Resources for Finding ADD Treatment Providers
Monday September 22, 2008
Where does one go to find help and treatment for ADD/ADHD? Start with your child’s pediatrician, or if you are an adult with ADD you may start with your primary care physician. In addition, there are several resources that can help you locate ADD treatment providers, coaches and support groups in your area.
Click on Local ADD Treatment Providers to read more.
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Advising an adult who thinks they might have ADHD to seek diagnosis and treatment from a General Practitioner is extremely bad advice.
GP’s do not have the skill, the training, or the time needed to assess an adult for a diagnosis and treatment of a complicated disorder like ADHD. They don’t call ADHD “The Great Imitator” for nothing you know. Secondly, ADHD does not manifest itself in the same way in adults as it does in children (let alone from person to person). A time consuming mental status examination and neuropsychological assessment is necessary for appropriate diagnosis of ADHD and any comorbid disorders. It is also the best for recognizing any cognitive deficiencies and the persons problem areas that can aid in individualized treatment. Learning Disorders are quite common in the ADHD population, and neuropsychological testing will be able to differentiate between ADHD, LD, and other disorders.
Psychologists with a Ph.D are the most skilled in diagnosing mental health disorders, especially ADHD in adults. Psychiatrists are not trained in neuropsychological testing (typically), and are usually not trained in any type of psychotherapy. Cognitive-Behavioral therapies have been proved highly effective in treating adult ADHD, and a psychologist can refer the patient to a psychiatrist or GP for medications if appropriate. The psychologist will then have the patient sign a consent to release information so that the psychologist can share his assessment with the medicating physician so that they can prescribe the right treatment.
Weekly to bi-weekly therapy with a psychologist skilled in treating adult ADHD is usually very beneficial for adults on medication, as untreated ADHD in adults usually presents with low self esteem issues, comorbid depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and many other problems of living from years (and decades) of maladaptive ADHD cognitive problems and emotional dysregulation.
Treatment must be comprehensive. Thanks.