If you are seeking an assessment and possible diagnosis for suspected ADHD, you have three options (in Canada): 1. A Family Doctor (or a Pediatrician for children up to about age 19); 2. A Psychiatrist; or, 3. A Registered Psychologist. The first two options will not cost you anything but time whereas the third option will cost you time and money.
There are clear benefits of hiring a Registered Psychologist to assess for ADHD if you can afford their services. They can assess and diagnose ADHD and they can also conduct much more thorough assessments which I will briefly describe.
While ADHD itself is not considered a learning disability, many of us who live with ADHD also have learning disabilities such as dyslexia and auditory processing disorder. A Registered Psychologist can conduct a psychological-educational assessment (often referred to as a “psych-ed”) which is very thorough, taking roughly 20 hours of the respective psychologist’s time. The results are used to identify a person’s learning strengths and needs, and to assess for and diagnose things like ADHD. One of the great benefits of a psych-ed is that it includes recommendations specific to the identified challenges which will then help the individual to their best at school or at work.
In British Columbia, the cost of psych-ed assessments is covered for school children who qualify for the service; however, the wait to be assessed by a School Psychologist (a Registered Psychologist working within the school system) may be well over a year. Having worked in the school system for many years, I know that parents work diligently to advocate for their children and teaching and support staff do their utmost to accommodate them while waiting for formalized psych-ed assessments. Hopefully the day will soon come when school districts hire enough School Psychologists to better serve students and their families as the information gleaned from psych-eds greatly informs the child’s Individual Education Plan (IEP). Once complete, parents may opt to bring the psych-ed results to their child’s doctor or pediatrician to try to create a well-informed, cohesive team to set their child up for success, academically, socially, and emotionally.
Adults may also opt to hire a Registered Psychologist to receive a thorough assessment. Those who were assessed as children while still in the school system may want (or need for work or school) an updated assessment. For those never tested, you may consider a thorough assessment if, for instance, you find yourself wondering why you struggle to read and retain information, or why it takes you longer to do ________ than your colleagues, or if you have suspected you live with ADHD or a learning disability and want to know for sure, a psychoeducational assessment can help you to find the answers. Having professional documentation that outlines any accommodations you may need to optimally function may greatly benefit you as a university or college student and as an employee. More and more employers and education facilities are keen to demonstrate their willingness and ability to welcome and support all kinds of minds. Ask your employer or school if they have any funding available for a psychological assessment and you may be pleasantly surprised.
If you can afford to hire privately, an online search will reveal several options (see a short list of examples I’ve provided below for the lower mainland and Vancouver Island, BC). If you go this route and choose not to share your results with your place of work or education, you will be well-informed and can seek out actions you can take on your own to better accommodate your needs.
Here are a few examples of fee-for-service providers in British Columbia in the lower mainland and on Vancouver Island:
· Vancouver Island Psychological Services
· North Shore Stress and Anxiety Clinic in North Vancouver https://www.psychoed.ca/Assessments.html
· The Vancouver Psychology Centre https://www.vancouverpsychologycentre.com/psychoeducational-assessment/
You may be interested in reading more about assessing adult ADHD by visiting The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) website: https://www.camh.ca/en/professionals/treating-conditions-and-disorders/adult-adhd/adult-adhd---diagnosis
Whatever route you choose to take, go with the one that feels like the best fit for you right now. There is no wrong option. Working with a Registered Psychologist will provide you with a lot of information which you may or may not need or want at this time in your life. Trust your instinct.
Thanks for reading and bye for now!
Warmly,
Tara 😊
P.S. Check out my upcoming blog post about working with an Occupational Therapist for help with ADHD.
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Tara Hope is a Registered Clinical Counsellor and Educator in private practice in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island, BC. She offers a range of therapeutic services for diverse populations with specializations in Positive Psychology for Entrepreneurs, Adult ADHD, Late-in-Life ADHD Diagnoses, ADHD & Addiction/Impulsivity, and ADHD Parents Parenting ADHD Kids. http://www.tarahope.ca