DIAGNOSTIC ASSESSMENTS FOR ADHD AND AUTISM (Adults 21+)

Autism and ADHD presentation and experience can vary greatly from person to person, making it difficult to trust your own perceptions when self-diagnosing. While self-identification is certainly valid, there may still be a desire to have a clinician formally confirm or rule out a diagnosis. The benefits of seeking a formal neurodivergent diagnosis as an adult can include:

- Confirmation or disconfirmation of your self-perceptions
- The ability to make sense of yourself as you realize there are explanations for your experiences and struggles
- An understanding of your needs and your place in the world
- Finding community when you’ve spent most of your life alone
- Clarification of co-occurring conditions like PTSD, anxiety
- The ability to access neurodivergent specific interventions and therapies
- The ability to advocate for workplace or medical accommodations if needed
- Allowing the people who love and care for you to do so more effectively

Precautions to note when getting a formal diagnosis:

- If you are using insurance, your diagnosis may become a part of your permanent medical record
- Changes in state laws can impact your autism or ADHD diagnosis. For autism, some states require you to get listed onto a registry. Washington State is currently not one of them.

A formal assessment utilizes standardized tests, questionnaires, and an interview to determine whether someone meets criteria for ADHD or autism according to the DSM-5. Included in the comprehensive evaluation is also a family, developmental, social, and medical history.

Assessment process (held in-person on a Saturday, with some flexibility if Saturdays do not work):
Step 1: Initial consultation to explain the process, assess needs and desired use of diagnosis (30 min)
Step 2: Completion of online Self-Assessments (RAADS-R, AQ, ASRS-5, CAT-Q, MQ) (40 min)
Step 3: Clinical Interview and completion of Sensory Profile and Brown ADD Scale (3 - 4 hours)
Step 4: Feedback session along with full report of test results and personalized list of resources and referrals (1 hour)

Complete cost: $1800
$300 non-refundable deposit due at time of booking. $1500 balance due at time of service.
I can provide a superbill for you to submit to insurance. Please check with your insurance provider to find out if you have out-of-network coverage for psychological testing. Most insurance plans will reimburse a portion, if not all, of the testing.

Neurodivergence is vast. Understanding all the ways your brain wiring affects your life can be eye-opening and liberating. There can also be grief from not having known sooner. Individual sessions can be provided to help you process and integrate your new diagnosis.

Please note: Assessments are available for Washington State residents only or those willing to travel to WA for the assessment.

An assessment does not guarantee a diagnosis and a diagnosis does not guarantee any accommodations. If you are seeking workplace accommodations, please verify with the organization what they require for access.

If you are seeking a diagnosis for the purpose of receiving state disability, you will need to be assessed by a psychologist, neurologist or psychiatrist. You can find a referral list to such providers on my Resource page under ADHD and Autism neuropsychological testing.