Originally published 8/8/24
Who Can Diagnose and Prescribe Medication
- Primary Care Doctor: Regular doctors who can diagnose and prescribe medicine for medical and mental health issues, including ADHD. Some are MDs (Medical Doctors) or DOs (Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine). DOs also learn about diet and exercise.
- Pediatricians: Doctors for children. They can diagnose and prescribe medicine for kids with medical or mental health conditions, including ADHD.
- APRNs (Advanced Practice Registered Nurses): Nurses with extra training who can diagnose and prescribe medicine for medical and mental health conditions, including ADHD.
- Neurologists: Doctors who treat problems with the brain, like epilepsy and severe headaches. They can also diagnose some neurodivergent conditions.
Who Can Diagnose, Prescribe Medication, and Provide Therapy
- Psychiatrists: Doctors who help with mental health and neurodivergent conditions. They can diagnose, prescribe medicine, and sometimes give therapy.
Who Can Only Diagnose Some Things
- Educational Psychologists: They can diagnose learning disabilities if they have special training. They can also help with ADHD advice.
- School Psychologists: In private practice, they can diagnose learning disabilities, but not ADHD or autism.
Who Can Diagnose and Provide Therapy
- Neuropsychologists: Specialists who test for and diagnose neurodivergent, neurological, and mental health conditions. They explain what the results mean for school, work, and daily life.
- Clinical Psychologists: Mental health professionals with a PhD. They diagnose and treat mental health and neurodivergent conditions using therapy.
- Therapists: They help people with mental health and neurodivergent conditions using talk therapy. They can diagnose mental health issues and sometimes ADHD. Types include social workers, counselors, and marriage/family therapists.
Who Can Help Diagnose and Provide Therapy
- Speech and Language Therapists: They help people who have trouble communicating because of medical, neurological, or neurodivergent conditions. They can also help with social skills.
- Occupational Therapists: They help people who have trouble doing daily tasks because of medical, neurological, or neurodivergent conditions.
- Physical Therapists: They help people who have trouble moving because of medical, neurological, or neurodivergent conditions.
Who Can Only Provide Therapy
- Vocational/Career Counselors: They help people with medical, neurological, or mental health conditions find jobs and plan careers. Vocational counselors often work with state programs.
- School Counselors: They give therapy at school for students with learning or mental health challenges.
- ADHD/Executive Functioning Coaches: They teach skills to people with neurodivergent conditions.
Who Can Only Give Assessments
- Educational Specialists: They check for mental health and learning challenges at school.
References
- American Medical Group. (n.d.). What’s the Difference Between an MD, a PA, and an APRN? https://amamedicalgroup.com/whats-the-difference-between-an-md-a-pa-and-an-aprn/
- Anxiety & Depression Association of America. (n.d.). Types of Mental Health Care Professionals. https://adaa.org/find-help/treatment-help/types-of-therapy/types-of-mental-health-care-professionals
- Autism Society. (n.d.). Screening & Diagnosis: Identifying Autism. https://autismsociety.org/screening-diagnosis/
- CHADD. (n.d.). Professionals Who Diagnose and Treat ADHD. https://chadd.org/about-adhd/professionals-who-diagnose-and-treat-adhd/#:~:text=There%20are%20several%20types%20of,family%20therapists%2C%20etc
- Mental Health America. (n.d.). Types of Mental Health Professionals. https://mhanational.org/types-mental-health-professionals
- Ross Kidder, K. (n.d.). Assessment for Adults with LD and/or ADHD. LD Online. https://www.ldonline.org/ld-topics/evaluation-ld-testing/assessment-adults-ld-andor-adhd
- Seladi-Schulman, J. (n.d.). Occupational Therapy vs. Physical Therapy: What to Know. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/occupational-therapy-vs-physical-therapy#about-occupational-therapy