How to get an ADHD assessment
A practical guide from Dr. Claire. What to expect, how long it takes, and what makes a good ADHD assessment for adults.
Why get assessed?
A proper assessment gives you clarity. It answers whether ADHD is what's been making life harder. It opens doors to treatment, accommodations at work, and a framework for understanding yourself.
Without a formal diagnosis, you're stuck guessing. With one, you have evidence that stands up to doctors, employers, and insurance companies.
What makes a good assessment?
A comprehensive ADHD assessment includes a clinical interview, standardized testing, and a written report. The interview covers your history: childhood, school, work, relationships. The testing measures attention, executive function, and working memory.
The report should be thorough enough to take to your doctor or use for workplace accommodations. A good assessment takes 3-4 hours, split across appointments.
A bad assessment is a 20-minute questionnaire. That's screening, not diagnosis.
Who can diagnose ADHD in adults?
In Canada, ADHD can be diagnosed by a psychiatrist, psychologist, or family doctor. Psychologists trained in neuropsychology specialize in the testing piece. Dr. Claire is a registered clinical neuropsychologist with a PhD.
Not all psychologists do ADHD assessments, and not all who do have training in adult ADHD. Ask about their experience with adults.
How long does it take?
From booking to report: typically 4-6 weeks. The assessment itself is 3-4 hours of appointments. After that, the psychologist writes the report and schedules a feedback session to go over the results.
If someone tells you they can assess you in one hour, they're not doing a comprehensive assessment.
What happens after diagnosis?
You take the report to your doctor to discuss treatment options: medication, therapy, coaching, or a combination. The report can also be used for workplace accommodations or disability tax credits.
The diagnosis itself doesn't fix anything. It's the starting point for building a life that works with your brain, not against it.
Ready to book your assessment?
Dr. Claire conducts assessments through our partner clinic. Book online or call to talk through your questions first.