Adult ADHD — Evaluation
The adult ADHD evaluation, done properly.
Getting evaluated for ADHD as an adult in California usually means choosing between two flawed options: a fifteen-minute telehealth visit that ends in a stimulant prescription, or a multi-thousand-dollar neuropsychological testing package you probably don't need. There is a third way — a structured, physician-led diagnostic evaluation, covered by insurance.
That is what we do. Whether your case is straightforward or complicated, the process is the same rigorous one — because the diagnosis, not the prescription, is the product.
What the evaluation involves
Before you're seen
Standardized rating scales and a broadband symptom screen through our patient portal — not just an ADHD checklist, but instruments covering mood, anxiety, sleep, trauma, and substance use, because attention problems have many causes.
Sessions 1–3
A 60-minute physician evaluation, then structured-interview sessions using the LODHI-A — the diagnostic interview developed by our founder and used by clinicians internationally. It traces symptoms back through your development, screens the mimics, and probes the compensation that masks ADHD in capable adults.
The answer
A clear diagnosis and a treatment plan you own — medication where indicated (stimulants only after the diagnosis is confirmed), non-medication strategies, and treatment of whatever else the evaluation found. If it isn't ADHD, you learn what it actually is.
Why so thorough? Because not everything is ADHD — and stimulants given for the wrong diagnosis cause real harm.
Common questions
How long does an adult ADHD evaluation take?
A complete evaluation typically takes two to three sessions. The first is a 60-minute diagnostic evaluation with a physician, preceded by standardized rating scales; follow-up sessions complete the structured interview and differential diagnosis before any treatment decision.
Do I need neuropsychological testing to be diagnosed with ADHD?
Usually not. ADHD is a clinical diagnosis made through a structured diagnostic interview and history — computerized or neuropsychological test batteries are not required for most adults and add significant cost. Testing is reserved for genuinely ambiguous cases or when co-occurring learning or cognitive concerns need characterization.
What is the LODHI-A?
The LODHI-A (Longitudinally Oriented Diagnostic Historical Interview for ADHD) is a structured clinical interview for adult ADHD developed by our founder, Shafi Lodhi, MD. It traces symptoms across developmental epochs, screens the conditions that mimic ADHD, and probes the compensation and masking that let high-functioning adults go undiagnosed. Clinicians can learn more at lodhi-a.com.
Will I get medication at the first visit?
No. Stimulants are prescribed only after the evaluation is complete and the diagnosis is confirmed. This protects you: stimulants can worsen anxiety and destabilize unrecognized bipolar disorder, and an accurate diagnosis is what makes treatment work. See our new-patient policies.
Is the evaluation covered by insurance?
We are in-network with Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, Cigna, and Lyra Health (participation varies by physician), and the evaluation is billed as standard psychiatric visits — not as a separate cash-pay testing package. Self-pay rates are on our insurance page.
What if it turns out I don't have ADHD?
Then you leave with something more valuable than a prescription: an accurate diagnosis. Attention problems are real even when ADHD isn't the cause — depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, thyroid disease, and other conditions all impair concentration, and each is treatable once correctly identified.