Is anybody here familiar with this thing?

I’m talking to a psychiatrist to get assessed for ADHD, but in order to start treatment, if necessary, I’ll first have to do this neuropsychological assessment called the WEIS test. It’s expensive as shit, more than 2k, but seems to be the only way for me to get any kind of treatment. I can either pay that amount or wait 8-10 months to get it through my health insurance.

I did some digging and apparently it’s this assessment of intelligence that can only be applied by qualified professionals. It frankly sounds like I’m about to get my brainpan measured. Have any of you taken this exam? Is it as stupid as it sounds? Has it helped you receive and/or validate a diagnosis?

Honestly it fucking sucks to me, having to jump through all these hoops just to have somebody listen to me and say “you have/don’t have ADHD”.

  • getoffthedrugsdudeEnglish
    9·
    6 months ago

    I feel you, all I can afford right now are symptoms.

    But yes, it’s an IQ test. Are you comfortable asking for a second opinion on getting diagnosed? None of my diagnosed ADHD friends had to take that but they were tested around 4-10 years ago so maybe that’s changed.

    • joaomarrom [he/him, comrade/them]@hexbear.netOPEnglish
      6·
      6 months ago

      I’m comfortable, definitely, but now I’m not sure what other options I’ll have. I’ve had terrible experiences with psychiatrists and I have a feeling that it’ll feel ridiculous if I, a young man in his 30s, visit a psychiatrist to describe ADHD symptoms. No matter how legitimate my concerns are, it’ll surely sound like drug-seeking behavior, trying to score some Ritalin or something. Maybe I’m just overthinking, I seem to do that a lot.

      Edit: to be clear, this point about talking to a psychiatrist about medication is very specific to my circumstances, how my insurance provider deals with doctors and how doctors in turn deal with patients. It’s a mass production line where you go in, talk for 10-15 minutes and maybe get proper attention. It’s just a very strange process all in all, no human connection, just a disorder-medicine pipeline with barely any personal connection.