Testimonials & Patient Statements
“Dr. Ellison has been a hero for us-- a key player in my son's transformation from noncompliant struggler at school to an engaged, confident and successful student. She appreciates the complexity of my little man, treats him with profound respect and high expectations. She never pushed medications, but was ready with them when we felt it was time to try them. She truly listens, and advises thoughtfully and with compassion, yet has no fear in writing a letter to advocate for him if necessary. We feel beyond fortunate to have found her.”
— Grateful Mom of a complicated little man (ASD, SPD, global dyspraxia, ADHD, etc.)
“Dr. Ellison is THE expert on ADHD. I wouldn’t have my child see anyone else.”
— Physician and parent of 9 year old with ADHD
“Our son, who has non-verbal autism, has been a patient of Dr. Ellison for over six years. We were scared and confused when we first met her. She has guided us through each and every problem we have had with kindness and warmth. She has a breadth of knowledge that is unparalleled, but does not force her opinions on you. Rather, she leads you to your own decisions by laying out all the available options and lets you come to those decisions in your own time. Her advice is rooted in the type of practicality that can only be given by someone who has walked this walk herself. She has also proven to be an incredible asset whenever we have run up against any type of opposition for our son and helped us become better advocates. We cannot imagine what our journey with autism would have looked like without Dr. Ellison as our point person.”
— Patrick & Nancy, parents of ten year old son with non-verbal autism
"I hold Dr. Ellison in the highest regard and am truly grateful for her expert care and support over the last 7 years. She has helped see us through many highs and lows from kindergarten to middle school and with her support we have created smart and successful medical and educational plans to help my son achieve his fullest potential. Dr. Ellison is a warm, engaging professional who remains current in her field, always with the most up to date research and information regarding best practices ready at her fingertips. My son adores her and I respect and value her advice and opinion tremendously. I highly recommend her to anyone seeking support for their child with attention and social/behavioral needs". - Kriste G., Speech Language Pathologist and Mother of a Child with ADHD
“Dr. Ellison has made the greatest impact on our son’s progress of any practitioner, and we are extremely grateful.”
—Physician, and parent of a son with Autism and ADHD
“We would follow Dr. Ellison anywhere she went. She is an amazing physician.”
— Therapist and mother of a child with Autism and ADHD
Patient Essay on ADHD Diagnosis as a Teen
The Silent Monster
Have you ever been trying to write an important essay, when a random song pops into
your head? And then that leads you to think about that concert you’re going to, which results in questioning how you’re getting there? In a moment, it’s gone. The fully formed sentence sprung from nowhere, a perfect start to an essay that had the potential to unfold hundreds of words. To me, this feeling of confusion and frustration was just a part of life, and for all I knew, it happened to everyone. Little did I know, this feeling was simply a downside of ADHD; falling in love with ideas and half formed sentences several times in a minute.
Ever since I can remember, the thought of gaining knowledge from lectures in class
hasn't been an option. In earlier years, there wasn’t a need to pay attention, the material was
straight forward. Then, when sophomore year came around, the material got more difficult, and my grades were lower than ever before. The desire for order was always there; overwhelming but hopelessly unattainable. As my grades continued to suffer, so did the confidence I had in myself. No matter how hard I tried to focus, I couldn't. My own classmates and friends viewed me as the individual that struggled on tests, and laughed at me as I failed. I had to act as if I wasn’t trying so my friends would not view me as “stupid.” I convinced myself I was simply incapable of comprehending new material, and my confidence was at a low. Finally, I told myself I had to speak up. My thoughts consumed my mind, and the endless minutes of note taking and lectures was pointless. Information was going in one ear and out the other, and I knew it was time to tell my mom my struggle to focus was more severe than I had ever made it out to be.
Speaking up about the way I felt was the best decision I have ever made. I was scared
that my family would think of me differently, and my friends would view me as less. But, once I went to the specialist and was officially diagnosed, my self confidence began to rise. Imagine that you’ve been crawling on your knees your whole life, but everybody around you walked on two legs. You recognize you’re different, but you can’t seem to keep your balance. This doctor proved to me that I was capable more than I thought. It was a huge mental difference; utilizing the strategies and medications resulted in my self confidence to drastically alter, both in and out of school. Once I accomplished this feeling, it seems odd to me to call this condition a disorder when it comes with numerous positive features.
“I can’t believe I let you talk me into this” has been screamed at me more times than I
can count. Whether it’s convincing my friends to ride that roller coaster, or encouraging them to climb to the top of that mountain, I am always persuading my peers to step out of their comfort zone. My energy is always there to take on all life has to offer, and assisting others in doing the same. But, being the forgetful, accident prone friend results in getting blamed for a lot.
Yet, I’m also blamed for the amazing adventures and spontaneous decisions. The
memories that will last a lifetime. The energy that I am provided with makes me a magnet to
everyone I come across. New people I meet are nourished with conversation, and are always
listened to. I speak my mind; the truth. The honest truth. I’ve faced challenges, learned novel
ways to manage my symptoms, and developed a sense of self-respect along the way. These traits add up to a bright individual that is a pleasure to be around.
Teagan, 11th grade