What to Expect During an ADHD Assessment

Our ADHD assessment process is designed to help children, adolescents, and adults gain a clearer understanding of how attention, hyperactivity, and/or impulsivity challenges may be affecting daily life. We approach this collaboratively, beginning with a conversation about you or your child’s experiences, concerns, and goals. Together, we’ll identify specific questions that will guide our assessment, ensuring that the tools we use are directly relevant to your needs. If you agree, we may also gather insights from others who know you or your child well, such as family members, teachers, or healthcare providers, to create a fuller picture.

After outlining your goals and gathering background information, we’ll spend about four hours conducting a series of ADHD-specific tests and questionnaires, though the time may vary based on individual needs. Our comprehensive assessment package includes a cognitive evaluation to understand strengths and challenges, which can serve as important information processing markers for ADHD. In addition, testing will include performance-based neuropsychological tests tailored to each person’s unique presentation. For example, we often assess how well a person can stay focused on standardized tasks, especially in situations that may be boring or distracting. When we’ve completed the assessment, you’ll receive a written report with personalized insights and detailed recommendations to provide you with a roadmap toward recovery and support.

What Questions Can an ADHD Assessment Answer?

An ADHD assessment can help clarify a range of questions related to attention, organization, memory, emotional regulation, decision-making, and motivation. It may help you or your child better understand:

• Concerns about attention and focus: Why is it difficult to stay focused? Is forgetfulness or distractibility due to ADHD?

• Challenges with task management: Why do I or my child struggle with procrastination? How can we better organize work or home responsibilities? How can we boost motivation to do hard things? 

• Disorganization: Why is it so hard to stay organized? What supports might improve organizational challenges? 

• Emotional responses: Why do overwhelming feelings or frustrations derail me or my child from their goals? How can reactions be managed more effectively?

• Relationships and social interactions: How does ADHD impact relationships? How can I protect my child or myself from potential rejection when others get overwhelmed with ADHD behaviors? 

• Hyperactivity/Impulsivity: How can I understand my/my child’s behaviors in context? What supports are needed to address or minimize behaviors that get in the way of functioning well at home, school, or work? 

If you’re currently working with a therapist or other provider, you may wish to involve them in identifying key areas that would benefit from assessment. Bring any questions you have, and together, we’ll determine if they’re within the scope of this assessment.

Will I Receive the Results of the ADHD Assessment?

Yes! Our goal is to make sure that the information you gain is practical and understandable. We’ll explain your or your child’s results in clear, everyday language and answer any questions you have. You’ll also receive test scores, with interpretations to make sense of what they mean in daily life. These insights can also be useful to share with other treatment providers or school staff.

Who Has Access to My Results?

Your results are strictly confidential. We will only share information from the assessment if you provide written permission. Confidentiality exceptions include specific legal situations, such as:

• If there is imminent danger of harm to yourself, your child, or others

• If we’re legally required to share information in court-ordered situations

• If there’s a report of abuse or neglect involving a minor, elderly, or disabled individual

In some cases, we may consult with colleagues for professional guidance, but your identity will always remain anonymous. If you have any concerns about confidentiality, please feel free to discuss them with us.

Our ADHD Testing Package

If you or your child are struggling with focus, organization, motivation, or emotional regulation, you may be wondering: What’s making it hard to concentrate? Why do I procrastinate? Why do I get overwhelmed so easily? Our ADHD testing package is designed to answer these broader questions—not just whether ADHD is present, but why these challenges exist in the first place. While difficulty concentrating or managing tasks may be due to ADHD, these struggles can also stem from other factors, such as anxiety, mood disorders, learning differences, or cognitive processing difficulties. Our in-depth assessment helps uncover the root causes of these struggles, ensuring that recommendations are based on a full understanding of your unique needs.

Our ADHD assessments don’t stop at diagnosis—they offer a clear, actionable roadmap for moving forward. By thoroughly understanding the unique pattern of strengths and challenges, we can recommend individualized interventions and supports. For some, this might include medication consultation, while others benefit more from skills-based strategies, executive function training, organizational techniques, or emotional regulation tools. Our evaluations allow us to tailor specific recommendations for home, school, or work, reducing stress and fostering success. For parents, we provide practical guidance on how to support your child’s potential and adjust your approach based on their needs. You’ll receive a plan that’s customized to help you or your child succeed.

Our comprehensive ADHD testing package ($2,000) includes diagnostic interviews, ADHD rating scales, and additional measures of executive functioning and social-emotional well-being. It also includes performance-based neuropsychological tests, such as the Conners CPT-3, which evaluates attention and impulsivity, and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST-4), which measures cognitive flexibility and problem-solving abilities. Additionally, cognitive testing using the WAIS or WISC helps assess areas commonly impacted by ADHD, such as processing speed and working memory. Executive functioning tests, such as subtests from the D-KEFS, are often included to provide further insight into how you or your child’s brain processes information.

While a typical test battery includes these components, each assessment is individualized to answer your specific questions and concerns. By taking this comprehensive approach, we ensure that we not only assess for ADHD but also explore other potential explanations for attention-related struggles. This allows us to collaborate with you to build a personalized roadmap for understanding and addressing the challenges you or your child face.

Let’s Work Together

If you’re interested in understanding more about ADHD and exploring whether this assessment could be helpful for you or your child, we invite you to take the next step. Our practice is based in Carmel, Indiana, and serves the Indianapolis area and beyond. For more information or to schedule an assessment, please don’t hesitate to contact us or schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation. We look forward to hearing from you.