July 22
How do you effectively prepare for a meeting with an ADHD clinician to seek a diagnosis?
Many women feel anxious about seeking an ADHD diagnosis, fearing encounters with professionals who lack expertise in how ADHD presents in women or who may doubt their intentions. As someone who has been through this process for both myself and my son, I understand these concerns and the importance of thorough preparation.
Effective preparation involves understanding the comprehensive testing process and finding qualified professionals for an accurate diagnosis. It's crucial to recognize that medication effectiveness varies, and personalized treatment plans are essential. When pursuing an ADHD assessment, consider the benefits of standardized tests and research clinicians with expertise in adult ADHD, particularly in women.
To aid in your preparation, I've developed a structured approach based on the DSM-5 criteria and Russell Barkley's adult scale. This comprehensive checklist can help you organize your thoughts and experiences before your appointment. Additionally, for those concerned about costs, there are low-cost support options available, such as university clinics, support groups, and online resources.
Remember, this journey toward diagnosis and understanding is unique for everyone. By arming yourself with knowledge and preparation, you can approach your appointment with confidence and clarity, ensuring you get the most out of your meeting with an ADHD clinician.
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YOUTUBE
"The assessment should also include an objective measure of your skills compared to peers of the same age, without relying on the opinions or observations of others."
- Tracy Otsuka
"Remember, all brains are different. All brains are unique. So what works for one patient does not necessarily work for another patient."
- Tracy Otsuka
"Clinicians who have lived experience with ADHD often bring a unique and valuable perspective to treatment."
- Tracy Otsuka
"If you do all the preparation to support your intuition, you'll go into that meeting with your clinician well-prepared, which means the outcome is likely to be much better."
- Tracy Otsuka
- Tracy discusses ADHD and its impact on women, embracing strengths, and challenging stereotypes. She shares her personal experience with ADHD diagnosis and preparation tips for women.
- Tracy explains the complexities of ADHD diagnosis and treatment in the US, with a focus on Kaiser's handling of patients in California. She shares her experience with initial assessments and the thorough testing process with Diagnostic Learning.
- Tracy's son, Marcus, was diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD after comprehensive evaluations. Tracy discovered her own dyslexia and ADHD symptoms, leading to her diagnosis after re-testing.
- Tracy Otsuka shares her experience with psycho-educational evaluations, noting their cost and the insights they provided. She recommends Diagnostic Learning for those seeking to understand their cognitive abilities and advocates for comprehensive ADHD testing.
- She emphasizes the importance of finding clinicians specializing in ADHD, particularly for women. She suggests seeking expert advice, asking for recommendations, and using professional directories and online resources to find ADHD specialists.
- Tracy provides a checklist for adults to organize their thoughts and symptoms before an ADHD diagnosis appointment. She highlights the importance of understanding ADHD symptoms, especially for women, and discusses how symptoms may not appear until puberty, impacting functioning later in life.
- Tracy Otsuka advises women with ADHD to ask about alternatives to medication and follow-up care during diagnosis. She suggests various resources for managing ADHD, including online support groups and sliding scale therapy.
- Tracy provides insights on ADHD self-diagnosis and coaching. She encourages listeners to educate themselves before seeing a clinician and offers resources for learning about ADHD.
- She emphasizes the importance of trusting one's intuition and using resources to understand and manage ADHD effectively.
