What is ADHD Testing?

About 7-10% of children and 3-5% of adults have ADHD, though most are not diagnosed or do not receive adequate treatment. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that involves difficulties with executive functioning skills. By definition, it has its roots in childhood and how the brain is formed, though the symptoms sometimes do not exceed an individual’s ability to compensate for them until adulthood.

ADHD is not the only thing that can make individuals struggle with inattention, procrastination, restlessness, and the other symptoms of ADHD. Anxiety, Depression, Substance Use, and other problems can produce some of the same results or sometimes mask the symptoms of ADHD. A formal diagnosis of ADHD is also often required before individuals can access some of the more effective medications or school accommodations for ADHD. Unfortunately, some people may try to access these medications or accommodations who do not have ADHD. That is why formal testing, including a thorough diagnostic interview, standardized self-report measures, the information provided by friends and loved ones, and behavioral testing in our office is required to diagnose the disorder accurately.

What can be expected?

You will get scheduled for testing after you meet with our Testing Coordinator. The ADHD testing process usually consists of 3 sessions (2 telehealth and 1 in-person). Please be sure to be in a private space for these sessions.

Your first session will be online with one of our clinicians, who will ask you questions about your psychological and medical history, including presenting concerns, ADHD, and any factors that may be influencing your symptoms. They will clarify what questions you want answered in the process, and they will select which tests will be appropriate to answer those questions.

In the second appointment, which must be in person at one of our office locations, you will meet with one of our psychometrists and will complete a series of behavioral tests. These include tests measuring your cognitive abilities, attention, and reaction time. You must be free of non-prescribed drugs, alcohol, caffeine, and stimulants on the day of your appointment, as well as MUST abstain from cannabis use one week before this appointment. Please be healthy and well-rested for this appointment, which typically lasts 2.5-3 hours.

If researching various testing centers, know that sometimes prescribers, schools, and standardized test administrators will not accept testing results that do not include specific behavioral measures or the input of friends and family members. Ensure that their evaluation meets the requirements of the intended individual or organization before making your selection. At Reset Button Counseling, we include all the behavior measures required and the input from friends and family members in your ADHD evaluation.

In the third appointment, which will be online, your clinician will review the evaluation data and your diagnosis/diagnoses, provide recommendations, a written report summarizing their findings, and provide a plan to address your symptoms adequately.

How do I get started?

Start your ADHD testing by clicking the link below to schedule a 30-minute introductory administrative conversation with our Testing Coordinator. Be ready to provide pictures of your insurance card, full name, birthday, and address of the primary account holder for your insurance. We’ll review your insurance benefits and provide an estimated financial responsibility for testing (cost for testing). We’ll inform you about our testing process, policies, and procedures and answer any questions you may have at that time.

If you are ready to move forward, you can schedule your testing appointment in this meeting. Afterward, you will be sent a link to your client portal where you will complete the required intake paperwork, which must be completed 48 hours after we schedule your appointment(s) to help your clinician(s) prepare for your session(s). Otherwise, you may lose your spot and need to reschedule. Please note that these may take 2-3 hours to complete.

Things to consider:

• At this time, we are only able to test individuals who are 18 years old or older.
• Please do not start this process unless you can afford an anticipated cost between $650 and $2100. This extensive process requires a lot of time from highly trained individuals, so we like to try to inform clients what they are getting into before starting the process.
• We contact your insurance to obtain a financial estimate for testing. On the call, they do not guarantee that these will be the total amounts once the claims are fully processed, and thus, neither can we. So please be aware that the estimate given to the actual cost may differ, depending entirely on your insurance’s decision.
• You MUST pay your estimated financial responsibility upfront before attending the first testing session with a clinician.

Have more questions? Please also read Our Testing Process page.

Please feel free to email us with any additional questions or concerns.