Clarity without reducing a person to a checklist

ADHD evaluations and preliminary autism screening

A careful look at strengths, developmental history, current functioning, emotional health, school or work demands, and other possible explanations.

ADHD evaluations Purpose Youth process Adult process Accommodations Autism screening Afterward Fees

Clinical ADHD evaluations

A fuller understanding of what may be getting in the way

I provide clinical diagnostic ADHD evaluations for youth and adults. Evaluations are generally available beginning at age 8. Younger children may be considered after an initial consultation, although a diagnosis is often deferred when it is not yet developmentally or clinically appropriate.

Important distinctionThis is a clinical diagnostic evaluation. It is not neuropsychological, psychoeducational, intelligence, achievement, or formal cognitive testing.

When a person’s needs cannot be adequately addressed through a clinical evaluation, I will recommend more comprehensive psychological, educational, or medical testing and try to help identify referral options.

Start with the reason for seeking an evaluation

A diagnosis is sometimes central—and sometimes not the only useful outcome.

Understanding what you hope the evaluation will help with allows us to decide whether diagnostic clarification, practical support, additional testing, or a combination is the best next step.

When a diagnosis may be especially important

A documented diagnosis may be especially important when the goal is to discuss medication with a prescriber or pursue school, college, testing, or workplace accommodations. However, the diagnosis and the documentation required to use it are separate issues. My clinical evaluation can help clarify whether ADHD is present and describe relevant functional impairment, but my documentation alone will typically not meet formal accommodation requirements.

Schools, universities, employers, testing organizations, and prescribers establish their own requirements and may require documentation or additional evaluation from a psychologist, psychiatrist, physician or primary care provider, or another professional they specifically recognize.

When support can begin without a diagnosis

If the primary goal is to improve routines, behavior, emotional regulation, organization, task initiation, time management, or other executive-functioning skills, practical interventions can begin before—or without—an ADHD diagnosis.

Children and teens

Understanding symptoms across home, school, relationships, emotions, and development

Information from more than one setting matters because a young person may function differently at school, at home, and in preferred or highly structured activities.

The process may include

Clinical interviews with the child and caregiver
Developmental and family history
Parent and teacher Vanderbilt rating scales
Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scale
School, medical, psychological, or treatment records
Information from teachers or other relevant adults
Observation through conversation, activities, or play when useful

The evaluation also considers

Anxiety and depression
Trauma and major stressors
Learning concerns
Sleep and health factors
Other explanations that may resemble or contribute to ADHD symptoms
Whether traits of Autism Spectrum Disorder or another condition warrant additional evaluation

The process may include

An in-depth clinical interview
Current and childhood self-report questionnaires
The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale and other relevant measures
Questionnaires from a spouse, partner, close friend, or family member when available
Input from someone familiar with childhood functioning when available
Review of school records, prior evaluations, medical records, or treatment history
Assessment of functioning at work, school, home, and in relationships

Adult ADHD evaluations

Current challenges and childhood patterns both matter

Adult evaluations include a careful review of current functioning and childhood experiences. The process also considers anxiety, depression, trauma, sleep, substance use, learning concerns, and other possible explanations.

For an ADHD diagnosis, the history must indicate that several symptoms were present before age 12, even if ADHD was not recognized or diagnosed at that time. This is why childhood self-report, records, and input from someone familiar with early functioning can be important.

Not every adult has access to childhood records or a person who can reliably describe early experiences. The available evidence—and any limitations—will be discussed as part of the evaluation rather than treated as a reason not to seek clarity.

What to expect

Usually two to four in-person appointments

ADHD evaluations usually involve two to four in-person appointments of approximately one hour each. The overall process commonly takes about one to two months from the first appointment to feedback.

Timing may depend on the return of parent, teacher, family, or other questionnaires and the availability of relevant records.

At the conclusion, we will review

Whether the available information supports an ADHD diagnosis
Other concerns that may be contributing
Individual strengths and areas of impairment
Treatment recommendations
School, workplace, organizational, behavioral, or emotional supports
Whether additional assessment is recommended

Written reports are available upon request and are included in the per-session fees.

With appropriate written authorization, I can coordinate with physicians, schools, therapists, or other providers involved in care.

School and workplace accommodations

My documentation will typically not be sufficient on its own for formal accommodations.

If you are seeking an evaluation primarily for school, college, testing, or workplace accommodations, it is important to understand the receiving organization's documentation requirements before beginning. My clinical ADHD evaluation can help clarify diagnosis, symptoms, functional impairment, and treatment needs, but my documentation alone will typically not meet the formal requirements for accommodations, an IEP, or a 504 Plan.

Schools, universities, employers, licensing organizations, and testing agencies establish their own requirements. They may require documentation or additional evaluation from a psychologist, psychiatrist, physician or primary care provider, or another professional they specifically recognize. For IEP and 504 processes, the school also makes its own eligibility determination.

I can help with the next step. With appropriate written releases, I am happy to collaborate with a psychologist, psychiatrist, primary care provider, school professional, or other involved provider; share relevant assessment findings; and help you or your family pursue the documentation or additional evaluation that is needed.

Children and teens ages 8–17

Preliminary autism screening

Screening can help determine whether traits of Autism Spectrum Disorder may be contributing to a young person’s experiences and whether comprehensive testing or additional support should be pursued.

Autism screening does not provide an autism diagnosis.It is preliminary and is not a substitute for a comprehensive autism diagnostic evaluation.

Screening may include

A clinical interview with the child and caregiver
Developmental and social history
Review of the Mayes Autism Spectrum Disorder Checklist
Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition
Social Communication Questionnaire
Information from caregivers and school professionals when available
Review of relevant records

Results and next steps

The screening considers ADHD, anxiety, emotional health, and other factors that may overlap with traits of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

A written summary or report with results and recommendations is available upon request and included in the per-session fees.

When comprehensive autism testing appears appropriate, I will provide referral recommendations and try to help the family identify a provider or obtain a referral.

Combined consideration

Autism screening can be incorporated into an ADHD evaluation when indicated.

ADHD evaluations include consideration of whether traits of Autism Spectrum Disorder may also be relevant. Sometimes only a brief screening is necessary. When the initial information suggests that more detailed screening would be useful, autism-specific questionnaires and additional interviews can be incorporated.

This does not convert the process into a comprehensive autism diagnostic evaluation. A referral is still recommended when full diagnostic testing is indicated.

After the evaluation or screening

Clarity can become a foundation for ongoing support.

An evaluation or screening can stand on its own. It can also provide a useful starting point for therapy focused on executive functioning, emotional regulation, anxiety, self-esteem, behavior, parent support, school or workplace functioning, and self-advocacy.

When ongoing work with me is clinically appropriate and we both believe it is a good fit, you or your child may continue into therapy after the feedback process. Continuing therapy is optional and is never a condition of receiving an evaluation, screening, report, diagnosis, recommendation, or referral.

In some situations, another provider or service may be the better next step. I will discuss those options openly.

Insurance and standard fees

Insurance is billed when applicable

Foundations for Change submits claims to participating insurance plans for eligible evaluation and screening appointments. Your actual out-of-pocket cost depends on your plan’s deductible, copayment, coinsurance, coverage rules, and final claim determination.

The standard fee is $150 per evaluation or screening appointment when services are self-pay or are not covered by insurance.

Written reports requested as part of the evaluation or screening process are included in the session fees, with no separate report-writing charge.

Benefit verification is not a guarantee of payment. Current insurance participation and formal billing information are maintained by Foundations for Change.

Request an evaluation or screening View fees & insurance