Need info on neuro-psych evaluations -- especially at Boston Children's

[jujsky]

We saw our pediatrician yesterday for suspected ADD/ADHD for DS(8). DS has suspected fetal alcohol effect and SPD (both recognized when he was 3-4 and he did have 2 years of therapy for SPD which helped tremendously). Our pediatrician is right on the same page as we are with ADHD. He thinks it's real, but over and mis-diagnosed. He wants us to go to Boston Children's for a neuro-psych evaluation. He thinks they probably will come back with and ADHD diagnosis based on everything I filled out and our conversation, but he strongly suspects there is more going on there -- possibly a visual processing issue as well.

 

What can I expect from a neuro-psych evaluation? I've had 2 friends go through the process with their children (not at Boston Children's), and they said insurance didn't cover it, yet our pediatrician said it probably would because it's diagnostic testing, and they can't treat him until he's diagnosed. Particularly if anyone has gone through Boston Children's for the evaluation, how long did it take in terms of time to get in, time to test, and the time to get the test results after the tests have been completed? What types of tests do they do? Is it unrealistic to expect that I'll have answers by mid-late spring? His doctor did say it was more likely that we'd get into Boston before we'd get into the local neuro-psych. He said it will probably take 6-8 weeks for an appointment in Boston. If any of you have gone there, is that what you found? I'd feel more at ease if I had a clearer picture in my mind of how the entire process works. Also, how were you treated as a homeschooler? My pediatrician has displayed no negativity towards our choices, but I know the neurologist we saw in the past did (until I changed her mind :D). I don't want this entire thing to become a "you should put him in school" battle when that's not the issue. His little sister is in the same grade as he is and excelling, so he's not struggling due to lack of attention or lack of a quality education. He'd be struggling no matter where he was -- probably more in PS.

 

Thanks in advance!

[jujsky]

Thank you, Karen. Your posts helped a lot! DH got in touch with our insurance, and they do cover it so long as it's medically necessary. I truly hope we don't get stuck with a developmental pediatrician or psychologist who is anti-homeschooling. DS would be lost in PS. If he has this much trouble concentrating on his work while he's at home and receiving one-on-one attention, how could he possibly succeed in a classroom of 20+ kids?

[jujsky]

Ouch! It's going to take 4-6 months to get in to see a specialist for an evaluation. On the plus side, they have an adoption specialist who is also well-known for his work with fetal alcohol syndrome, so maybe we can get a definite diagnosis instead of a "he probably has this" pseudo-diagnosis. In other not-so-great-news, the person DH talked to at Children's said that while our insurance said they'll cover it "if medically necessary" the definition of that varies. If it comes back as ADHD or a visual processing disorder they may claim it is educational and not medical, and not cover it (it's going to cost around $4,500 so I have no idea how we'll come up with that money if they don't cover it). Not sure how that works since if it IS ADHD, it's affecting a lot more than just his school work. I would think that if a doctor is saying it's medically necessary to have these tests, they would cover it regardless how it comes back. I mean, they don't KNOW what's going on with him unless they test him. That would be like an insurance company not covering a test for diabetes because it came back negative. It's so stupid. I hate insurance companies!

[Guest]

I have nothing to post that would be helpful but just noticed your thread and wanted to say good to see you here! Long time :)! Wishing you all the best with your boy and hoping the financial aspect somehow works itself out so that you can get the evaluation he needs.