was something like "Very bright but lacks focus, is disorganized and is working below his ability"....duh!

Hi, just found these forums. I suspect I might have ADHD and have been thinking about going to a doctor to get a diagnosis. Very silly question, can I go to a general practitioner, or do I need to see a specialist?

What should I expect during a diagnosis appointment?

Thanks for your help.
Hi:
As you are wondering if you have ADD/ADHD but are here because you
don't know where to start, I suggest the following.

First take the online questionnaire the "Life Concept Inventory for ADHD Research" at

http://www.lifeconcept.org/ (http://www.lifeconcept.org/)

Within 24 hours, you should receive a very comprehensive multi-page report which will give you a better understanding of your problems. You can take the report to your doctor. It will give the practitioner an indication of what you are complaining about in clear terms that he/she can compare to the diagnostic criteria for ADD/ADHD.

Before you go to the Dr. with your report, get as much information you can find online and in books so you are prepared to provide him/her what is needed. You likely should ask your Dr. for a referral to a specialist in ADD/ADHD.

I did find a few other questionnaires online but none seem as conprehensive as the above one.

If you want another one, try:
http://www.add-ish.com/ (http://www.add-ish.com/)

It is very short as are a few other ones I tried but I liked the first best.

Please note that I have no connection to the above mentioned sites and am only slightly ahead of you in the process of getting a diagnosis for AD(H)D

Just wanted to thank everyone for the advice so far. I have an appt with my gen practitioner, I'll see what happens from there.

I have the same questions. Here is my experience in trying to get my partner, who is obvious combined type ADD, diagnosed.

Therapist (MFCC) when I brought up the possibility (after over two years in therapy with little benefit, after hearing that she has cousins diagnosed and reading books by Hallowell, Amen, and Solden) "She doesn't have ADD, she can sit in the chair and doesn't have to move around."
MD (Board Certified Internal Medicine and Family Practice) Smiling: "You're a bright, vivacious, intelligent woman. You don't have ADD"
Psychiatrist Talks to her for a few minutes, looks at her and says, "I don't think you have ADD but I'll ask you some questions" Reads four or five questions off a sheet and says with an all knowing smile "No, you don't have ADD, but I will prescribe medication if you want.

I am now trying to talk her into going to the Hallowell or Amen Clinic for a real diagnosis. I wish there were a less expensive way but I have had my fill of incompetence.
Wow, it's scary that you went to two mental health professionals and an MD and they all were so ignorant of the current state of the art knowledge about Adult AD/HD.

Folks with AD/HD are notoriously bad self observers, so it's not surprising that your assessment came out higher than your partner's self assessment. I recently had my brother fill out a brief screening -- he came back borderline ADD (this would be the same brother that wet the bed, who got the firedepartment out twice to put out fires before age 10, had his driver's license suspended by 17, failed a grade in school, had 3 businesses go belly up, etc., etc.). When I filled the screening out on him, I only had to change the answer to one question to put him solidly in the ADD camp -- the one that said these behaviors have affected my personal relationships, work, and school success (he had answered Not at all!:rolleyes: ).

I don't know that you'll have to go all the way to the Hallowell or Amen Centers for help, but you definately are going to have to quiz your mental health professionals to be sure they've actually had experience and recent education in assessing AD/HD and other disorder that look similar. I hope you find someone competent -- you might check with your local CHADD chapter.

Scattered

Hi, just found these forums. I suspect I might have ADHD and have been thinking about going to a doctor to get a diagnosis. Very silly question, can I go to a general practitioner, or do I need to see a specialist?

What should I expect during a diagnosis appointment?

Thanks for your help.
This is the way that I did it and it worked out well for me.

1st- Got a complete physical by my MD. Had bloodwork and many test's and I have explained that on another thread, "Can these bones live".

2nd- Made an appt. with a psychiatrist and had an enitial exam 3 weeks ago. She was very detail oriented and did not rush into a decision.
She then requested all of my results of my physical prior to my follow-up appt today. I would say that the follow-up appt. lasted appr. an hour today.
She asked many questions and diagnosed me to have ADHD and another follow up in three weeks.
My experience with my psychiatrist was very pleasant and I am fortunate that she understands this condition.
I think that it's a good idea to get a complete physical prior to getting on meds just to make sure that you don't have any health issues.

I would expect an MD to miss Adult ADHD. They beleive we are all Diagnosed in Childhood.

As far as ADHD symptoms go, I was missed and dismissed, by all of the 8 doctors (MDs; several were trained in mental health/psychiatry) so that i have had or consulted in my lifetime about my "anxiety" and my "depression".


Finally , my Psychiatrist SO told me that he thought I had Adult ADHD.


The classic lifetime sign is "UNDERACHEIVEMENT".

I was not diagnosed until I was 32 years old, b/c i ignored the "Disability Experts" at my University and arranged my own Testing.

And thank goodness I did!


==================================



You'd be better off going into the MD's Appointment with written PROOF of ADHD -- e.g. getting your Testing done for Inattention and Executive Function problems from a Psychologist, using the currently recognised test batteries that they use in Psychological Testing settings.

THEN, go to an MD, with your Test Report in hand, and ask for meds.

This will save you a lot of HEARTACHE, if you keep getting "shot down" for meds.

My own ADHD MD (psychiatrist) will NOT prescribe ADHD meds w/o the Test Reports.

-------------------------------------------------------

You should likely have some of the following tests:

WAIS
Some tests from Woodcock Johnson battery
Wisconsin Card Sort results
Trails A results
Trails B results.
Auditory Memory testing results
Visual Memory results
Tower of London results
and a bunch of other tests that members can likely add to my list.

Call up a Psychologist's office and ask how you can get "PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL" Testing. If you have insurance, this will often cover the costs. Expect to pay $500-1500. My own testing was 8 hours of 1:1 Testing with a PhD Psychologist and her Masters students, and cost $1200. My report is highly detailed with test results and percentages of scores regarding my strengths and weaknesses.

Best of luck, and don't give up.

NB. It is important toknow your strengths and weaknesses. For example, my Verbal Reasoning is in the 97th Percentile, while my Working Memory is in the 37th Percentile. This means that i need to use my Strong Skill to help me in compensating for my Weak Skill.

This will strongly help you in every day life and work.

If you have insurance to to your G.P. Tell the doctor your symptoms and insist on seeing a Psychiatrist. Obviously you don't want to offend your doctor, just tell him/her some friends told you to see a specialist, they think you might have adhd. Most G.P's avoid the adhd diagnosis like the plague, perhaps because they don't believe in it, or they just don't have a good understanding of the disorder. It is also possible you don't have adhd, but something else. I hope I haven't repeated what others have already said.

You can start with your family doctor, tell him/her about your symptoms and why you think you have ADHD. You can take several tests online (just a starter, not for actual dx), and ask about the option of a psychiatrist. Check with insurance about tests, if they are needed, your doc will send you for them.