One of the most common misconceptions about ADHD is that it’s something only kids can have. A stereotypical ADHD patient is a young, hyper male who can’t focus in school. But the reality of ADHD looks so much different. There are a lot of presenting symptoms of ADHD that go overlooked—and these symptoms often lead to strained relationships. Some less obvious symptoms of ADHD that adults experience include:
- Frequent tardiness, inability to be on time
- Forgetting dates and missing deadlines
- Anxiety and depression
- Procrastination
- Irritability
- Impulsive decision making
Many of our adult patients have been diagnosed with various other mental illnesses like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, or various sleep disorders, because over the years clinicians have failed to get to the root of their problems.
If your mental state leaves you feeling frustrated or discouraged: have hope. ADHD could be the culprit. Appropriate diagnosis and treatment could change your life.
What Our Patients Have to Say
What to Expect
As a Patient at Greenville ADHD Specialists
First, we evaluate your history.
Before your first appointment, we try to gather as much information as possible about your history. Having this information ahead of time helps us focus our questions and spend more time speaking with you during your initial appointment about the specific issues you’re experiencing in everyday life.
We will provide you with paperwork to fill out regarding your:
- Past medical and surgical history
- Birth history
- Developmental history
- Mental health history
- Sleep problems
- Social history
- School history
- Family medical history
Second, you come to an initial appointment.
Once you’ve completed and returned all requested paperwork, you will come to our office for your first appointment. The first appointment takes approximately two hours, to allow time for appropriate testing, rating scales, and reviewing your results.
Appointment Phase 1: Questionnaires & Testing
During the first hour of your appointment, you will be asked to complete two rating scales about your symptoms and behaviors. Then you will be given the QbTest.
The QbTest takes about 20 minutes and is performed in front of a computer screen. The test equipment consists of an infrared camera, a head band with an infrared marker attached, and a response button. During the test, a number of symbols are shown on the on the computer screen. The task is to push the responder button when a certain symbol appears on the screen.
Our practice is the only provider in the Upstate that administers the QbTest. The test is FDA-approved, well documented, and offers objective measures of activity, attention, and impulsivity: the three hallmark symptoms of ADHD.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE QBTEST
Appointment Phase 2: Results
After you finish the QbTest, you will spend an hour with your provider. During this time, the clinician will ask questions related to ADHD impairments to rule out any other disorders. Next, she will review your QbTest results with you, explain what ADHD is, and what your treatment options are. Often, a medication is prescribed that day. We ask you to keep a daily record of what you notice with your newly implemented treatment.
DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT FAQ
Third, you return for a follow up appointment.
We like to see our patients back within 2 to 4 weeks after beginning a treatment plan. Your follow up appointment will last approximately 30 minutes, but can be longer depending on the complexity of your case. We will have you repeat the same questionnaires and rating scales as you did in your initial appointment to compare results, including possibly retaking the Qb Test if your clinician feels it would be best.
Your provider will ask you many questions about how you did with your medication, including the time of day you took it, when it wore off, what benefits you noticed, what side effects you noticed, how you slept, and more. If you’re still not feeling your best, then additional dosage adjustments may be needed.
Every 3 months, you return for maintenance visits.
It is important that we see patients every 3 months for multiple reasons. First, it allows us to monitor your progress and make adjustments to your treatment plan as needed.
Second, if you are prescribed a stimulant medication, our clinicians can only write for 3 months of prescriptions at a time due to South Carolina law. A stimulant prescription is NOT refillable, but we are allowed to print 3 months of prescriptions at a time and each prescription expires after 90 days. In addition, it is important to follow weight, height, blood pressure, and heart rate in patients who take any medications.
The questionnaires and rating scales used in the initial visit will be repeated to monitor growth and progress.
PRESCRIPTION FAQ
- 1. Pre-appointment
-
First, we evaluate your history.
Before your first appointment, we try to gather as much information as possible about your history. Having this information ahead of time helps us focus our questions and spend more time speaking with you during your initial appointment about the specific issues you’re experiencing in everyday life.
We will provide you with paperwork to fill out regarding your:
- Past medical and surgical history
- Birth history
- Developmental history
- Mental health history
- Sleep problems
- Social history
- School history
- Family medical history
- 2. Initial Appointment
-
Second, you come to an initial appointment.
Once you’ve completed and returned all requested paperwork, you will come to our office for your first appointment. The first appointment takes approximately two hours, to allow time for appropriate testing, rating scales, and reviewing your results.
Appointment Phase 1: Questionnaires & Testing
During the first hour of your appointment, you will be asked to complete two rating scales about your symptoms and behaviors. Then you will be given the QbTest.
The QbTest takes about 20 minutes and is performed in front of a computer screen. The test equipment consists of an infrared camera, a head band with an infrared marker attached, and a response button. During the test, a number of symbols are shown on the on the computer screen. The task is to push the responder button when a certain symbol appears on the screen.
Our practice is the only provider in the Upstate that administers the QbTest. The test is FDA-approved, well documented, and offers objective measures of activity, attention, and impulsivity: the three hallmark symptoms of ADHD.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE QBTESTAppointment Phase 2: Results
After you finish the QbTest, you will spend an hour with your provider. During this time, the clinician will ask questions related to ADHD impairments to rule out any other disorders. Next, she will review your QbTest results with you, explain what ADHD is, and what your treatment options are. Often, a medication is prescribed that day. We ask you to keep a daily record of what you notice with your newly implemented treatment.
DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT FAQ - 3. Follow-Up Appointment
-
Third, you return for a follow up appointment.
We like to see our patients back within 2 to 4 weeks after beginning a treatment plan. Your follow up appointment will last approximately 30 minutes, but can be longer depending on the complexity of your case. We will have you repeat the same questionnaires and rating scales as you did in your initial appointment to compare results, including possibly retaking the Qb Test if your clinician feels it would be best.
Your provider will ask you many questions about how you did with your medication, including the time of day you took it, when it wore off, what benefits you noticed, what side effects you noticed, how you slept, and more. If you’re still not feeling your best, then additional dosage adjustments may be needed.
- 4. Maintenance
-
Every 3 months, you return for maintenance visits.
It is important that we see patients every 3 months for multiple reasons. First, it allows us to monitor your progress and make adjustments to your treatment plan as needed.
Second, if you are prescribed a stimulant medication, our clinicians can only write for 3 months of prescriptions at a time due to South Carolina law. A stimulant prescription is NOT refillable, but we are allowed to print 3 months of prescriptions at a time and each prescription expires after 90 days. In addition, it is important to follow weight, height, blood pressure, and heart rate in patients who take any medications.
The questionnaires and rating scales used in the initial visit will be repeated to monitor growth and progress.
PRESCRIPTION FAQ
Take the Next Step.
If you think you might be dealing with ADHD-related symptoms, please reach out to us to schedule an appointment. We would love to help you.