Adult ADHD Assessment FAQ

How do you assess ADHD in adults?

We will schedule two assessment meetings.  Prior to the first meeting, you will fill out paperwork from my website.  At the first meeting, we will discuss your life difficulties as they have manifested in school, work, home, relationships and any other way.  Prior to the second meeting, I will send you some additional ADHD-specific questionnaires to fill out. You will need to complete these in time for me to review them prior to our next meeting. At the second meeting, I will finish asking you questions, give you feedback about the questionnaires, and you can have an opportunity to ask any questions you may have about ADHD.  

What if I want a full psychological testing report?

Usually, the people I assess just want to know whether they have ADHD for themselves and for their treatment providers.  For this reason, I typically do not do a full psychological testing report.  This also keeps the cost down for people who pay out of pocket.  If you need a full psychological testing report, I will need to bill for the time to write it on an hourly basis.  Please discuss with me for further information.

How will my prescriber and psychotherapist learn about the results of my testing?

For no additional charge, I will provide a phone consultation with your prescriber and/or a phone consultation with your psychotherapist to inform them of the results of your testing.

What are your qualifications to assess ADHD in adults?

I have reviewed the literature on assessing ADHD in adults in detail and I have written a book for mental health professionals who are interested in learning more about adult ADHD: Could It Be Adult ADHD? A Clinician’s Guide to Recognition, Assessment, and Treatment. I lecture and provide consultation on adult ADHD to other mental health professionals regularly.

Why didn’t my previous therapist assess me for ADHD?

Unfortunately, mental health training in the U.S. has not traditionally covered working with adults who have ADHD, and most training programs still do not address this at all. In fact, it was not even recognized until 1995 that ADHD could and usually does last into adulthood. Yet, there is a growing popular awareness of the existence of adult ADHD.  

Do I need an assessment from a neuropsychologist?

You don’t necessarily need a neuropsychologist to assess ADHD unless it is specifically requested by your university, an academic testing company or any other organization you must interact with.  You do need a mental health professional who is knowledgeable about the life challenges of adults with ADHD, and a psychologist can be especially helpful because of their ability to do some psychological testing to pinpoint your exact difficulties for you.  

How do I find neuropsychological testing, if it is required for me?

A neuropsychologist is a psychologist who is specially trained to assess cognitive functioning in detail.  Most psychologists are not neuropsychologists and are not properly trained to do neuropsychological testing.  If you do need or want to get neuropsychological testing, be sure that the individual, who is advertising themselves as doing neuropsychological testing, is board certified, specifically, they should have the qualification ABPP or ABPP-CN after their name.  If they do not, seek out someone else. You are most likely to see a well-qualified neuropsychologist at a major medical center, but a few are in private practice as well.