How can getting an ADHD/ADD evaluation help me?

ADHD and ADD are more common than previously thought. People with less severe symptoms and milder forms typically can go undetected, undiagnosed, and untreated until adolescence or adulthood, if ever.

The only way to know for sure whether you have ADHD or ADD is to receive an evaluation and diagnosis from a qualified clinician.

An ADHD or ADD diagnosis can provide different things for different people. An ADHD diagnosis may be a formal acknowledgement of what you already suspect, it may provide clarity and it may be the beginning to the path of receiving support, treatment, and guidance.

What Happens During an ADHD/ADD Evaluation?

The testing for ADHD/ADD at The Thriving Wellness Center take 2 hours to complete. Included in that 2 hour time frame is time to go over the results of the assessment and also time to discuss what a possible treatment plan may be for you. ADHD /ADD Testing is performed online or in-person at our Manhattan or New Jersey locations. The ADHD/ADD Testing consists of several components which includes:

• Intake documentation which includes questions about your symptoms

• Clinical Interview

• Self-report questionnaires

• Explanation of what ADHD/ADD and discussion of the three types of ADHD

• Confirmation of ADHD diagnosis and if so, what type of ADHD

• Treatment options and treatment plan

During the clinical interview, many areas of your life are examined including past or current school and work performance, ways of daily functioning, challenges, strengths, history of relationships, personality traits, and physical development. The reason for such detailed questions is necessary to eliminate other conditions that present similarly to ADHD/ADD and oftentimes are co-occurring with ADHD, like depression, anxiety, personality disorders, learning disabilities, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

If diagnosed a diagnosis letter is provided. The diagnosis letter contains the following information: patient information, date of diagnosis, diagnostic criteria, diagnostic results, severity level, assessment information, recommendations for treatment healthcare provider information. 

What is the Difference Between an ADHD/ADD Evaluation and a Neuropsychological Assessment?

Some clinicians recommend an expensive, eight-hour, neuropsychological assessment to determine a diagnosis of ADHD/ADD . The neuropsychological assessment is usually carried out by a psychologist who specializes in testing. This is generally not necessary to obtain a diagnosis of ADHD/ADD. Some reasons for obtaining a neuropsychological assessment include having other serious co-occurring mental health conditions, brain injuries, or if a neuropsychological assessment is being specifically asked for to obtain certain accommodations. Usually, an ADHD Evaluation is sufficient enough to gain work or school accommodations if that is something you seek.

Click here for more information about the differences between an autism diagnostic evaluation and neuropsychological assessments.

Can you Receive Work and School Accommodations From an ADHD Evaluation?

An ADHD Diagnostic Evaluation at Thriving Wellness Center can assist with most reasonable accommodations for workplaces and academic settings. It can also help develop personalized accommodations for daily life, relationships, and communication needs.

Important areas not covered: This service cannot assist with programs like SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance), disability income, unemployment benefits, or housing assistance. These programs have complex eligibility requirements that vary by state.

What to do if you need these benefits: If you require this level of support, it's recommended to find a provider within your state who can conduct a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation suitable for submission to your state agency for review.

What this service offers: This service can provide a letter confirming the outcome and validity of your assessment and diagnosis. However, it does not provide a full neuropsychological report. For most adults or teens with ADHD, a full report isn't necessary. The provided letter is sufficient for obtaining workplace, academic, and personal accommodations, but not for state or federal aid programs.

Are you looking for understanding and support? If you're seeking a validating, informative, and supportive approach to problem-solving specific to neurodiversity, along with a clear diagnosis, then this service can be a valuable resource.

ADHD Symptoms in Adults Checklist

If you are experiencing several of the symptoms outlined below you may benefit from an ADHD/ADD Evaluation and treatment. Common signs of ADHD/ADD in adults include:

• Problems with time management

• Forgetfulness or making careless mistakes

• Not being able to handle or cope with frustration or anger

• Being highly emotional or having mood swings

• Having issues starting or finishing a task or activity

• Daydreaming or zoning out

• High levels of restlessness or fidgeting

• Acting on sudden desires or feelings. 

What is the best therapy for people with ADHD/ADD?

If you suffer from ADHD, ADD or traits of each, we can help. Our Integrated Executive Functioning Coaching & Therapy program helps you achieve your goals by strengthening your executive functioning. Executive functions can be understood as the brain’s management system. When a person has ADHD and weak executive functions  they may have trouble starting and finishing tasks, handling frustrations, organizing, staying on track, and prioritizing tasks (like home and work life balance). Our therapy focuses on strategies to combat these issues.

Symptoms of ADHD/ADD can create problems, frustrations, and setbacks in work, school, and in social settings. Because of these problems, people with have ADHD/ADD usually also have low self-esteem and unhealthy self-beliefs. During our treatment we focus not only on concrete strategies to help you cope with your ADHD symptoms but also on changing negative self-beliefs.

While there is no quick fix in dealing with ADHD or ADD, we can help you improve your life with a thorough ADHD/ADD evaluation and diagnosis, individualized treatment plan, and ongoing support that includes coaching and psychotherapy.