Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) Assessment

We provide Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) assessment for adults age 18 years old and up. ADHD is a developmental disorder, meaning individuals are born with ADHD and it is pervasive across the lifespan. ADHD is not caused from “bad parenting” or “permissive parenting.” ADHD is a disorder of self-regulation and self-monitoring, which leads to difficulties in maintaining attention, distractibility, emotional dysregulation, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.

Symptoms of ADHD can include making careless mistakes, getting side tracked, difficulty holding attention, easily distracted, trouble organizing, often losing objects such as keys or a phone, difficulty staying on task or getting back to the original task, difficulty completing tasks on time, difficulty carrying out instructions, trouble sitting still or sitting calmly or quietly, avoiding or disliking activities requiring a maintained mental effort such as schoolwork or long work projects, forgetful in daily activities (i.e, brushing teeth or hair), fidgeting (i.e., bouncing feet, playing with hair or fingers), excessive talking, difficulty waiting one’s turn, interrupting on conversations (and possibly saying things that are not pertinent to the conversation), feeling restless, feeling “on the go” or “driven by a motor,” and unable or dislikes quiet or leisure activities (or can only do them while doing other tasks).

Why do I need testing for ADHD as an adult?

As an adult, it can be helpful to confirm a suspected diagnosis of ADHD for medication management, school and workplace accommodations, or peace of mind. Prescribing physicians may require an ADHD assessment to confirm a diagnosis prior to prescribing medication to ensure ADHD is the correct diagnosis due to ADHD medication being a controlled substance. It is a way for prescribing physician’s to know they are appropriately prescribing the correct kind of medications. The assessment can be used to request accommodations from a school or human resources as ADHD is classified as a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Some accommodations may include a flexible schedule, written instructions, extra time on tests, longer deadlines for projects, additional breaks in one’s schedule, or headphones. Many adults have long suspected they had ADHD, and obtaining confirmation of the diagnosis can help make sense of the world and struggles they experience. An explanation, such as a diagnosis, can create a major impact in how one copes with their lived experience as it brings understanding to that experience. This can aid in reducing self-blame, shame, and negative self-talk around themselves as they begin to understand their ADHD diagnosis and how it affects them on a daily basis.

What else can it be if it’s not ADHD?

ADHD can mimic several other mental health diagnoses, such as Generalized Anxiety Disorder or Bipolar Disorder. For this reason, it is important to rule out all other possible differential diagnoses to ensure it is most likely a diagnosis of ADHD. For example, if an individual has Generalized Anxiety Disorder, but thinks they have ADHD, and are then prescribed ADHD medication, this can lead to major side effects from that medication. Prescribing physicians tend to prescribe stimulant medication for ADHD, which can have a side effect of anxiety. Therefore, the individual would be experiencing worsened anxiety symptoms, and no benefit for the symptoms they are misattributing to ADHD. Thus, this medication would not be helpful, and worsen this person’s symptoms. It is also beneficial for the prescribing physician to be informed of all mental health diagnoses, as some medications can worsen other diagnoses symptoms. For example, an individual can be diagnosed with ADHD and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. The prescribing physician needs to be aware of both these diagnoses to ensure what is being prescribed will not increase the symptoms of the other diagnosis. Some of the other possible differential diagnoses can be depressive or mood disorders, anxiety or panic disorders, autism spectrum disorder or other neuropsychological disorders, memory impairments, traumatic brain injury, specific learning disorder, intellectual disability, oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, substance abuse disorder, medical diseases, and sleep disorders.

What are some of the tests?

The types of tests given can vary between practices or psychologist who creates the battery of tests. The psychologist who creates the battery will only use tests that are evidence-based, valid for use according to the research, and that are ruling out other explanations or diagnoses for ADHD. Some tests may include tests for intelligence, memory, verbal fluency, aphasia, apraxia, executive functioning, attention, mood, and personality.

What to Expect

There are several parts to an ADHD assessment. The first part is scheduling a clinical interview. The clinical interview can last between 60-120 minutes. During the interview, the clinician will ask questions about one’s developmental history including any information about maternal complications including pregnancy, birth, or pre-natal illness, education and work history, substance history, individuals and family medical and psychiatric history, social history, and symptoms one may or may not be experiencing and how these symptoms have impacted one’s life. Some individuals have a parent or partner join the clinical interview to aid in providing information. This additional person can provide useful information about childhood difficulties that the individual may not have been aware of, or how they observe symptoms affecting the individual’s daily life.

The second part is the ADHD testing. ADHD testing consists of a variety of tests to rule out all other possibilities or diagnoses than ADHD. This phase can last between 6-8 hours. The clinician will offer to schedule this testing phase as 2 options: Complete all the testing in 1 day (with a break for lunch), or schedule 2 different days at 4 hour time blocks. Testing is scheduled as early in the morning as possible. Those with ADHD have the best cognitive performance in the morning, and will experience cognitive fatigue throughout the day. In order to obtain the best results and reduce cognitive error, we schedule no later than 9:30 AM. We request no stimulants are taken or consumed on the morning of testing day (i.e., no caffeine or stimulant medication). You can bring something to drink (non-stimulant beverages only) and a snack. These can be consumed between tests.

The final phase is the feedback session. After the clinician has finalized the report, they will contact you to schedule a feedback session to inform you of the results and answer any questions you may have. You are welcome to have another person join you for this session. You may also request a Release of Information form if you would like us to send the report to your prescribing physician, therapist, school, or anyone else you would like to have the report.

If you have any questions about ADHD assessments or scheduling an ADHD assessment, feel free to call our office at (847) 461-8414.