How long a diagnosis takes. | ADHD Information

    Hello everyone.  After years of not making any progress in school, it was recommended to me that it may be a possible learning disability.  I went to a doctor that accepts my family's insurance.  My first visit was a brief 10 minute talk with a doctor where I explained my situation and thought it may be ADD.  She made me an appointment for next time to give me a computerized test.  I went back, took a 20 minute test and bang, it says I have Inattentive ADD. 

    Now, it's not that I'm happy to have a diagnosis, I was thrilled to have an answer to my poor schooling, but is this the proper medical procedure to diagnose someone?  In 20 minutes to tell whether they have a learning disability or not?  I definitely could tell that I was having a problem at points during the test and was easily confused, but if it was this easy to find out, why aren't all students tested from a young age to see if they have a problem?  I have done some reading since being diagnosed and from what I've picked up, to diagnose someone requires a couple visits where I guess the doctor analyzes your situation.

By the way, I am on Strattera.  I started off on 40mg, and now am on 60mg.  The doctor says that I need to work my way up to 80mg and my next visit will do just that.  I thought that it was working as their was a brief moment where I spent some time with a computer book of mine learning material that I usually can't, but the past couple days has been completely non productive concerning school work. 

Other then that, I'm really grateful to have found this forum. 

A 20 minute test is not sufficient for diagnosing AD/HD!! I definitely recommend that you see a professional who specializes in the disorder. A person should be extensively questioned about their history and many other aspects before getting a diagnosis. AD/HD symptoms can be present in any person, but that does not mean that they have the disorder.

I am by no means saying that you don't have AD/HD. I am simply suggesting that you seek someone who is very qualified in various diagnosis. Good luck.

I think it depends on the doctor involved too.  The doctor that diagnosed me said it was obvious I had ADHD in about 15 minutes.  But she was a specialist.  Also, she was not one of those doctors that over-diagnoses, she made that clear from the start.  She said she saw a lot of children and adults that she would not diagnose as ADHD.Deang, thank you for your reply.  I realize that many symptoms of add are also present in other disorders.  Would anyone be able to tell me what may relate to add but is not?  I feel confident that it was a right diagnosis, though done hastily without a proper doctor's anaylisis.  Thanks again, I'll be checking often. mine took around 7 hrs!! maybe you should go to a specialitsMy friend has been looking since her son was born just about. Still feels adhd can't be her sons only thing going on. My therapist suggested ADD several years ago. (0 spread over a month)

My GP diagnosed based on DSM IV and me talking about what my therapist said several years ago. ( copay).

The Hallowell Clinic diagnosed me after: 100+ multiple choice questions, 75 minute induction interview going over my history, 2 hours of neuropsychological testing, 1 hour of review and treatment discussion with psychiatrist. (add an exit interview, 2 more appointments with psychiatrist and therapist) (00).

However, I feel like it was money well spent for a number of reasons:

1. A very very low chance of misdiagnosis - which I consider imperitive given the medication required. My ADD is quite severe, I've also been diagnosed both bipolar and clinically depressed at different times of my life - so a clear diagnosis was important. Esp since I have a couple of comorbids that would have been difficult/impossible to spot otherwise.

2. Neuropsychological testing results have pretty much changed my own opinion of myself. It's tough growing up thinking that you're pretty smart but only seeing grades that show you to be a C/D grade student, in fact it's caused me to have a lot of very serious self esteem issues. Getting concrete results that I am very intelligent but very ADD has really helped me understand critical self destructive patterns in my life.

3. Found the right therapist to work with. The clinic matched me up with the right therapist for my temperament/mindset and I've accomplished more in 1 and a half hours with him than I have over months with other therapists. (I have a bad habit of playing with therapists if I think they can't keep up ("Fallen, do you think of hurting other people?" "yup, all the time, homicidal even" "how long have you had these thoughts?" "oh, my whole life, dont worry, I spend an equal amount of time thinking of ways to hurt myself too.")).

4. The psychiatrist and therapist both know whats going on, so I dont have to remember whats going on and they can work together on the treatment plan.

5. they actually specialize in ADD, so there's no BSing around, they've seen most side effects and can predict very early on whether a drug is going to be effective or should be substituted.