Seeking Assessment and Treatment of Adult ADHD in Ontario
Have you become increasingly aware of your struggles with organization, time management and initiative over the past few years? Or perhaps you’ve noticed increasing difficulties with sitting still, paying attention and tolerating boring tasks? You’re not alone, the shifts in work and school environments and expectations that have been brought about by the pandemic have left a lot of adults wondering, do I have ADHD? And you just might. But what do you do with that and how do you navigate the convoluted system to obtain a diagnosis and treatment. Depending on your circumstances you may want to pursue a formal assessment and diagnosis before exploring treatment or skip right to exploring treatment options. Regardless of which option you choose, your experience is valid, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Here’s an explanation of how it all works:
Formal ADHD Assessment and Diagnosis:
Officially, in Ontario, a formal assessment and diagnosis of ADHD can be provided by physicians, nurse practitioners, psychologists and some other allied health professionals with specialized training working under supervision.
In practice, because formal ADHD assessments for adults require special knowledge and skills, and take a lot of time, many physicians and nurse practitioners decline to offer this as a part of their practice. As a result, they are typically provided by psychologists working in private practice. This means that they aren’t covered by OHIP.
Most psychologists will quote between $2,400-3,500 for an assessment. It’s important to note, however, that there is no guarantee the result of this initial testing will be conclusive and the psychologist may have to recommend further testing at a further cost to make a final conclusion on the diagnosis.
If that sounds like a lot, it is. But it can definitely be beneficial. The psychologist will provide you with a detailed report that will explain how you work and learn best that you can use to develop strategies or request work or school accommodations. If you’d like to explore an assessment in London, here are some of the providers I would recommend:
If you have extended health benefits they may pay all or part of the cost. Post-secondary students in Ontario who are eligible for OSAP may also be able to access a bursary that will help cover the cost of an assessment.
If, however, the cost of an assessment by a psychologist is out of reach for you, or you don’t have health benefits, you can seek out the services of a medical provider that specializes in this area.
You can seek out a comprehensive assessment and treatment by a physician (usually a psychiatrist) that specializes in this area. Physicians can bill OHIP directly, so the cost of this assessment may be covered if provided by a physician. Some will still charge for psychometric testing as a part of their assessment, but the cost of this will often be much less than the full cost of an assessment by a psychologist. Unfortunately these providers often have long waitlists. Here are some of the providers we tend to refer to locally for OHIP funded assessments:
You can also seek out a comprehensive assessment and treatment by a nurse practitioner that specializes in this area. Nurse practitioners are medical providers who can provide diagnostic assessment and medical treatment. Unfortunately they cannot bill OHIP directly. So the cost of their assessment isn’t covered by your provincial health insurance but it typically comes at a much lower cost than that of a psychologist. Our nurse practitioners charge $600 for a comprehensive assessment.
One of the benefits of seeing a specialized medical provider for your ADHD assessment is that they can then start you on medical treatment, without a delay, and can apply their expertise to finding the right medication and dosing for your unique circumstances.
Treatment of ADHD:
The good news is that ADHD typically responds really well to treatment. ADHD’ers can benefit from medical treatment, specialized psychotherapy and coaching depending on their specific symptoms and personal goals.
Medical ADHD Treatment:
o Medical treatment for ADHD requires special care. For this reason, CADDRA has put out a set of guidelines for physicians to assess a patient’s suitability and safety for medical treatment even if they cannot access a formal assessment.
o Many family doctors are uncomfortable initiating medical treatment without first referring you to a colleague with ADHD expertise. While many of these colleagues are psychiatrists, it’s important to note that not all psychiatrists treat adult ADHD and there are a growing number of family physicians, nurse practitioners and neurologists with expertise in this area as well.
o Because of their focused practice and expertise in this area, our Nurse Practitioners are comfortable providing medical treatment for ADHD. You can opt to have them initiate your treatment, help you find the right medication and dose, and then send recommendations to your family doctor OR you can opt to have them manage your ADHD treatment ongoing.
ADHD Psychotherapy
o Many ADHD’ers also experience difficulties with their mental health. It’s difficult living in a world that doesn’t suit your neurotype. Psychotherapy will help you address any mental health concerns you may be experiencing while also supporting you in developing personalized strategies for your ADHD.
o When seeking a therapist be sure to ask them if they have experience working with ADHD and how they approach this work. Watch out for providers who are dismissive of your experience or who suggest they can “fix” or “cure” your ADHD. That’s a big red flag.
ADHD Coaching
o ADHD coaches focus specifically on increasing your self-awareness and developing new strategies to thrive with ADHD.
o Look for a coach that stays focused on your goals, offers the right balance of accountability and compassion, and takes the time to get to know your unique strengths and areas of struggle.
o Coaching isn’t regulated, so be sure to ask your coach what training and qualifications they have. Teachers, counsellors, and nurses often make excellent ADHD coaches. Look for a coach that focuses exclusively on ADHD/Neurodiversity.
In our opinion, self-diagnosis is entirely valid. That doesn’t mean all treatment options will be the right fit for everyone, but it does mean that you’re the expert of your own experience. Wherever you’re at in your ADHD self-discovery journey we’re here to help you leverage your strengths, gain greater insight into your needs and develop personalized strategies for success. If you’re ready to explore ADHD coaching and/or psychotherapy book now.
Learn more about our ADHD Coaching and Counselling
Learn more about our ADHD Assessments and Medical Treatment
*disclaimer - The above is for information only. It may not apply to those living outside of the province of Ontario and does not constitute the professional advice of the author. Consult your primary health care provider or primary mental health care provider to discuss the best approach for your unique set of circumstances.