Unlock the Genius Within: Smart People With ADHD
Albert Einstein was suspected of having ADHD
You're smart. You're successful. You're driven. But something's holding you back, and you're frustrated. You know you're capable of great things. But your ADHD symptoms make it difficult to focus, stay organized, and manage your time. You may feel like you're constantly playing catch-up or, ironically, be told you should be more thoughtful.
The Frustration of Accessing Treatment
There are many reasons why it can be difficult to find proper treatment:
You may be underdiagnosed. ADHD is often underdiagnosed in adults, especially women.
You’ve gotten really good at masking your symptoms, even though they are still there, and they causing real problems.
You may have co-occuring anxiety, or depression, or OCD which makes it harder to tease out what’s what.
You may not realize that many of the struggles you face are due to ADHD. Perhaps you were told you’re just lazy or undisciplined.
You may face stigma associated with ADHD, from friends and family, and unfortunately, even other health care providers!
Medication shortages add an additional layer of difficulty.
The truth is, ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects people of all ages and intelligence levels. And it's a treatable condition.
The Value of Objective ADHD Testing
The first step to accessing proper care for ADHD is establishing the diagnosis. Provider experience, certain patient characteristics, and even the clinic setting can make diagnosing ADHD tricky. Overall, objective ADHD testing can improve the diagnostic accuracy of ADHD diagnoses by providing additional information that is not available from traditional diagnostic methods, such as clinical interviews and subjective rating scales. Objective ADHD testing can also be helpful in diagnosing ADHD in adults, who may have learned to compensate for their symptoms.
I am proud to offer at-home objective ADHD testing using QBCheck. This test provides me with normalized, quantitative data. This data can be used to assess the severity of ADHD symptoms and track the effectiveness of treatment. Objective ADHD testing is not a perfect diagnostic tool, but it can be a valuable addition to the diagnostic process.
What You Can Do
If you're struggling to access treatment for ADHD, there are a few things you can do:
Get educated about ADHD. The more you know about ADHD, the better equipped you will be to advocate for yourself.
Find a doctor who specializes in ADHD. A doctor who specializes in ADHD will be more likely to recognize and diagnose ADHD in adults.
Address any co-occuring mental health issues such as depression, and anxiety.
Don’t overlook the basics! Try to get good sleep, eat healthy, and stay physically active.
Write down your experiences so you are better prepared to discuss your concerns with your doctor.
Be persistent. Don't give up if you're not diagnosed right away. Keep advocating for yourself and find a doctor who is willing to listen.
Connect with others with ADHD. The national support group CHADD is a great place to start: https://chadd.org/
Explore all of your options. There are many different treatment options for ADHD, including medication, therapy, and lifestyle changes. Talk to your doctor about what options are best for you
People with ADHD can achieve great things. By understanding their condition and developing effective coping strategies, they can thrive in all areas of their lives. QBCheck objective ADHD testing can be a valuable tool for smart people with ADHD because it can help to confirm a diagnosis and identify specific areas of impairment.
