ADHD Evaluation & Treatment Program Methodology
PREMISE: ADHD is a complex disorder that has dramatically increased in prevalence in recent years. Those meeting diagnostic criteria for the disorder have many challenges to overcome. Our program provides services to both children and adults. Research results have indicated that many individuals continue to experience symptoms of the disorder from childhood through adulthood. The prevailing thought in the past was that children would eventually "out grow" the disorder.
Our philosophy regarding ADHD dictates that a careful and thorough evaluation is required to identify the disorder. ADHD is often misdiagnosed. For example, some clinicians mistake anxiety or depression symptoms for those of ADHD. Our detailed evaluations are also a guard against quick or snap diagnoses that are often made in some settings. Our program is also predicated on utilizing objective evaluation material.
Our program also includes consultation and treatment services for individuals who do meet diagnostic criteria for ADHD. The consultation process includes discussion regarding prevalent treatments based on the most up to date research. Such consultations also include detailed information regarding medications used to treat ADHD. Counseling and behavioral interventions can also be helpful in some cases for individuals diagnosed with ADHD. Such individuals would be identified in the evaluation process and relative recommendations would follow with development of an appropriate treatment plan.
COMPONENTS: Our ADHD psychological evaluation is based on prevalent research. The basic evaluation specifically consists of history and interview session, behavioral observation and administration a personality inventory and ADHD rating scales. In some cases we recommend additional testing of intellectual functions and academic achievement abilities. The results of the evaluation are then given to the adult individual or parents of the child in a feedback session.
Typically the feedback session is devoted also to establishing an appropriate plan of action whether the diagnosis was made or ruled out.
SPECIFIC TRAINING REQUIREMENTS: The ADHD Evaluation and Treatment Program is operated by a licensed doctoral level psychologist. This psychologist has extensive training and years of experience with involvement with ADHD. Our clinicians and test technicians who work in this program work under the supervision of this individual.
*It should be noted that our program has not adopted an automatic pro-medication stance for all individuals diagnosed with ADHD. We retain an open philosophy in these matters and each case is evaluated carefully prior to making recommendations regarding psychotropic medications. We also take the individual's or family's personal philosophies into consideration when providing consultation in these types of matters.
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