ADHD ASSESSMENTS
Why Get an ADHD assessment?
ADHD affects people of all ages and information suggests that many adults may have been overlooked for a diagnosis as youth because of their gender or more subtle presentation (i.e., less outwardly noticeable symptoms). Research has shown that ADHD can significantly impact one's daily life in various areas including education, employment, relationships, health behaviors, and mental health. An assessment can provide a formal diagnosis, which can help with obtaining appropriate support, resources, or accommodations in education and employment settings. It can also help validate personal struggles and provide a roadmap to understanding how your brain works so that you can develop self-compassion, build on your strengths and interests, and identify helpful strategies designed for neurodivergent folks to help address personal challenges/struggles.
Approach to Assessment
I try to obtain a wide range of information to fully assess symptoms of ADHD and their impact in your life. I also screen for other mental health concerns in order to rule out other possible explanations for your symptoms.
Online questionnaires/forms. Before we meet for a virtual assessment, I ask you to complete various online questionnaires and intake forms to gather historical information about your symptoms and their impact on your life. The questionnaires will focus on symptoms of ADHD, executive functioning skills, and mental health. By obtaining this information before we meet, I am able to tailor our interview more effectively to fill in missing information and target key areas of assessment.
Past mental health or collateral records. If available, past assessments or school records can help provide historical information about symptoms and co-occurring difficulties or diagnoses.
Clinical interview by secure video. A 2-hour virtual clinical interview is used to obtain information about your history and symptoms over time. The interview will cover a range of topics including family, relationships, school experiences, employment, and specific ADHD symptoms at different stages of your life. I understand that assessments can be very stressful and I aim to make the session as safe and comfortable as possible.
Additional information from collateral sources. When appropriate, and only with your written consent, it can be helpful to obtain information from people who know you well (i.e., family member, close friend, partner) and/or professionals that you work with (i.e., counsellor, psychologist) because they can often provide another perspective on your symptoms or the impact they have on your life.
Virtual feedback session. A 50-minute feedback session by secure video is scheduled for approximately 2 or 3 weeks following the clinical interview, which allows me to obtain any additional information that is uncovered during our interview. During the feedback session, I will review the questionnaires, observations, interview/collateral information, and the outcome of the assessment (i.e., whether you meet the diagnostic criteria for ADHD). I will also provide recommendations for resources and referrals specific to your needs.
Written report. Following our feedback meeting, I will provide a brief report that will include an overview of the assessment procedure, results, and diagnostic outcome. The report will also include recommendations for resources, referrals, and/or strategies to support your individual needs.