Having Trouble Obtaining ADHD Diagnosis Documentation
I was diagnosed with ADHD early this year in April from a Neurofeedback Specialist who also is a psychologist. I did pay a decent amount of money out of pocket to have the neurofeedback specialist do the testing for diagnosis (I didn't know much about my options at the time).
I sheepishly asked him some months after going for neurofeedback treatments if I could have a copy of my ADHD diagnosis documentation and he just said that I didn't need it, that once you start taking medication for it then you just have the psychiatrist provide documentation. Since he was the one who diagnosed me I felt it wasn't right to say I didn't need it. I don't want to have to worry about some future provider requesting my documentation and I'm unable to reach him or my psychiatrist (who is leaving in a week from their practice).
It's now months later and I finished treatment months back. I've just sent him an email requesting a copy. I've since changed jobs so I have a new insurance that is not the easiest to work with for coverage.
Also, the psychiatrist who has been prescribing me ADHD medications (based on the neurofeedback specialist confirming my diagnosis with him), is leaving his practice by the end of this week. I don't yet have a new psychiatrist since insurance just kicked in (working on it right now) and when I downloaded my full medical history documentation from the online portal it doesn't say anything about the ADHD diagnosis or the use of medications for ADHD. I sent his office a message to see if it can be documented.
What do I do if the neurofeedback specialist refuses or gives push back on getting a copy?
What do I do if my psychiatrist refuses to document the prescription of medication for ADHD?
Do I need to go somewhere else to get re-evaluated and re-diagnosed??
Posted Sep 21, 2021, 7:03 PM UTC
He may not actually have the juice to formally diagnose you. My general feeling from my own encounter with a neurofeedback provider was that he was slinging bullshit. I was referred to him by my therapist for an QIK ADHD test, and his receptionist said she hesitated to schedule me if I wasn't going to immediately sign up for neurofeedback right then. When I got my test results he told me it wasn't actually a diagnostic test and that he thinks I'm a great candidate for NF but it would take 20-30 sessions all out of pocket of course.
My guess is that medication is more helpful than this if not the same and they are trying to keep you in thier office. This isn't an approved ADHD treatment, and the guy told me it was because it conflicts with drug companies profit. It was sketchy to me. I'd be a little more heavy handed with your request for documentation or seek another practice to diagnose. That's what I'm doing.