Pacific Pain & Wellness Group specializes in ADHD and ADD testing, evidence-based treatments, and ongoing management of symptoms. Gelareh Solomon, PhD, is our Certified Clinical Psychologist who specializes in testing, diagnosis, and treatment of adult ADD.

For adults who have had undiagnosed ADD/ADHD since childhood, their symptoms may have been mistaken for a learning disorder, behavior disorder, or mood disorder. However, with the right assessment and diagnosis, someone with ADD/ADHD can be given the tools they need to be successful in school, at home, and with peers. This can foster a greater sense of self-worth and confidence, which allows the person to blossom and grow.

For adults who have not been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, their symptoms may be mistaken for being unreliable, uncaring, or not taking life seriously. This couldn’t be further from the truth. An adult with ADD/ADHD simply needs to have proper testing done, get the right diagnosis, and receive effective treatment.

We treat adults by offering ADD testing and diagnosis, personalized treatment plans, and medication-based and/or behavioral-based treatment plans to consider. We have psychiatrists on staff to help you find the right medication at the right dosage that works best for you.

Every person is unique and different in how their ADD/ADHD symptoms affect their life. Let our team help you get on the road to symptom management today by calling our office at (310) 437-7399.

Symptoms of ADD / ADHD

There are three categories of symptoms that fall under the diagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). These include inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Individuals can have one or more of these types as part of their diagnosis.

Inattention Type: Inattention is the inability to stay focused on one thought or task for very long. Some ways that you might be able to tell that a someone has the inattentive type of ADD is if they:

  • Put off starting something (procrastination)
  • Leave tasks undone before moving to the next thing
  • Have multiple “loose ends” or incomplete projects

If you can recall having many of the following characteristics since a young age, you may have had ADD/ADHD since childhood:

  • Inability to organize your time or assignments
  • Inability to stay focused for very long
  • Made careless errors on assignments
  • Jumped from one topic to another in conversations
  • Forgot due dates and daily events
  • Failed to bring what you needed to school
  • Easily distracted by your surroundings in the classroom
  • Had trouble making and keeping friends

Adults with the inattentive type of ADD or ADHD can have difficulty holding jobs for very long, may have difficulty in social interactions, and meeting their daily responsibilities.

Hyperactivity Type: Just as the word sounds, this symptom is exclusive to a diagnosis of ADHD because the person will have a hard time staying still. If you were a child with ADHD, you probably felt like you had “ants in your pants” because you constantly fidgeted, moved your body around, or got out of your seat a lot.

A person with ADHD seems to live at warp speed. Their symptoms can include:

  • Moving around whenever they can
  • Running rather than walking from place to place
  • Appear restless (shaking their foot, leg, or hands)
  • Never slowing down (looks constantly “busy”)
  • Talking too much

Impulsivity Type: Impulse control is the ability to control oneself when that behavior would be inappropriate. If you have this type, as a child you may have gotten hurt more often than other kids or accidentally hurt others. This is usually due to a lack of impulse control, which shows up in careless or risky behaviors like doing dangerous stunts.

Someone with impulsivity may be unable to wait for the other person to stop talking before they interrupt. This can cause difficulties keeping friends, cooperating with others, and in personal relationships. Impulsivity issues may also appear as impatience, inability to wait for your turn, or talking out of turn when it is inappropriate.

ADD / ADHD Testing Adults

The first indicator that ADD or ADHD testing needs to be done is the presence of symptoms that disrupt the person’s life. We will start this process by conducting an intake interview with you to find out how your symptoms have been negatively impacting your life. A positive diagnosis will be given if certain criteria are met according to the guidelines in the DSM-5.

There is no blood test, urinalysis, or scan that can provide a diagnosis of ADD or ADHD. The most effective way to diagnose one of these disorders is to have an experienced clinician find out what your symptoms are, how long they have been happening, how frequently they occur, and how severe they are.

To get a diagnosis, the symptoms must be present for 6 months or longer and in more than one setting. For example, if you have trouble staying organized at home, but do not experience this same impairment at work, then another diagnosis may be more appropriate.

ADHD begins in childhood, so adults who come in for ADD testing will be asked when their symptoms first showed up. Targeted questions like, “How did you do in school?” or “Tell me about your discipline history at school?” can be key to learning when the condition may have started. This can be comforting and eye opening to see that childhood ADHD was responsible for certain academic and behavioral issues.

Verbal assessments and written questionnaires will help us properly diagnose you. Some of these tools include symptom checklists, standardized screening tools, attention-span tests, questionnaires, and in-depth questions about how your symptoms are affecting your life.

With your permission, we may also send an assessment or questionnaire to a partner, friend, or family member to get a fuller picture of where and how your symptoms are showing up in various settings.

We may also ask you to get an evaluation with your primary care physician to rule out another medical or neurological condition that may be causing your symptoms. For example, if symptoms are only showing up at work but not in another setting, then a visit to your primary care doctor or other medical specialist will likely be recommended.

Adult ADD Testing

Many adults come to see us after suffering for years with inexplicable symptoms that negatively impact their ability to function well in certain areas of their life. They be experiencing one or more of the following issues:

  • Spotty work history: Jumping around from job to job or being fired frequently.
  • Underperformance: Inability to perform at a level that matches their skills, education, and competence.
  • Life skills: Difficulty managing bills and money, staying on track with daily obligations and tasks, or letting the house get extremely messy or disorganized.
  • Relationships: acting impatient or short-tempered with others, overlooking significant events, not following through with responsibilities.
  • Psychological well-being: Feeling anxious, stressed out, or down on oneself for not meeting their obligations.

Family Involvement for Support

The team at Pacific Pain & Wellness Group is here to help you have a better life. There is always hope when families and professionals come together to form a treatment plan that is meant to improve the patient’s life. That’s what we’re here for. It is our mission to help you succeed in relationships, friendships, in the home, and at work.

What can you do if someone you love is struggling with ADD or ADHD? Be as involved as you can. From the assessment process to treatment, you play a large role in how successful treatment is for your loved one. We offer individual and family therapy to help you learn coping skills as well as how to improve communication between family members.

As a partner in your loved one’s treatment, plan to be very involved in the testing stage, treatment phase, and maintenance of this condition. Treatment options can involve talk therapy, behavioral therapy, and/or medication. There will be a lot of questions along the way because our team has your loved one’s best interest at heart.

What Comes After Your ADD or ADHD Diagnosis?

The first thing to know is that you’re not alone. Millions of adults are living with this diagnosis and thriving. Getting the right support system and professionals involved can make all the difference. Our compassionate clinicians will listen to you, explore all possible treatment options, and walk alongside you every step of the way.

We know that it can be scary to be diagnosed with ADD or ADHD, but it can also be comforting to know that there’s never been a better time to have this diagnosis. That’s right! Today, we have decades of research and controlled studies under our belts. This means that we know more today than ever before. You’ll get evidence-based treatment options that we know will work best for your individual situation.

Even with the best supportive services, you may still feel emotional about getting this diagnosis. It’s normal for some people to go through a grieving process when they get a diagnosis.

These emotions can include:

  • Denial
  • Anger
  • Bargaining
  • Depression
  • Acceptance

If you are experiencing some of these feelings, coming in to talk to a therapist can be extremely helpful in processing your emotions. Some adults with ADD may feel hopeless that they’ll ever be able to hold down a job. Others may feel isolated due to feeling different from everyone else.

These reactions are just a few of the many types of responses people can have. It’s important to remember that a therapist can help you identify your feelings, sort them out, and help you see a brighter future than the one you’re imagining.

We are here to help you with psychotherapy (counseling), CBT, and couples/family/group therapy options. Medication can also help control symptoms to a great degree. This alone can help decrease feelings of isolation and hopelessness.

ADD / ADHD and Other Conditions

The following conditions can sometimes be mistaken for ADD or ADHD due to similar-looking symptoms:

  • An anxiety disorder: Anxiety can look like ADD or ADHD because someone may be restless, have difficulty sleeping, act irritable, or have trouble concentrating (due to excessive worrying).
  • A depressive disorder: Depression can look like ADD or ADHD if the person has insomnia, increased psychomotor activity, irritability, trouble focusing, or stops being interested in activities they once loved. Depression can also occur along with ADD (comorbid condition) in some people.
  • Learning disabilities: If you are unable to perform math calculations or do well on reading comprehension, for example, you may have a learning disability and not ADD or ADHD. A learning disability can look like ADD or ADHD if you have symptoms such as not paying attention, walking away from unfinished tasks, or poor performance at work. These reactions are usually due to lack of understanding, which causes frustration or boredom.
  • Substance use disorder: If someone has the impulsivity type of ADD, this can lead to impulsive decisions and risky behaviors such as using drugs and alcohol in excess. At Pacific Pain & Wellness Group, we treat some substance use disorders (suboxone for opioid dependence), and we offer psychotherapy for individuals struggling with any type of addiction.

Adult ADD Testing  in Torrance - Pacific Pain & Wellness Group

You don’t have to wonder whether you have ADD or ADHD; come in today for professional, formal testing with Dr. Gelareh Solomon. She offers a comprehensive range of psychological testing, assessments, counseling services, neuropsychological testing, and evaluation. We also have a team of psychiatrists available to help you with medications, if needed.

Seeing a qualified and experienced specialist in ADD and ADHD makes all the difference in getting the right diagnosis and treatment. At Pacific Pain & Wellness Group, we care about you as much as you do. Our goal is to help you feel better so you can live better.

Call us today to schedule your ADD testing in Torrance, Los Angeles at (310) 437-7399.