ADHD, Autism & Testing

Articles on ADHD, autism and psychological testing from the licensed psychologists at Thrive Collective in Ottawa, Illinois. For adults, teens and parents.

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What Is AuDHD? What It Means to Have Both Autism and ADHD
What Is AuDHD? What It Means to Have Both Autism and ADHD 1000 665 Dr. Menon

AuDHD is a community term for being both autistic and ADHD. It isn’t a diagnosis in itself. The formal diagnoses are autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and since the…

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Independent Educational Evaluations in Illinois: What Parents Can Request
Independent Educational Evaluations in Illinois: What Parents Can Request 1000 665 Dr. Terry

An independent educational evaluation, or IEE, is an evaluation of your child by a qualified examiner who doesn’t work for your school district. If you disagree with the evaluation the…

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Life After a Late Autism or ADHD Diagnosis: Your First Twelve Months
Life After a Late Autism or ADHD Diagnosis: Your First Twelve Months 1000 667 Dr. Menon

In a 2023 U.S. survey, 55.9% of adults with current ADHD were diagnosed at 18 or older. A psychologist’s guide to the first twelve months after a late diagnosis.

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What Therapy and Testing Cost in Ottawa, Illinois (and How Out-of-Network Benefits Work)
What Therapy and Testing Cost in Ottawa, Illinois (and How Out-of-Network Benefits Work) 1000 667 Dr. Menon

Fees at our Ottawa, IL practice run $120 to $295 per hour by service. What testing costs, how out-of-network benefits work, and what to ask your insurer.

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An autistic adult resting in a quiet room during autistic burnout
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“Why Am I So Exhausted All the Time?” Autistic Burnout Isn’t Regular Burnout
“Why Am I So Exhausted All the Time?” Autistic Burnout Isn’t Regular Burnout 1000 680 Dr. Menon

You read the burnout articles. You took the vacation. You set the boundaries, deleted the app, bought the planner. And you’re still exhausted in a way that sleep doesn’t touch.…

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A child completing an activity during psychological testing for children
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Psychological Testing for Children: What Actually Happens, Step by Step
Psychological Testing for Children: What Actually Happens, Step by Step 1000 667 Dr. Terry

Somewhere between the teacher’s email and the pediatrician’s referral, you ended up here, googling what psychological testing for children actually involves and quietly wondering if you’re overreacting. You’re not. Wanting…

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An adult participating in an online ADHD therapy intensive.
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7 Benefits of an ADHD Therapy Intensive Over Traditional Weekly Therapy
7 Benefits of an ADHD Therapy Intensive Over Traditional Weekly Therapy 1000 667 Dr. Menon

Here’s the Big Picture Weekly therapy’s seven-day gap is hard on ADHD memory and follow-through. Intensive sessions run close together, so momentum carries from one session into the next instead…

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You Know What You Need to Do. So Why Can’t You Do It?
You Know What You Need to Do. So Why Can’t You Do It? 1792 1008 Dr. Menon

You have a deadline. You know it. You have known it for two weeks. You have thought about it every single day. You have opened the document at least four…

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What Psychological Testing Actually Tells You (And Why It’s Not What You Might Think)
What Psychological Testing Actually Tells You (And Why It’s Not What You Might Think) 500 250 Dr. Menon

Most people who contact us about psychological testing for adults start the conversation the exact same way. I have wondered about this for a long time, but I just did…

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“I Just Thought I Was Lazy”: What Late-Diagnosed ADHD and Autism in Women Actually Looks Like
“I Just Thought I Was Lazy”: What Late-Diagnosed ADHD and Autism in Women Actually Looks Like 500 250 Dr. Menon

“I’ve spent my whole life thinking I just needed to try harder.” I hear this constantly. Smart, capable women sitting across from me (or on the other side of a…

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