ADHD (Adult) Assessment

At Connect Cognitive Therapy, we provide comprehensive ADHD assessments for adults that can provide you or someone you know with greater clarity regarding your daily experiences living with ADHD.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is often thought of as a childhood condition, but many adults struggle with symptoms well into adulthood, sometimes without even realizing it.

Many adults with ADHD are diagnosed later in life, often after years of struggling with work, relationships, or personal responsibilities. Without an early diagnosis, individuals may develop negative self-perceptions, blaming themselves for difficulties with time management, focus, or impulsivity. They may face years of feeling "lazy" or that they’re "not living up to potential". They may also develop anxiety or depression due to unmanaged symptoms.

What is ADHD

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition which often affects an individual’s ability to concentrate on important tasks, manage time, or regulate certain behaviours. ADHD can lead to challenges maintaining focus on work or school and difficulties in our social relationships.

Types of ADHD

Inattentive:

This type of ADHD often involves deficits related to concentration. Individuals with inattentive ADHD might find themselves more easily distracted during tasks and conversations.

Impulsive-Hyperactive:

This type of ADHD is characterized by frequent hyperactivity and impulsive behaviour. Individuals with impulsive-hyperactive ADHD might find themselves to be overly “high energy” and may experience difficulties with behavioural self-regulation and impulse control.

Combined:

This is the most common type of ADHD, often involving deficits related to inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Individuals with combined ADHD often experience difficulties with maintaining focus on tasks while also showcasing challenges with self-regulation and impulse control.

Symptoms of ADHD

Inattentive

Being easily distracted
Finding it difficult to follow conversations
Being overly forgetful
Difficulty maintaining organization.
Often losing personal items
Poor time management and procrastination

Hyperactivity

Feeling overly high-energy
Restlessness (e.g. fidgeting, leg-shaking)
Interrupting conversations, difficulty waiting for one’s turn.
Risk-taking behaviour

Assessment Process

1. Schedule a Consultation:

If you or someone you know thinks they may be living with ADHD, we encourage you to reach out to us to learn more about the assessment process. We are more than happy to answer any questions you have.

2. Initial Consultation:

During your initial assessment, your therapist will take the time to learn about your experiences, symptoms, and your goals. This involves a full clinical interview that gathers information about your personal and family history, including risk factors for ADHD. This interview also assesses other common mental health symptoms that can mimic or exacerbate ADHD. From here, we will walk you through an assessment that will allow us to gather information regarding your daily functioning as well as specific symptoms of ADHD.

3. Phase 1 assessment:

This phase of assessment provides you with the opportunity to tell us about symptoms and daily experiences through the use of standardized assessment tools. This can be done in-office, or through secure online communication.

4. Phase 2 assessment:

In this phase of assessment, we shift our focus to your support system. With your permission, we will collect information from individuals close to you (e.g. parents, friends, spouse, etc.) regarding their observations of symptoms. We also encourage you to access any available early school records as these can provide us with valuable information.

5. Feedback session:

Upon completion of your assessment, we provide a comprehensive review of our findings along with a diagnosis if applicable. We also provide you with suggestions regarding potential next steps for treatment when applicable.

6. Documentation:

Typically, a brief report summarizing your assessment results is sufficient for most purposes (e.g. prescription for ADHD medication etc.). When warranted, more detailed reports are available. We can also provide recommendations for school/workplace accommodations upon request.

Get Started Today!

If you or someone you know would like to get assessed for ADHD, we invite you to reach out to book an appointment with one of our licensed psychologists.