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Cost: $200 to $500. “These tests were not designed to pick up A.D.H.D.
deficits and are not sensitive enough,” said Dr. Tuckman.
Make an appointment, or more than one, with a “It’s also overkill. It takes far longer and costs far more,
psychiatrist, psychologist or neurologist who has $2,000 to $5,000, than is necessary.”
expertise in diagnosing A.D.H.D. Ask your doctor or a
psychotherapist for a recommendation, or contact a local “Overtesting is a real problem” for patients seeking
chapter of the organization Children and Adults With A.D.H.D. diagnoses, added Dr. Barkley. Not only are so-
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (informally called neuropsychological tests inaccurate when it comes
known as Chadd) and inquire about local professionals. to A.D.H.D., but some unscrupulous providers may push
them to reap bigger reimbursements from insurers.
Dr. Barkley also suggests calling a nearby medical school
or university psychiatry program and asking whether A neuropsychological evaluation is useful, however, if
there is a doctor on staff who specializes in adult you suspect you have learning disabilities or need
A.D.H.D. accommodations in school or on tests.
An experienced clinician will typically schedule a two- to Step 3: Understand your diagnosis.
three-hour interview in one long visit, or two or three
shorter ones. The clinician will ask about your history — Cost: $50 or so for some helpful books.
how you performed in school as a child, how you got
along with family members and friends. If you are given a diagnosis of A.D.H.D., study up on the
disorder. Several helpful books are available, including
The clinician also will ask about your present life — your Dr. Barkley’s “Taking Charge of Adult A.D.H.D.”
job, your relationships, your driving record and your (Guilford, 2010) and “Understanding Girls with AD/HD”
finances. He or she will also want to know if other (Advantage, 1999), by Kathleen Nadeau, Ellen Littman
members of your immediate family have an A.D.H.D. and Patricia Quinn, which Ms. Goldberg recommends.
diagnosis.
Cognitive behavioral therapy often is helpful for people
To be found to have A.D.H.D., you must have specific with A.D.H.D. A new book, “Cognitive-Behavioral
symptoms that interfere with a significant part of your Therapy for Adult A.D.H.D.” (Guilford, 2011), by Mary V.
life, like your job or your marriage. Solanto, just came out on this topic, and it describes
strategies that may help people with the condition
“Everyone has some of these symptoms,” said Dr. become more effective at everyday tasks.
Tuckman. “But the person with A.D.H.D. has had them
his entire life, and they are chronic and pervasive.” You Your clinician will probably suggest that you try
can find the detailed diagnostic criteria on the Chadd medication as well as behavior therapy.
Web site.
Avoid: Feeling stigmatized.
The clinician will most likely want to corroborate what
you say with a family member. Some clinicians ask that a Many new patients with A.D.H.D. benefit from joining a
family member come to the interview, or fill out a support group. You can find one on the Chadd Web site.
questionnaire about your behavior and habits. “People
with A.D.H.D. tend to underreport their symptoms,” said “Most people feel a tremendous sense of relief when they
Dr. Barkley. are diagnosed,” said Dr. Tuckman. “They realize, ‘My
future doesn’t have to look like my past.’ ”
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/14/health/14consumer.html?_r=3&pagewanted=print