Resources in SF Bay Area?

[Just Cathy]

Hi everyone! I'm a long, long time lurker and first want to say a big thank you to everyone who shares on this board - it has been such a great help to me!

 

I'm looking for resources in the SF Bay Area (California) for Neuro Psych testing/evaluations/expert help for my 9 year DS. I think a university hospital would be ideal but am looking for any suggestions.

 

As a bit of background my DS currently has the following dx: bipolar, anxiety, depression, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia, ADHD, and visual processing issues.  Of course there are lots of other issues as well and I am starting to suspect NVLD as a possibility (he has had 2 ASD evaluations where we were told he has some symptoms but he does not quality for a dx). We are extremely dissatisfied with the treatment he has received from Kaiser mental health and the fact that he is no better off today than he was 4 years ago when we started with them.  His psychiatrist now seems willing to give us an outside referral for testing to a specialist but is clueless as to where to send us.  I'm hoping some of you may have ideas.  

 

Thank you all again and I look forward to joining in instead of just lurking now!

 

 

 

 

[Laurel-in-CA]

I live in the North Bay, but here are some ideas:

 

1) Many community colleges have disability depts. and they will retest adults. Perhaps you could contact your local CC and ask for referrals to professionals in your area? Here's mine.  https://drd.santarosa.edu/learning-disabilities-intake-packet

 

2) Try a search on learning disabilities or learning differences in your city, state. I found a list of therapists. I also found this one in Walnut Creek (no idea about them, but they popped up in the search and may be closer to you). http://optimalmindsneuropsychology.com/services/learning-disability-evaluation/  Here's another listing from a government web site about an assessment center for NorCal in Fremont. http://www.dcn-cde.ca.gov/ and more general organizational info. http://www.sonomaselpa.org/pub/selpadocs/links.html

 

3) Here's the one I was referred to when I was exploring testing for learning disabilities with my now-19yo (who has, BTW, found encouraging support now that she's at the CC): http://www.matrixparents.org/

 

Hope this helps, even if some of these places are a bit of a trip for you. Blessings on your journey with your son.

 

 

 

 

[Crimson Wife]

I'm not sure if Dr. Linda Lotspeich at Stanford is accepting new patients but she's supposed to be good. With that list of diagnoses and knowing Kaiser, I would NOT accept their claim that he doesn't have ASD without getting an outside opinion.

[Just Cathy]

I live in the North Bay, but here are some ideas:

 

1) Many community colleges have disability depts. and they will retest adults. Perhaps you could contact your local CC and ask for referrals to professionals in your area? Here's mine.  https://drd.santarosa.edu/learning-disabilities-intake-packet

 

2) Try a search on learning disabilities or learning differences in your city, state. I found a list of therapists. I also found this one in Walnut Creek (no idea about them, but they popped up in the search and may be closer to you). http://optimalmindsneuropsychology.com/services/learning-disability-evaluation/  Here's another listing from a government web site about an assessment center for NorCal in Fremont. http://www.dcn-cde.ca.gov/ and more general organizational info. http://www.sonomaselpa.org/pub/selpadocs/links.html

 

3) Here's the one I was referred to when I was exploring testing for learning disabilities with my now-19yo (who has, BTW, found encouraging support now that she's at the CC): http://www.matrixparents.org/

 

Hope this helps, even if some of these places are a bit of a trip for you. Blessings on your journey with your son.

 

Thank you for the links and ideas, I'll check them all out!

[Just Cathy]

I'm not sure if Dr. Linda Lotspeich at Stanford is accepting new patients but she's supposed to be good. With that list of diagnoses and knowing Kaiser, I would NOT accept their claim that he doesn't have ASD without getting an outside opinion.

 

Stanford is on my list of places to call. Thanks for the Dr. recommendation!  

 

I am so torn on the ASD, I feel like it would be so much easier if he were diagnosed with ASD.  One eval was from Kaiser at their Autism clinic in SF and the other was from an independent Psych who said he had some characteristics but didn't meet the criteria for a dx. Sometimes though his Dr will see him on a really bad day and want refer us back to the ASD clinic. Thats why I'm starting to think maybe NVLD might fit better... if only it were recognized in the DSM. *sigh*

[vlslusher]

My son had his most recent testing done at Packard. Yes, the waitlist was long. But we got a cancellation appointment the summer and came in the next morning. They found stuff his private evaluation never did. Can't speak highly enough of his psychiatrist and evaluation with neuropsych there.