new pdoc's thoughts about ADHD testing

I saw my new psychiatrist today and I explained that though I feel like the walking, talking poster-child for ADHD; the psychologist that conducted my ADHD testing recently concluded that I did not have it as I did not first present when I was a child. And, in the psychologist's words, "there is no such thing as adolescent or adult-onset ADHD".

When I told the pdoc this a look of mild aggravation crossed his face. He told me that he doesn't like ADHD testing (didn't specify more than that) and that according to "Russ Barkley", the testing is not accurate. Moreover, he said that Barkley has been lobbying for years to get the age restriction thing abolished.

Basically, I came away from that part of our conversation with the impression that he thinks a person CAN develop ADHD when they're out of their childhood. Further, that he'll treat the symptoms - no matter what you call it or not.

I'm trying to keep a very tight lid on my hope...like, standing on top of the barrel of it holding a big boulder and my pockets full of rocks.

Well that's interesting. Everywhere I've looked, the age restriction thing has always been a factor in ADHD diagnosis (except for people with certain head injuries), regardless of how new the info was. That being said, I'm not sure what the point in the age restriction is. You'd think it would mean we'd screen kids for ADHD (and learning disabilities) from an early age as a routine thing-- kind of like how vaccinations are routinely scheduled at various ages of development in most developed countries-- but do we do that (at least where I live)? Nope. And so naturally, those with mild (or no) hyperactive symptoms get passed over because we aren't "troublemakers," and we end up with this state of affairs in which you've got so many people struggling through life and developing a terrible self image from under-performing their potential, only to find out in their late 30s (or older) that they've had ADHD all this time.

Sorry for the rant. I hope your psych can help you! (Can't wait to have my chance to be diagnosed too...)

Yeah, in so many words he said that Barkley's feelings are "when you're an intelligent person you can power your way through school and the ADHD is likely under control." But, when you grow up and begin to have to deal with the complicated situations and dynamics that an adult has to, ADHD can present in force.

Evidently Barkley has long tried to get the age that the symptoms must present by 16. It started out at 5/6yo years ago. Then they raised it to 12yo. Barkley would like the age thing to be completely done away with but says that if it could at least be revised to 16yo it would likely capture 80% of ADHD sufferers.

I watched a 56 minute video on YouTube of Barkley giving a lecture on executive functioning. He contends (and then goes on to supply proof) that conventional ADHD testing is crap. He thinks the ratings scales are much, much more effective in determining ADHD. In fact, he developed his own. I wish that I could have had that testing done!! I know that my executive functioning is really, really bad.

I have watched several Barkley videos myself (and you've probably seen me linking to them on the forums-- I think I just did that yesterday lol), but I completely forgot if I've heard him say anything about the age limit thing. (You know, I'm sure I probably just zoned out. ) I remember clearly though that I've heard him criticize ADHD self-testing because a lot of people will tend to *under-report* their own symptoms. He tends to favour parents' assessments. Partly because I saw his videos, I did some detective work to find out what others had to say about my behaviour during my childhood. I didn't expect to find anything to confirm the diagnosis, but actually there was quite a bit, and when I applied the idea I might be ADHD to my own memories, it even made sense out of a few things I didn't understand.

Unfortunately I can't focus long enough on anything either to really delve but I got a good feeling about the psych I saw today - I think he's on the up-and-up so I trust him if he says that Barkley says the age thing is BS.

Bottomline, we just need to be treated according to our symptoms. I don't bloody care if I'm all or none of the alphabet soup of psych acronyms. Just make me better!!

Lavender, do you feel like your executive functioning problems get any better when your depression and anxiety are under decent control? Just wondering. It makes a big difference for me.

I have never been diagnosed with ADD, but I was prescribed Ritalin several years ago to see if it helped my energy (I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome/ME many years ago.)

I only took the Ritalin for a few weeks, because I didn't have a very pleasant reaction to it. I would get extremely hyperfocused when I took it, especially visually, and try to do any tasks super fast. I was taking the plain sort of Ritalin that wears off in a few hours, and when it would start to wear off, I'd just feel like I was collapsing in exhaustion. I'd often fall asleep.

I suppose maybe my reaction to it can't be judged as a reaction to an ADD med, since I have the sub-par energy problem, too.

It's a very worthwhile question but, unfortunately, I'm not in a position now (nor have I been for a long time) to compare the non-depressed state of my ADHD (symptoms, if nothing else) to how I'm doing now.

I'm trying to change that but it's going to take time.

In my opinion, the whole age thing for AD/HD is pretty bad. I know I started developing mild symptoms of AD/HD around 12, so I may be able to fit that. It has been getting quite worse and I am hoping I don't crash next year (grade 11 is apparently a lot harder. I have been getting off of doing homework because of my smartness). I sense I will though, and I am really scared about it (yikes). Please hope I can get working on this soon!

I don't really know what to respond to your original post, sorry.