Had my assessment… not what I expected

[Anonymous]

Hi all,

I joined a few months ago and created a post that explained I would be going for my assessment soon. I had it the other day and I must say that I am quite frustrated. I have a question for all of you who had your assessments as adults…. where did they get your information on your early years? Did they go based on what you recall of yourself when you were young, your memories and recollections? Or did you just so happen to still have all of your report cards from when you were young? I ask these questions because I am one of those people who just so happens to still have my repost cards, well my folks did, so this is where they’re going to draw their information from in regards to my grade school years. Of course out of pure curiosity and for entertainment purposes I looked them over before my assessment. As amusing as they were, I felt it didn’t paint the right picture of how I recall my grade school years. Now don’t get me wrong, there were things in there that would indicate, but nothing to the extent that I remember. This worried me as I was sure this would be a problem for the physician… and sure enough it was. Now, as I recall, I was always the kid who had to sit next to the teachers desk, I was always told to sit still and stop talking, I constantly got in trouble for talking out of turn, or blurting out the answers (usually the wrong one haha). I’ve always started things with great excitement and energy only to end up neglecting it in the end. The list could go on and on. Anyway It’s important to note that this behaviour wasn’t confined to school either. The physician I had was a very nice man, but he didn’t seem to get it. I was telling him “yes, I did have those problems when I was a kid… in school and in life in general… I’ve been this way my entire life … please help me” And he was replying back to me “no, you didn’t have those problems when you were a kid … I don’t feel your report cards reflect the behaviour to the extent that it would have been ADHD.” So in summary, I’m curious as to how others were diagnosed. Did the doc go based on what you had to say or someone else?

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[Patte Rosebank]

Report cards can be helpful, but should never be considered the ultimate word on the subject, because they only paint part of the picture. For a more accurate picture of your childhood, the doctor should look at as many factors as possible: report cards, interviews with family members, and of course your own memories.

Report cards only reflect what your teachers may have observed. Or they may simply be a cold, clinical, record of your marks. But what if you’re a studious little mouse in class, but a wild, bouncing-off-the-walls character in the school Drama Club? How can a single report card take both of your “personalities” into account? Especially when you don’t get graded on extracurricular activities?

If the doctor doing your assessment places too much weight on the report cards, this will skew the results. If he dismisses your own personal memories, and relies solely on the report cards which he claims don’t support your theory that you have ADHD, then that is definitely a problem. It also feels like a personal attack on YOU, saying “You don’t know what you’re talking about. Report cards don’t lie.” (Which is, of course, bollocks.) And if you feel like your doctor is not allowing you to participate fully in the process, then he’s not the right doctor for you.

Is that doctor an ADHD specialist, or just a regular GP? How old is he? If he’s fairly old, then he has not had access to the newest information on ADHD. Would it be possible for him to interview you and your parents together, to help in the assessment process? After all, the memories of a “former problem child” AND the memories of that child’s parents, are much harder for a doctor to just dismiss.

Being cautious is one thing. Dismissing a patient’s childhood memories and basing an assessment primarily on old report cards is quite another. This will definitely require some discussion with your doctor.

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[Saffron]

Aww, that is just demoralizing. (Gee, thanks for all the listening and validation, doc…)

I can’t add much to Larynxa’s excellent response, but I wanted to chime in and express my support. I’m really urked on your behalf and I can only imagine how terribly unsettled this must make you feel.

To answer your question: I was fortunate to have an assessor who took me at my word regarding childhood. This was partly because a close relative of mine was already known to have the disorder, and partly because the assessor recognized that girls were not often called out for the same types of behaviour as boys were when we were kids. I know that I appeared much more disruptive in Brownies and Girl Guides, for instance, than in school, because I didn’t have any boys stealing my “thunder” in those settings. In class, I was probably seen mainly as socially clueless and don’t remember *ever* garnering comments about behaviour on my report cards. Yet my scouting leaders called my mother on several occasions to tell her to rein me in.

Finally, my partner was asked to attend part of my assessment — and he scored me higher than I scored myself. That probably locked it up. (“Wow, I DO that? Good example. I’m sure she gets the picture now. Um, okay honey, that’ll do. Thank you… Thank you and GOOD NIGHT. Stop now, please.”)

I hope that you won’t give up, Betty, even if you have to cut this physician loose and seek out someone more qualified. I do realize that there may be a large fee involved, so I also hope this assessment hasn’t drained your resources.

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[Anonymous]

What a ****ing quack! Your doctor sounds like he doesn’t have any idea what he is talking about. The symptoms you are describing certainly sound like ADD to me. I know the feeling. My grades don’t indicate ADD at all; in fact, I was a straight A student and all of my teachers positively adored me. However, I have had a psycho-educational assessment from a psychologist which confirmed what my psychiatrist had already diagnosed because I was sent there by my university professors so that I could get help in my classes when I finally hit the wall and couldn’t hide my difficulties any longer.

You know what you are talking about and you are able to describe your symptoms effectively. One thing I want you to know is that this isn’t a you problem, it’s a him problem. You are doing everything right here. I agree Larynxa and Saffron, you need to find a new doctor or psychologist. Depending on what province you are in, you may be able to be referred for a psycho-educational assessment by your province’s ministry of employment. I know Alberta does it to diagnose learning disabilities. I am not sure if you need a referral, but if you are a post-secondary student then the school’s disability services should be able to take care of that for you. If not, if you have a supportive work environment, ask your boss to refer you. Check if you need a referral first though, you might not need one. If you can get it done through the ministry of employment then the government will pay for the diagnosis for you. A good psychologist will be able to uncover your ADD as well as any learning disabilities that might be hiding in there as well. This may help you if you cannot afford a diagnosis yourself.

A good doctor will look at past history across different areas of your life and throughout your life up until this point. Take a look at the videos in the diagnosis section for an idea of what to expect from a doctor that knows what they are doing. This doctor doesn’t seem at all up to date on the latest ADD research or any research for that matter!

I am cheering you on! I know you’ll find someone that will be able to give you the help you need. Just keep searching. We’ll be able to support you in the meantime.

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[Anonymous]

Gawd !!! I’m so glad that My Doctor did not go by my grades in school. I went through life for 47 years knowing that for some reason I felt and seemed different from others. (( But that is another story)).. LOL

Now getting back to the school thing. I was how you were Bettyfox in school and more… LOL.. always the class clown big time had a weird or funny answer to every question in class, left all schools assignments to the very last day to finish and I would take all info home the night before and cram all the information into my head and write that 10 page essay the last night, hand it in the next day and do pretty good. I went through school and got C’s and B’s and everyone loved me… LOL BUT…. I felt that when I left school I felt dumber than so many people. (My math sucked and still does, my spelling is so so, and I know i don’t have some words in my grammar or at least always at the tip of my tongue.

My psychologist that diagnosed me ask me to explain my past life. She sat there as I explained my Up”s and down’s through my life, listened to my experience’s and thoughts, my reactions to some situations, for about what seemed about 20 minutes. ( and the way I think and how fast I can talk she seemed to keep up..LOL)

Then she gave me several tests…. …. and Damn I thought i did great on everything…. LOL but to my surprise I was told that i did the second best on one test she had ever seen and was the lowest and worst than the worst on the other end of the scale.

So I believe them going by one’s grades way back then or talking to our parents about how we were as a child should not be the best way to get to where they need to go for a diagnosed.

I am and was a Adult when I saw my doctor so she asked me what i remembered and how far back. ( I could then and still can remember things that happened to me when i was very young and have trouble remembering what happened to me last week… LOL)

After the test we spoke some more.. ( and YUP it did cost a fortune. but it was worth every penny of it).

Over all she was great she let me talk and try to explain answers to her questions, and I’m sure the way I answered made her help know that I had A.D.H.D. My wife says I can not tell a short story. We paid for a 2 1/2 hour visit.

I think that strictly going by ones old grades also does not make sense. Not to be rude but what if someone is having a learning problem that has nothing to do with A.D.H.D. but just a simple learning problem???

Anyways, I know it will cost more money but maybe try to see someone else.

Take Care

Enjoy your day and all those around you.

Nadroj

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