ADHD Medications And Evaluations

Medication Refills:
We get many questions regarding students needing medication for attention deficit disorder, (ADD), or other learning disabilities. This document describes how Student Health Services medical staff can provide safe and appropriate care for a student with these needs.

One option for a student to continue his or her medication for ADD is for the student to present a valid prescription at either the SHS pharmacy or any other retail pharmacy in the area. Because the drugs used for ADD are strictly controlled by the Drug Enforcement Agency, (DEA), there are at times difficulties encountered by students getting their medication when not at home. If you choose to use a prescription from the physician who has been prescribing your medication, Kansas law mandates that it must be presented for filling within 6 months of being written. A prescription for these medications cannot be phoned in to a pharmacy. A written, dated prescription with the diagnosis on the prescription is required.

If a student wants a SHS physician to be responsible for continuing an existing treatment plan, it is important to understand the guidelines adopted by the medical staff of KU. These have been developed in conjunction with the Office of Student Disability Services & the Counseling and Psychological Services office. These standards are currency of testing, breadth of testing, and a clear definitive diagnosis consistent with testing results. The testing must include a clinical interview and more than one assessment device. Possible examples of these tests are:

• WAIS III
• Woodcock-Johnson III Cognitive and Achievement Test
• Connors AD/HD Rating Scale
• Connors Symptom Checklist of Adult ADD

ADHD Testing:
If a student is able to present to Student Health Services copies of at least two of these tests being done as a part of an adult evaluation, a diagnostic statement from the mental health professional who administered the testing, and a recommendation by the evaluator for a prescription as part of the treatment plan, it is likely that we will be able to continue the course of therapy recommended in the evaluation. They should call 864-9507 and make an initial ADD visit with a WMHC physician and make sure they bring their full evaluation papers with them.

A comprehensive diagnostic evaluation consists of an adult evaluation (age 15 yrs. Old or older), performed within the previous 4 years, that identifies the current functional issues. Any significant event that would affect diagnosis/function since the last evaluation will necessitate updated testing. We feel it is essential that there be current documentation of disorder. Without such comprehensive evaluations, the WMHC staff does not feel it to be appropriate to either institute or continue drug therapy.

If you have questions about accommodations for learning disabilities or ADD/ADHD contact:
Academic Achievement & Access Center 864-4064 www.achievement.ku.edu
Disability Resources 864-2620 http://www.disability.ku.edu

If you have questions about being tested for ADD/ADHD, contact:

• Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)-who perform some ADHD evaluations.
  Watkins Memorial Health Center
  864-2277
• For more information, a list of other area professionals who can do ADHD evaluations is available here.