How to Find an ADHD Doctor Online

It can be challenging to find the right healthcare provider who specializes in ADHD, especially if you’re looking for telehealth services. However, finding the right ADHD health care provider is essential to get access to the right medication, counseling resources, and other tools so you can manage your symptoms.

If you’re looking for an ADHD doctor online and are running into obstacles, this article can help. We’ll define the advantages of telemedicine, list what to look for in an online health care provider, and discuss symptoms that indicate you may have ADHD.

Don’t let the difficulty of finding the right ADHD provider stop you from getting the care you need. Klarity only partners with licensed providers so you don’t have to worry if you’re getting quality care. Find your mental healthcare provider on Klarity today. 

When to Look for an Online ADHD Doctor

One of the hardest parts of getting help for your ADHD is figuring out where to start. The symptoms of ADHD can vary in severity from day to day, making it difficult to determine whether or not you actually have it. Even more so, when life gets busy, it may be hard to find time in the day to visit an ADHD specialist.

The best way to decide if you need to look for an ADHD doctor is if your symptoms begin to intrude on your everyday life. Whether you find it difficult to focus at work or maintaining relationships has become difficult, it’s important to get help before ADHD symptoms become a constant disruption. For individuals that need help, don’t quite have the time to seek out an in-person specialist, the help of an online ADHD doctor can be an effective option.

Why Telemedicine?

Seeing a doctor for your ADHD symptoms may seem like a process that can take precious time out of your day, but there is a way to make getting help simple and convenient. Over the last few years, telemedicine has proven to be a valuable asset to both doctors and patients. 

With just a quick video or phone call, patients are able to hear from a real doctor and get the information they need from the comfort of their own homes. Doctors are also able to provide more efficient service, as the minutiae of regular office visits are cut down, and patients are able to receive assistance faster than ever before.

For individuals with diagnosed or suspected ADHD, a telemedicine call can allow quick and convenient access to symptom management tools, all while eliminating any worry associated with an in-office visit.

Signs of ADHD in Adults

ADHD is often identified in childhood, usually because it can interfere with academic performance, but it can still be present and identifiable in adults. While some symptoms may not be as easy to spot in adulthood as they are in childhood, there are some markers of ADHD that can help a doctor come to a diagnosis.

Hyperactive

One of the key elements of ADHD is sudden hyperactivity and extreme excitability. This can manifest in many different ways for everyone, but it typically leads to things like impulsivity and a need to be in motion all the time. Measured decision-making might become difficult, and sudden mood changes can make everyday life feel like a roller coaster of emotions.

Inattentive

The other side of ADHD’s symptoms is disruptive inattentiveness, which affects almost every aspect of daily life. Not only can it be difficult to maintain a consistent attention span, but individuals with ADHD are often very forgetful and absent-minded. This can make everything from washing the dishes to scheduling an important doctor’s appointment difficult to complete, simply because an individual is easily distracted or will forget about the task entirely.

Combined

The most prominent sign of ADHD in an individual is when there is a clear combination of both hyperactivity and inattentiveness, with one often feeding into the other. There are many examples of how the two signs interact, but it can most often be boiled down to an individual’s inability to focus because they are impulsively excited about something else. This then creates a loop of hyperactive absent-mindedness that goes on to become a significant disruption.

Who Can Diagnose and Treat ADHD

If you’re looking for a definitive ADHD diagnosis, there are various medical resources to rely on. ADHD in adults can be diagnosed by a primary care doctor, a psychologist, or a psychiatrist, as each of them is professionally trained to identify the behavioral issues related to the condition. The diagnosis process may vary depending on a patient’s unique symptoms, but it will often involve an interview and behavioral analysis, as well as an interview with a patient’s friends and family to help identify a pattern of behavior.

These three specialists are also capable of treating ADHD, but they will likely approach the issue from different perspectives.

• Primary Care Doctor: A primary care doctor may recommend that a patient see a clinical psychologist for their ADHD for greater cognitive analysis, or they may provide the medication they believe will be best for a patient’s symptoms.
• Psychologist: A clinical psychologist will most likely approach treatment with a focus on talk therapy, using techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy to help patients develop healthier behaviors and better manage their symptoms without the need for medication.
• Psychiatrist: A psychiatrist will often take an approach similar to a psychologist for ADHD treatment, but instead of relying purely on therapy, they will most likely recommend medication for symptom management.
• Mid-Level Providers: You can also consult with mid-level providers like Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and Physician Assistants (PAs) who are qualified to diagnose and manage ADHD. These healthcare professionals often work in collaboration with physicians and are trained to evaluate symptoms, perform assessments, and initiate treatment plans, which may include medication prescriptions.

Can Online Doctors Diagnose ADHD?

For a doctor or psychologist to make an ADHD diagnosis, all they need is the proper certifications and experience. The location in which the diagnosis is made doesn’t make a difference, so an online doctor can make a proper ADHD diagnosis. The most important thing is getting the help you need, whether it’s in an office or over the phone.

What to Look for in an Online ADHD Doctor

If you’re looking for an online ADHD doctor, it’s best to search with the same caution that you would for any other medical professional. If an online ADHD doctor you’ve been researching has a website, it would be smart to look through it so you can get an idea of their certifications and expertise. If online reviews are available, it could also be beneficial to read those so you can see what other people have to say about their services.

Another important component to consider when researching online ADHD doctors is their preferred method of treatment. If you believe that medication would be the best option for treating your symptoms, seeking out a doctor or psychiatrist that prioritizes such treatment would be best. Likewise, if you’d rather take a more therapy-based approach, it would be best to look for a psychologist that specializes in ADHD therapy.

How Online ADHD Treatment Works

Online ADHD treatment functions similarly to in-office treatment, with the added benefit of staying in the comfort of your own home. If you’re looking for ADHD treatment but you’re not sure where to turn, an online doctor can be a great place to start.

ADHD Diagnosis

The first step of ADHD treatment is getting a comprehensive diagnosis that identifies every possible aspect of your condition. Through a series of evaluations, an online ADHD doctor should be able to ascertain how severe your symptoms are and notify you of their severity if you weren’t previously aware. Once all of the necessary evaluations have been made, your doctor should have what they need to come to a final diagnosis.

Treatment Plan

After a diagnosis has been made, your ADHD doctor will begin to develop a treatment plan that best suits your symptoms. This could be therapy, a medication plan, or both, and your doctor will discuss the plan with you to ensure that it works best with your personal health and daily life.

Ongoing ADHD Treatment

ADHD is a chronic condition that can’t be cured, so constant treatment is often the best option for symptom management. To make sure ADHD doesn’t become as disruptive as before, it’s important to check in with your doctor so they can gauge your progress and potentially make changes to your treatment plan. Persistence is key when dealing with ADHD, and sticking to your treatment can mean the difference between living a distracted life or a focused one.

Find an ADHD Specialist Online at Klarity

Finding an ADHD specialist doesn’t have to be difficult, and with Klarity, we make it simple. We connect you with licensed and certified online healthcare providers so that you can get ADHD treatment or diagnosis, if applicable. 

On Klarity we streamline the process to get you diagnosed and help you receive a quality ADHD treatment plan (if necessary). Find your online healthcare provider on Klarity today.