Appointment Costs
Office Hours
Clients are seen by appointment. Evaluations can be scheduled by calling the Santa Clara office at 408.248.SVMA (7862).
First consultation
Your first appointment will be an evaluation to help you decide
- Whether ADD is an appropriate explanation for the problems you're having
- Whether medication is an appropriate and safe treatment for what we together think may be ADD
The chief criteria for establishing ADD are the presence of chronic, lifelong problems related to impulsivity, inattentiveness, and hyperactivity and the absence of other conditions and disorders that might mimic ADD.
Your evaluation will include a medical history & physical exam, lab tests, an EKG, and a psychological interview.
We have expertise in the diagnosis and pharmaceutical treatment of ADD. We will offer you treatment with appropriate medication if we agree you have ADD. We'll tell you frankly and plainly when we think you don't have ADD and medication is not warranted. Ironically, it is somewhat easier to diagnose when ADD traits are present than it is to know when some other health-related issues are mimicking ADD.
Because there are a large number of medical and psychosocial situations that can cause symptoms and problems that mimic ADD, we emphatically urge anyone having reason to suspect ill health, physical or psychological, to begin your search with an evaluation by your Family Doctor. ADD is often associated with undiagnosed anxiety, depression, obsessive-ness, bipolar depression or "self-medicating" with drugs of abuse. Many times your Family Doctor will have the necessary training to suggest to you appropriate resources.
We are not offering the comprehensive care that your Primary Care Physician would, nor the treatment of psychological disorders as would a Psychiatrist or Psychologist
It is important to add here that a strong case could be argued for the concept that psychological dysfunction may arise from years of the struggle to cope in a Non-ADD world. Our experience is that some forms of anxiety are reduced as a result of appropriate treatment with Stimulant medication for ADD. The paradox is that Stimulant medications tend to increase anxiety in NonADDers.
Bring an open mind and...
Its helpful to bring to your appointment any reference materials you think will add weight to the evaluation process.
- Take and bring the results of the Adult Self-Report Scale (ASRS) Symptom Checklist or one of online screens for ADHD
- Past Medical Records
- Elementary school report cards that describe you as having trouble remaining seated, not following the rules, blurting answers out of turn, using time poorly, forgetting to turn in assignments and the like are useful.
- A Supervisor or Coach's evaluation citing that you have displayed more potential than follow-thru or can't seem to "buckle down".
- A letter from someone that knows you well could offer valuable diagnostic clues
Cost
The initial Evaluation includes:
- Medical history and physical exam
- Psychological interview and screens
- Screening lab tests including ECG and a consultation regarding the results
- Anticipate 2 hours for your first visit
The cost is $345.
See accompanying typical schedule
| Typical Visit/Cost Schedule | ||
|---|---|---|
| Visit 1 | 1st Week | $345 |
| Visit 2 | 2nd Week | $75 |
| Visit 3 | 3rd Week | $50-75 |
| Visit 4 | 4th Week | $50 |
| Visit 5 | 2nd Month | $50, Follow up visit frequency will be adjusted according to progress and problems encountered |
| Visit 6 | 3rd Month | $50 |
| Visit 7 | 6th Month | $35-50, there after every 3rd month |
Medication
The time-honored treatment of ADD has been Stimulants. Their effectiveness rate is on the order of 70%. Their record of safety in the treatment of ADD is excellent. However Stimulants are subject to abuse from overuse and inappropriate use and have been selected by the FDA for status as "Controlled Substances". The FDA oversees suspicious prescription patterns.
We are providing medical advice and treatment in that order of priority.
No one is prescribed medication unless we agree that medication is likely to be both safe and effective for you.
After the Initial Evaluation, during the following visits the effect of the medications will be monitored. We will have suggestions for changes in dosing to optimize the benefits and manage any unwanted effects. Most unwanted effects can be managed with a change of dosing or switch to an alternate drug. Extremely rarely has there been reported serious side effect when adults using good judgment take the medication. However it is for reasons related to safety that the FDA controls the prescription of stimulants.
Insurance
Clients pay for their evaluation and follow up visits on the day of service. If your health insurance covers your services, we can furnish the paper work your carrier would require before reimbursing you. Health insurance policies differ markedly. We suggest you contact your insurance carrier and ask about your benefits. Typically those clients who have pharmacy insurance coverage would have their prescription medication covered. Assistance with the cost of the first weeks of prescription medication is often available through coupon programs offered by pharmaceutical companies. Once we settle on a satisfactory medication, we can usually work within the formulary of your policy for a suitable covered alternative. Clients typically pay nothing for their medication until we find a suitable treatment.