am on Medical/SSI. I believe my whole life I have had severe ADD. The Dr I see won't perscribe the medication unless I go though phychologial testing to prove I have it. The tests cost 400 dollars. That is about equal to what I have to live on per month on SSI after bills and debts.

I have a friend who is a psychologist and he says it is a bunch of BS that the Dr's have to do tests to prescribe the medication Ive known him long enough to know he doesn't know everything. So Is this true?

Are they just treating me bad because I am poor and they think I might sell the medication?

Is there anyway I can get the testing done cheaper? Does anyone know?

Any Suggestions?<!-- / message -->

Sorry to hear about your financial situation. Let me make a few points.

1.) You need to get an officlal (or unofficial) diagnosis. It's not enough that you think you have adhd. Many general practitioners will not diagnose adhd on their own. They don't feel qualified or trained in that area. Add in the fact that prescribing stimulants is serious business, and I can understand your doctor's hesitation.

2.) I'm assuming that the doc you refer to was a general practitioner and not a psychiatrist.

3.) You can probably find someone who will diagnose you for less than $400. The $400 charge must be for one of those intensive two-hour or three-hour reviews of your life history, etc. That is what many people think is required, but a lot of us don't go through these kinds of reviews.

4.) So no, I don't think your doctor is necessarily being nasty to you because you don't have a lot of money. Recently general docs have been prescribing a lot of anti-depressants, but beyond depression, most don't feel all that comfortable making diagnoses of mental and psychiatric conditions.

5.) I would ask your doc for a recommendation as he might know someone who takes the same insurance that he takes.

6.) Here's a link that could help you find some docs who prescribe stimulants .... which means, I think, that they are comfortable making diagnoses. You can plug in your zip code and search.
http://doctor.webmd.com/physician_finder/home.aspx?sponsor=core

good luck.

That is very cheap for testing.

Psychiatrists generally won't give out speed either. (If my husband gave amphetamines to everyone who showed up at his office claiming to have ADD, all the drug addicts in this city would be chasing him down. Sad, but true.)

Testing (neurospsychological testing) can help figure out what is wrong with your brain function. It is not just for finding ADD, but it can find OTHER PROBLEMS you ahve neurologically as well.

Not all preoblems are ADD. Some can mimic it: e.g. epilepsy, head injury, anoxic lesions, CAPD, auditory memory issues, working memory problems, Executive Dysfunction, a whole slew of LDs.

I think it is frustrating, but I think it is worth getting the testing done.

Why?

B/c meds don't fix everything.

Imagine if you get meds, they don't 'solve' ALL your cognitive/neuro/memory/learning problems -- and then you are still frustrated and not coping well? That story I hear all the time. (And the people usually find out, via extensive testing (8 hrs +), that they have another hidden problem.)

NB Testing is often the fastest way to get diagnosed....

e.g. Some people on here have gone around in circles for decades seeking help for their problems. They are diagnosed with anxiety, depression, etc etc.

Testing can clear that up PDQ.


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Funding for testing: Colleges/Universities often seem to have disabled funds for testing and accommodations via their student disability offices.

Thought: Go take a part time course and Use student grants/loans and get diagnosed that way? That's how I did it.

Thanks everyone. I am susposed to be going back to school soon so maybe I will see if I can have DSS help me. I didn't know they would do that.

Neurospsychological testing seems the way to go. This way if I don't have ADD, then I find out what I do have.

I bet that is even more expensive then Psychology testing though

Testing ruled out a lot for me, my insurance paid for it. It was about three hours, stuff on the computer, IQ, 200-300 question questionaire, some music thing, pictures, definitions, and more stuff, it seemed like it went on forever.

You're thingie says your in California, do they have a county mental health clinic, or with your limited income could you possibly qualify for the state medical insurance (it's called medicaid here) for those with a limited income? Any ADD/ADHD research studies at a local hospital??