ADHD Testing and Evaluation

For Adult Women, Non-Binary, and Transgender Folx

Do you feel like you’re white knuckling life, just trying to keep it all from falling apart? Whether it’s your thoughts, emotions, or daily responsibilities, the endless effort to get organized chips away at you, leaving you exhausted.

This is just one example of how ADHD can feel for AFAB folx. There are dozens of other overlooked experiences that don’t fit the common picture (in the DSM-5) of symptoms and traits for ADHD.

  • Emotional Regulation

    • Difficulty managing frustration or anger.

    • Intense emotional reactions to seemingly minor events.

    • Difficulty "letting go" of negative emotions or ruminating over past experiences.

    Sensory Sensitivities

    • Heightened sensitivity to sounds, textures, lights, or other sensory input.

    • Feeling overwhelmed in crowded or noisy environments.

    Rejection Sensitivity

    • Strong emotional response to perceived criticism or rejection.

    • Avoidance of situations where rejection is a possibility.

    • Difficulty reading social cues or feeling out of sync in group settings.

    Hyperfocus

    • Becoming deeply absorbed in tasks of interest to the exclusion of other priorities.

    • Difficulty shifting focus away from something engaging, even when necessary.

    Sleep Challenges

    • Difficulty falling asleep due to racing thoughts.

    • Irregular sleep patterns or frequently feeling tired despite sufficient sleep.

    • Tendency to feel more alert at night (delayed sleep phase).

    Time Blindness

    • Losing track of time or struggling to estimate how long tasks will take.

    • Difficulty planning for future events or sticking to schedules.

    Task Initiation Issues

    • Procrastination or avoiding starting tasks, even ones that seem simple.

    • Feeling overwhelmed by multi-step tasks or decision-making.

    Overthinking and Perfectionism

    • Overanalyzing decisions or conversations to the point of paralysis.

    • Holding oneself to unrealistically high standards, leading to burnout.

    Creativity and Intuition

    • Bursts of creative problem-solving or unconventional thinking.

    • Strong instincts about people or situations, sometimes to the point of distraction.

  • These traits are usually overlooked or misdiagnosed. This leads to late diagnosis for this community.

    Emotional Regulation and Sensitivity

    • Rejection Sensitivity: Intense emotional pain or fear triggered by perceived criticism or rejection.

    • Emotional Overwhelm: Feeling deeply affected by minor setbacks or challenges.

    • Mood Instability: Rapid shifts between emotions that feel out of proportion to the situation.

    Masking and Overcompensation

    • Perfectionism: Overcompensating for struggles by striving for unrealistic standards.

    • People-Pleasing: Prioritizing others’ needs over their own to avoid conflict or criticism.

    • Overachievement: Taking on too many responsibilities or projects to prove capability.

    Internalized Struggles

    • Chronic Self-Criticism: Feeling lazy or "not good enough," often blaming oneself for challenges.

    • Low Self-Esteem: Years of unnoticed struggles leading to self-doubt and diminished confidence.

    • Anxiety or Depression: Developing secondary mental health conditions due to untreated ADHD.

    Hormonal Influence

    • Worsened Symptoms During PMS: Increased emotional dysregulation or focus issues tied to hormonal changes.

    • ADHD Masking by Menopause: New or intensified symptoms attributed to hormonal shifts rather than ADHD.

    Strengths and Creative Traits

    • High Empathy: Deep understanding of others’ emotions, sometimes to their own detriment.

    • Creative Problem-Solving: Finding unconventional solutions to problems.

    • Strong Intuition: Quick insight into people or situations.

  • It can be a long journey to get a proper diagnosis. Often times, if there is a diagnosis and it isn’t ADHD, it could be a misdiagnoses of one of the following:

    • Borderline-personality disorder - BPD

    • Bipolar 1 and Bipolar 2 disorder (BD I and BD II)

    • Anxiety Disorders

    • Major Depressive Disorder

    Most common co-occurring diagnoses or diagnoses often confused with ADHD:

    • PTSD or C-PTSD - complex (developmental) or single event trauma

    • Social Anxiety

    • Depression

    • Generalized Anxiety

    • Autism

If you’ve been wondering whether ADHD might be a factor in your life, an ADHD evaluation can provide you with the clarity you need. ADHD is often misunderstood and can be difficult to diagnose, especially in adults and AFAB Folx. An evaluation helps to clarify whether ADHD is contributing to symptoms like disorganization, trouble focusing, anxiety, emotion dysregulation or hyperactivity. Through this process, we’ll explore your history, symptoms, and behaviors to get a better understanding of how ADHD may be affecting your life.

  • The diagnostic process begins with a thorough exploration of your life history and neurodivergent traits. If ADHD is suspected, I’ll use a combination of assessment tools and interviews to build a comprehensive picture. These tools include:

    • The ASRS v1.1 as our screening tool to confirm if you qualify to continue the diagnostic process.

    • A more in-depth biopsychosocial assessment, viewed through an ADHD lens, which helps to identify any underlying patterns and issues that may be contributing to your symptoms.

    • DIVA-5: A structured interview to assess ADHD symptoms and their impact on daily functioning.

    • ADHD specific rating scales like the Brown EF/A Rating Scale or Wender Utah Rating Scale

    • Observational reports from a parent or significant other like the ASRS-O and WURS-O

    • Looking for ‘differential’ diagnoses, meaning possible diagnoses that may be present instead of ADHD, or ‘co-occurring’ diagnoses meaning present alongside ADHD.

    Following the evaluation, we’ll go over your results together, and I’ll provide psychoeducation about ADHD, treatment options, and possible next steps. If a diagnosis is made, I’ll offer resources and referrals for ongoing support.

  • Cost per hour: $200

    Session length: 1-1.5 hours each

    Assessment Breakdown:

    Session 1: Background interview

    Session 2-4: Diagnostic interview & testing

    Final Session: Results review & discussion

    *Session fees cover time spent analyzing data and writing the report (about 3-5 hours outside of sessions).

    Important Considerations for your Report

    As a master's-level clinician, I can provide assessments and diagnoses, but certain situations require additional steps:

    For medication: Acceptance of a diagnosis from a master's-level clinician varies by prescriber. Some will accept a master’s-level diagnosis, while others require their own evaluation. Every provider has their own process, so it’s always best to check with them directly.

    For disability benefits or government services: A psychiatrist or PhD-level psychologist is typically required for official diagnostic testing.

  • An ADHD evaluation provides clarity and answers for those who may have been uncertain about their struggles with concentration, focus, disorganization, or anxiety. The process also helps you access a framework for treatment, so you can start moving forward with the right support.

    • Experiences and behaviors written down so you don’t have to ‘prove’ or remember anything

    • Helps when exploring ‘co-occurring’ disorders - meaning when you have multiple mental health diagnoses (Like ADHD and PMDD).

    • Aids in identifying strengths

    • Helps loved ones understand you more

    • Can help direct you towards learning new and more supportive ways to manage your symptoms

    • Validation

    • Helps with reframing perceived ideas of yourself and others

    • Increases self-compassion

    • A ‘diagnostic report’ which includes a summary of the evaluation and your history, alongside your test results.

    • A list of ADHD learning resources

    • Possible referrals to ADHD competent services

    • A better understanding of your individual ADHD experience