Find a specialist for your son. I only wish I had found one sooner, I have a 12 year old that might have Asbergers and his pediatricians missed it. Also an specialist will ask you the right questions.
My son doesn't like his psychiatrist and will only give him one syllable answers. he has been able to fine tune his meds to where things are going well.
Sorry about your insurance however we never took our child to a psychiatrist only a psychologist. Would your insurance cover a psychologist? A child psychiatrist is basically for managing medication. Is that what you are looking for?
having a child psychiatrist?
I just found out this morning my insurance will not pay for it.
Do I have any other options?
I'm sorry insurance is limiting your options. Others can manage ADHD meds. My child sees a developmental pediatrician. Even a general pediatrician who has a lot of experience with ADHD can manage meds, but that's only if it isn't a complicated case. If you can't find a developmental ped. on your insurance and if your child tolerates the meds well, then I'd say approach your pediatrician and ask if they themselves know a lot about AHD meds. If not, ask him/her to refer you to another ped. who does. Bring your insurance book so they can scan the list and see who is covered.
Good luck! I HATE insurance!
An apt. with a neurologist is a good start. Then, you can have a neurologist write to the insurance Co. about the need for a psychiatrist.What about just a psychiatrist? Not specifcally one labeled as a child psychiatrist?
My sons psychiatrist is just that...but when I called they said they do take children from ages 6 and up. He has alot of experience with ADHD and adolescents.
Just a thought. Many here use a neurologist and some also use a pediatrician. My only concern with the Ped is that he/she may not know enough about ADHD or the new treatments, meds, etc.
It's all individual. In my case, very important. My son is in extreme denial and won't take meds because he thinks he doesn't have ADHD.
We have found a psychiatrist willing to work with my son. Right now, that is all he has.
I think insurance companies are awful and maybe you can get the peditrician to write to the company explaining why it is medically necessary.
How old is your son? It's difficult to accept that you have a medical condition, espec. one that can carry a stigma w/ it. However, maybe talk to him about the areas where he's having difficulties and then how the meds. can help things improve. That's how my son accepted his diagnosis at age 5-1/2. His behavior was getting him in a lot of trouble, he had problems with social relationships, etc. Also, there are children's books on this subject that might him understand better what's going on. When you post how old he is, then I might be able to recommend some.
mom2adhdboys - my son is now 14. He was diagnosed at 13 by a psychologist who really was not the right Dr. He could not establish a relationship with my son but was honest with us. He did figure out my son's problems, and diagnosed him. He had us set up a 504 which my son rebelled against. He would throw trantrums and act up everytime he had to see this guy. This guy's style was confrontational - here is the evidence, how can you deny this. My son was unable to fool him.
This new guy has a gentle approach. He is aware of what is going on.
We have done everything. My son's personality is oppositional. He fights everything and refuses any kind of help - always been that way. Won't take any medication without a fight - I'm talking cough med.; tylenol; antibiotics; He's been this way since elementary school.
Our new psychiatrist is great and has established a relationship. He has brought up medication in the past. He wanted him to take anti anxiety meds. but he refused. Yest. I know he brought it up again. I was not in the session but I overheard a bit - he mentioned my son was in extreme denial, wanted to know why my son was so convinced he didn't have ADHD and asked him why he was afraid of medication; they talked about medication because I heard him talking about benefits vs. risks.
My son didn't mention anything about this session. I feel that in order for my son to accept this, he will have to fail 8th grade or at a minimum go to summer school. I have talked about the difference between ADHD and ADD innatentive.
I even gave him a book written by teens with ADHD that have overcome the obstacles.
My son does what he wants when he wants. If he's interested in something he hyperfocuses. Currently he's into magic so it's 24/7 - ""pick a card". He's quite good too.
I know that he has his entire life to get straightened out. I'm just afraid one day this psychiatrist is going to say he can't do anything more for him.
In the meantime, I just take it a day at a time and try to stay calm.
I didnt think about a regular psychiatrist, I'll call them back in the morning and ask them about that. His quack of a pediatrician that told us he had the reaction he had last friday was cause he smoked someones pot, is actually giving me the referral I need to FINALLY get him into a neurologist at children's hosp. So I guess thats a start?