“Do I have ADHD?”: Adult ADHD Assessment

Unlike the common stereotype, ADHD is not just a little boy bouncing off the walls and impulsively grabbing things. ADHD can look very different, depending on the person. This is especially true of women and those identified female at birth, BIPOC, and gender diverse individuals.

Below are some common ADHD experiences and characteristics; these are not criteria to diagnose ADHD. Numerous of my ADHD clients described or agree with each of the below. The “symptoms” of ADHD in adults often vary widely. Not everyone will relate to every single one of the descriptions, especially if you are AuDHD (autistic and ADHD).

Adult ADHD Diagnosis “Symptoms” Checklist

Initiation

  • You find it difficult to begin a task, despite genuinely desiring to start
  • With bigger projects, you often feel overwhelmed with how to begin a task
  • You need external motivation (e.g., person relying on you, time pressure, major consequence) to complete tasks

Attention

  • You’re easily distracted by external stimuli or own thoughts
  • You struggle with focusing attention, despite feeling motivated to stay on task
  • You easily focus intensely on activities that are highly enjoyable or intrinsically engaging
  • You avoid or dislike tasks that require sustained focus over long periods of time
  • You easily fall into “rabbit holes” when researching topics of interest

Organization

  • Your physical spaces often feel disorganized or cluttered
  • You live with “organized chaos”, what others perceive as mess but you know where things are located
  • You frequently misplace or lose belongings
  • Your thoughts feel more like a spider web branching out and connecting rather than a direct line
  • Others find your communication style hard to follow, even though you know exactly how everything connects and is related
  • You’re a creative, out of the box thinker

Inhibition

Memory

  • You struggle to hold things in mind when transitioning from one task to another
  • Multi-step instructions are hard because you often forget part of the instructions
  • You tend to remember very random things that seem unimportant to others

Activity Level

  • You often feel restless or antsy
  • Your body feels more “at rest” when in movement versus when trying to be still
  • After exercising or drinking caffeine, you feel more focused and able to work
  • Your sleep schedule is very inconsistent
  • You’re drawn to “exciting” things
  • Physical activity consistently helps you regulate yourself

Emotion Regulation

  • Your decision making is very mood driven
  • Emotions feel very “spikey”, coming on very quickly and intensely
  • You thrive in environments that others sometimes find too fast-paced or stressful
  • You feel your emotions intensely and readily express them

If you found yourself relating to many of the descriptions above, it may be worth pursuing an adult ADHD diagnosis with a psychologist or neuropsychologist.

An Adult ADHD Assessment Can Help Bring Peace Of Mind

As an adult who is wondering, “Do I have ADHD?” you may question why you should bother getting an ADHD test now. After all, you have lived your entire life, thus far, not knowing. Drawing from my knowledge working with adults ADHD-ers identified later in life, there are numerous reasons to want an ADHD assessment as an adult.

An ADHD diagnosis provides context for better understanding yourself. So often, after being confirmed as an ADHD-er, I hear clients describe a feeling of everything suddenly making sense. So many of the struggles and inconsistencies in their performance that were previously attributed to “laziness” or “not trying hard enough” can now be understood through how their brain works.

Additionally, with this new understanding of how your brain works, many clients can let go of the shame they internalized after a lifetime of receiving negative messages about themselves. Instead, they can shift towards a stance of understand and self-compassion.

Discovering an ADHD diagnosis can also help you get specialized support for your struggles. Working with an adult ADHD specialist will also ensure you’re getting ADHD-specific interventions and are not subjected to ableist attitudes by your therapist. Additionally, there are many effective medications for ADHD, if you’re comfortable taking medications.

As you consider seeking an ADHD diagnosis as an adult, you may wonder. . .

When is ADHD normally diagnosed?

There’s a misconception that you need to be diagnosed with ADHD when you’re a child. Sadly, this leads to many adults thinking it’s a waste of time to get assessed. The truth is, a psychologist or neuropsychologist with a specialty in adult ADHD will be able to help you get clarity. The assessor will ask you about your childhood. However, being assessed as an adult doesn’t eliminate your ability to get diagnosed.

Many therapists are not very familiar with adult ADHD, but ADHD treatment is Dr. Lee’s specialty. She has been working with ADHD-ers for over 10 years. Additionally, adults with ADHD make up more than half of her caseload at any given time. By working with an adult ADHD specialist, you give yourself access to someone who truly understands how ADHD works and how to identify it, even with non-stereotypical presentations and in populations typically overlooked (e.g., BIPOC, identified female at birth, gender diverse).

How much does an ADHD assessment cost?

The majority of testing psychologists and neuropsychologists in California don’t accept insurance. Getting assessed privately costs anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 on the Westside of Los Angeles. This includes an intake appointment, one to two testing sessions, a feedback session, and a written report. The majority of the cost is actually for work the psychologist or neuropsychologist does independently. This includes tasks such as scoring assessment measures and writing the report.

In comparison, an ADHD assessment in California with Dr. Lee costs $750-$1,500. The variability in price is due to how ADHD is diagnosed differently at LA Concierge Psychologist. An adult ADHD test with Dr. Lee consists of two to four weekly sessions. The cost is made more affordable by limiting the assessment process to these collaborative sessions and some brief time outside of sessions for Dr. Lee to reflect on the data she is collecting. Because there is no written report provided at the end of the process, you’re able to save thousands of dollars on your adult ADHD assessment.

Who is appropriate for Dr. Lee’s assessment process?

If you don’t need a formal report, you’re seeking an assessment for medication purposes, or you want a diagnosis for your own knowledge, Dr. Lee’s ADHD assessment is appropriate for your needs. If you need a full written neuropsychological report to submit to school or a government agency in order to receive accommodations or services, you are better served by a formal neuropsychological assessment that culminates with a written report.

The trend is that many colleges no longer require a written report to access accommodations but some schools still do; it’s best to check with your school to see what documentation they require. If you need accommodations at work, please confirm with your Human Resources department what documentation is needed in order to determine if this assessment service is appropriate for your needs. Some psychiatrists want a written report and others are content to know you went through a thorough assessment with a psychologist; Dr. Lee has positive working relationships with some psychiatrists in Los Angeles and can provide names if desired.

At the end of the assessment process, Dr. Lee can provide a simple letter confirming your diagnosis, but there is no option to receive a written report. If additional paperwork needs to be completed (e.g., your school does not require a written report but does need a psychologist to confirm a diagnosis, your work has a specific accommodations request form), Dr. Lee can complete paperwork at an additional cost.

How is adult ADHD diagnosed?

Click here for a bulleted, less detailed version of the information below.

If your goals for an ADHD assessment align with Dr. Lee’s assessment process and you are physically in California (the only state in which Dr. Lee is licensed and allowed to practice in), email Dr. Lee and let her know you read her assessment webpage and want to move forward with an assessment. Dr. Lee may let you know that she has a waitlist and will explain the waitlist process to you. At the moment, on average, Dr. Lee is scheduling assessments within 1-2 weeks of initial client inquiry.

Once it’s time for your assessment, Dr. Lee emails you some initial paperwork. The email provides detailed instructions about the paperwork and deadlines for submission. The email also includes information about payment. Your paperwork and payment are due 48 business hours/2 business days prior to your first session.

When you submit your paperwork and payment, Dr. Lee confirms your sessions via email. In that same email, she provides you with a link to the secure video chat. Dr. Lee also shares further information about what to expect during the assessment process, including general topics that will be covered in sessions.

The assessment consists of two or more 45-minute weekly sessions via teletherapy (e.g., secure video chat). From Dr. Lee’s experience, about two-thirds of clients finish the process in two sessions; the other third of the time, three or more sessions are needed before a diagnosis can be confirmed. Each session is the same day and time each week. Sessions are available Tuesdays through Friday during the hours of 10 am to 5 pm, with occasional availability from 5-6 pm; if you are not able to meet those days and timeframes, unfortunately, this assessment process is not a good fit for your needs. The adult ADHD assessment is conducted via teletherapy only; there is not an in-person version of this service.

You start with an initial two sessions, paid for upfront via PayPal, which is $750. If you need additional sessions, Dr. Lee lets you know by the end of the first session so you have time to adjust to the idea of additional sessions. Each additional session is $375.

Dr. Lee is not in-network with any insurance companies; this ensures your diagnosis is not part of your official medical records and cannot be accessed by anyone. However, if you have out-of-network benefits, you can check with your insurance to see if they provide partial reimbursement for out of network providers billing under the CPT code 90834. Please note, though, that getting reimbursement through your insurance requires your diagnosis be disclosed.

Many ADHD-ers have co-occurring autism, depression, and/or anxiety. Throughout the assessment, Dr. Lee tracks any data that may align with these other forms of neurodivergence. If Dr. Lee suspects they are likely, she will let you know, and you can decide if you’d like to add sessions to formally assess for those.

In the final session, Dr. Lee provides her diagnostic impressions. She explains how and why she arrived at her conclusion and then leaves time for you to ask questions and begin to process the new information. Follow-up sessions for further questions, processing, or support are available, if desired.

Find Clarity With An Adult ADHD Assessment

No matter how confusing things seem right now, Dr. Lee has the knowledge, expertise, and compassion to help you find clarity regarding an adult ADHD diagnosis. As an adult ADHD specialist, she will take your complex set of struggles and help you make sense of them. Email Dr. Lee to be schedule an ADHD assessment in California.

Dr. Lee is only able to assess those physically located in California.

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