Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Understanding ADHD
ADHD, or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, is a developmental condition marked by a persistent pattern of one or more of the following symptoms:
Inattention: Difficulty sustaining focus, staying organized, or following through on tasks.
Hyperactivity: Frequently moving about (even in inappropriate settings), feeling restless, or talking excessively.
Impulsivity: Interrupting conversations, intruding on others, or struggling to wait for one's turn.
While many individuals may exhibit these behaviors occasionally, those with ADHD experience them consistently and in various settings, including school, home, work, and social interactions with family and friends.
Your ADHD Care, Step by Step
1. Before Your First Visit: Forms & Records
You’ll complete short questionnaires about attention, focus, and mood (for kids, we also ask a parent/teacher form). Please bring a list of medications/supplements, any prior evaluations, school plans (IEP/504), and your insurance card.
2. Initial Evaluation: Your Story & Whole‑Person Review
We’ll talk through your symptoms, when they started, and how they affect school, work, and home life. We also screen for things that can look like ADHD (sleep issues, anxiety/depression, trauma, thyroid problems, etc.). Vitals are checked at in‑person visits; labs or other tests are ordered only if clinically needed.
3. Clarifying the Diagnosis
We combine your history, rating scales, and (when helpful) input from parents/teachers/partners to confirm ADHD and identify any co‑occurring conditions. If ADHD isn’t the best fit, we’ll explain why and outline next steps.
4. Collaborative Treatment Plan (Multimodal)
Together we design a plan that may include:
Medication (if appropriate): stimulant or non‑stimulant options tailored to your goals, health history, and schedule.
Therapy & skills training: ADHD‑focused CBT, executive‑function coaching, parent training (for kids), and practical tools for organization, time‑management, and emotion regulation.
Lifestyle supports: sleep routines, movement, nutrition basics, stress reduction, and digital tools (timers, planners, apps).
School/work support: letters for accommodations (IEP/504, workplace adjustments) and coordination with your school or employer, with your permission.
5. If Trying Medication: Safety First, Start Low, Adjust Smart
We review benefits, side effects, and safe use. For controlled medications, we’ll use standard safety steps (e.g., medication agreement, secure storage, PDMP checks, and, when indicated, urine screens). We typically start low and adjust gradually to find the “just right” dose and timing (immediate‑ vs. extended‑release).
6. Short‑Term Follow‑Ups: Fine‑Tuning
During the first few weeks, we’ll check in to see how you’re doing with focus, organization, sleep, appetite, heart rate/blood pressure, and any side effects. We adjust the plan, meds, therapy skills, routines, based on your feedback and rating scales.
7. Building Skills That Last
Medication can help attention and impulse control; skills make the gains stick. We’ll practice strategies for planning, task initiation, time‑blocking, prioritizing, and managing emotions. Parents may learn coaching techniques to support kids between visits.
8. Ongoing Care & Refills
Once things are steady, most patients are seen every 1–3 months. We’ll continue measurement‑based care (brief checklists) and revisit goals. Refill timing follows visit schedules and state/federal rules; lost or early refills generally can’t be replaced. We’ll also help with prior authorizations when needed.
9. Care Coordination (With Your Permission)
We can collaborate with therapists, primary care, schools, and specialists to keep your plan aligned and supportive in all settings.
10. Annual Review & Long‑Term Planning
Each year we step back to reassess diagnosis, benefits/side effects, vitals, and goals. For some kids/teens, “medication holidays” may be discussed; for adults, we review life transitions and adjust supports accordingly.
If Your Needs Change
If symptoms flare, side effects appear, or life gets busier, we’ll adapt—switching formulations, re‑targeting therapy skills, adding accommodation letters, or addressing sleep, anxiety, or mood as they arise.
