ADHD can look different at different stages of life and often goes unrecognized for years. In children and adolescents, ADHD may show up as difficulty with attention, regulation, organization, or emotional intensity. In adults, ADHD is often masked by coping strategies developed over time and may be misattributed to anxiety, depression, stress, or burnout.

Across the lifespan, ADHD can affect focus, follow-through, time management, emotional regulation, and relationships. A comprehensive ADHD assessment looks carefully at current concerns within the context of developmental history, daily functioning, and long-standing patterns.

Who ADHD Assessments Are For

ADHD evaluations can be helpful for children, adolescents, and adults who feel persistently overwhelmed, struggle despite effort, or want clarity about what may be driving ongoing challenges at school, work, or home. Families may seek an ADHD evaluation for a child, while adults often pursue assessment later in life after noticing patterns that impact relationships, career, or emotional well-being.

Because ADHD symptoms can overlap with anxiety, depression, learning differences, and other conditions, a clinical assessment helps ensure an accurate and meaningful understanding.

An ADHD assessment may include clinical interviews, rating scales, and a review of academic, work, and personal history, with attention to both strengths and areas of difficulty.

ADHD assessment is not only about diagnosis. It is a process of gaining clarity, reducing self-blame, and identifying supports and strategies that better align with how an individual thinks, learns, and functions across the lifespan.