It is normal for children and adults to have trouble focusing or completing tasks occasionally. However, distinguishing when concentration difficulties represent something more serious, causing significant distress in your life or affecting loved ones, is important. Research indicates that children with ADHD do not just grow out of their struggles. The symptoms often continue into adulthood and can cause difficulty at school, at work, or in relationships.
Have You Ever Thought…
- "Why do I always leave my work to the last minute?"
- "I wasn't listening to any of that."
- "Teachers always thought I was dumb and lazy but I really just didn't know what was going on."
These common reflections suggest possible undiagnosed ADHD. The condition often goes unrecognized in adulthood because individuals become accustomed to invalidating their struggles. Importantly, ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder: a medical diagnosis, not a personality flaw.
Common Signs and ADHD Symptoms
- Daydream frequently
- Forget or lose things regularly
- Squirm or fidget excessively
- Talk excessively
- Make careless mistakes or take unnecessary risks
- Struggle with resisting temptation
- Display poor time management skills
- Have difficulty getting along with others
ADHD manifests differently across individuals, but these symptoms warrant professional evaluation when they create clinically significant problems. If you're not sure whether your experiences fit the ADHD profile, our ADHD screening quiz can be a helpful starting point.
Three Types of ADHD
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Predominantly Inattentive Presentation: Formerly called Attention-Deficit Disorder (ADD), characterized by distractibility, forgetfulness, and disorganization. This type is most commonly missed in adulthood, particularly in women.
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Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation: Features restlessness, fidgeting, and impulsive behaviors.
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Combined Presentation: Equal presence of inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive symptoms.
What Often Co-Occurs with ADHD?
ADHD rarely appears in isolation. Many adults seeking testing discover they also have:
- Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD): Extreme emotional reactivity to perceived criticism or rejection, present in up to 99% of adults with ADHD
- Anxiety or depression: Frequently co-occurring conditions that can mask or exacerbate ADHD symptoms
- AuDHD: The co-occurrence of autism and ADHD, present in up to 50% of autistic individuals
A comprehensive assessment identifies not just ADHD, but the full picture of how your brain works, including these often-missed co-occurring profiles.
How ADHD Testing Can Help
A comprehensive assessment provides substantial benefits beyond diagnostic confirmation. A thorough evaluation identifies functioning across cognitive, emotional, and social domains while detecting co-occurring conditions like anxiety or depression.
The assessment process yields a thorough conceptualization of your symptoms, your patterns of functioning, and how this relates to your life. Testing identifies specific strengths and weaknesses in areas including verbal comprehension, executive functioning, memory, and processing speed, enabling personalized strategies for thriving in professional or educational settings.
How A Diagnosis Can Help
Many diagnosed individuals find value in understanding their experiences can be identified by a specific term that is backed up by research within the medical community. Diagnosis facilitates multiple benefits:
- Finding direction in accessing support from friends, family, or support groups
- Advocating effectively with other mental health professionals
- Gaining access to specialized ADHD treatment, including therapy or medication
- Qualifying for workplace or educational accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Why We Specialize In Adults
While most psychologists focus on childhood ADHD testing, this practice specializes in college students and young professionals. Many clients reached adulthood by successfully "coasting" through grade school or were overlooked because symptoms appeared mild. However, as environmental demands increase, previous coping strategies become insufficient.
This is especially true for AuDHD individuals, late-identified women, and people who masked their difficulties for years before seeking answers.
ADHD Evaluation Process
1. Intake Information
45-90 minutes | On your own
Before your first appointment, you'll complete a consultation call with an intake specialist and digital intake paperwork. Previous treatment records, testing results, or school documentation may be requested. A deposit is required to book testing sessions.
2. Testing Session(s)
4 to 15 hours | Assessment Rate
This phase collects objective and qualitative data about your behavior and functioning. An informant (someone who knows you well) may provide additional perspective. Testing evaluates cognitive strengths/weaknesses, personality functioning, mood, cognitive ability (IQ testing), neuropsychological functioning (attention, memory, impulsivity), and academic functioning (reading, writing, mathematics).
3. Data Analysis
3 to 12 hours | Assessment Rate
All assessment data undergoes evaluation to develop a functional profile highlighting mood, cognition, and interpersonal dimensions. This determines whether your profile meets specific mental health disorder criteria. Reviewers examine clinical interview findings, behavioral observations, objective data, and informant data, culminating in a written report with diagnostic and treatment recommendations.
4. Feedback Session
45 minutes | Assessment Rate
Following profile finalization, you'll meet to review your written report and discuss testing results. This session addresses questions and provides insight into your results interpretation. You'll receive recommendations and resources for specialized support, potentially including individual/group therapy, psychiatric consultation for medication evaluation, and lifestyle recommendations.
You're a complex person. You have real concerns and it's time to find out what's going on. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to ask questions and begin the help-seeking process.
Frequently Asked Questions About Adult ADHD Testing
What does adult ADHD testing involve?
Adult ADHD testing typically involves a clinical interview, self-report questionnaires, cognitive and neuropsychological testing, and sometimes informant ratings from someone who knows you well. The evaluation assesses attention, memory, executive function, processing speed, and often emotional or personality factors. The result is a comprehensive profile, not just a yes or no.
How long does adult ADHD testing take?
A comprehensive ADHD evaluation for adults typically takes 4–15 hours of testing spread across one or more sessions, plus a feedback session to review results. More thorough assessments take longer but yield more actionable information.
Can I get tested for ADHD as an adult if I was never diagnosed as a child?
Yes. Many adults were never identified as children, either because their symptoms were mild, they compensated well, or they were simply overlooked, particularly women, who often present with inattentive rather than hyperactive symptoms. An adult ADHD diagnosis is valid regardless of childhood history.
What's the difference between ADHD testing and a psychiatric evaluation?
Psychiatric evaluations (typically done by a psychiatrist or your primary care doctor) focus on diagnosis and medication management. Neuropsychological testing provides a deeper, more detailed assessment of cognitive functioning, with objective data about specific strengths and weaknesses. Many people benefit from both.
Will insurance cover adult ADHD testing?
Coverage varies significantly. Some insurance plans cover psychological testing; others do not or require pre-authorization. It's worth contacting your insurance provider to ask about coverage for "neuropsychological testing" or "psychological assessment."
How do I prepare for ADHD testing?
Get adequate sleep before testing sessions. Bring any previous records (school reports, past testing, treatment history) that may be relevant. Avoid caffeine or other stimulants on testing days if your clinician advises it. Honest answers to intake questions will lead to the most accurate results.
What happens after I receive my ADHD diagnosis?
A diagnosis opens doors to accommodations, specialized therapy, and medication options. Many people benefit from individual therapy alongside any medication evaluation, as therapy helps address the emotional, relational, and behavioral patterns that ADHD creates over a lifetime.
Can adults have ADHD and autism at the same time?
Yes, this is called AuDHD. Research suggests up to 50% of autistic individuals also meet ADHD criteria, and vice versa. A comprehensive evaluation should assess for both, as the combination requires tailored support different from either condition alone.
