What to expect from an adult ADHD evaluation
Whether you book with us or somewhere else, a thorough ADHD evaluation usually takes real time and ends with you understanding what was found. Here's how an ADHD diagnosis is made, plus the questions worth asking before you book anywhere, with our own answers.
Our evaluation is 90 minutes by video, and it goes in this order:
- FirstYour history, and what else could explain it
- ThenWhat we found, and why
- ThenMedication, if it's part of your plan
- LastHow follow-ups work
You can ask questions at any point along the way.
How ADHD is diagnosed in adults
It helps to know going in that there's no blood test or brain scan for ADHD. The diagnosis comes from a clinical interview.
Screenings like the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale help spot symptoms, but they aren't built to diagnose ADHD on their own. A diagnosis draws on all of this:
- Your symptoms now
- And how they affect you at work, at home, and in relationships.
- Your history
- How your symptoms have developed over time.
- What else could explain it
- Sleep, anxiety, depression, other medical issues, and the medications you take.
- Records and outside input
- Past evaluations, or input from people who know you, if you have them.
Questions to ask before you book an ADHD evaluation
An evaluation can shape how you understand yourself and what treatment you start, so it's worth knowing how a practice runs one before you pay. These are the questions we'd suggest asking anywhere, including here. Open any one to see why it matters and how we answer it.
How long is the evaluation, and how much of it is with the person diagnosing you?
The length of the visit tells you how much of your history someone has time to hear.
Ours is 90 minutes by video with one of our ADHD specialists. Every psychiatric practitioner who evaluates and treats you is ADHD-CCSP certified, and a board-certified psychiatrist oversees every case.
Does the diagnosis come from talking with you, or from the screening you filled out?
A screening is a starting point, and a diagnosis needs a real conversation about your history.
Your practitioner goes through your history, how your symptoms have developed over time, and how they show up day to day in a structured interview before making any diagnosis.
Will they look at what else could explain it?
Some conditions can look a lot like ADHD, and some show up alongside it.
Your practitioner looks at sleep, mood, anxiety, other medical issues, and the medications you take. If something needs care we don't provide, we'll tell you.
Will they explain why it is or isn't ADHD?
It's easier to trust a diagnosis when you understand how someone got there.
Your practitioner walks you through what they found and why, and you'll get a straight answer even when ADHD isn't the diagnosis.
If they recommend medication, will they walk you through it?
Before you leave, you should know your options, why one is being suggested over another, how to take it, and which side effects to watch for early on.
If medication is part of your plan with us, your practitioner covers each of those, and your first prescription is included.
Will you know what happens next?
It helps to leave knowing how you'll get your medication and when you'll speak with your practitioner again.
We go over how follow-ups work and how to request your next prescription, and between visits your Care Team replies within one business day.
Is there a membership, and how do you cancel it?
It's worth knowing before you book whether your first visit also starts a monthly charge, and what it takes to stop it.
We don't have a subscription or a membership. Check-ins between follow-ups are free, and our fees are listed on our pricing page.
What you leave with
We want you to leave knowing where you stand, whatever the answer is. You'll have a clear picture of what's going on and a plan, which might be:
- ADHD treatment with us
- A request for more information before we decide
- A referral somewhere better suited to what you need
Booking a visit doesn't guarantee an ADHD diagnosis or a prescription. The evaluation decides that.
Getting started
If you'd like to start with us, the first step is our free pre-assessment. Our Care Team reviews it and emails you within one business day about next steps.
Start the free pre-assessmentWe're a Beverly Hills practice that has evaluated and treated adults with ADHD since 2011. We see adults 18 and older in California, and you'll need to be physically in California for your video visit.