ADHD Evaluations
Steps of an ADHD Evaluation.
Many people struggle with attentional concerns — difficulty focusing, staying organized, or following through on tasks. This page walks through how we think about these concerns and what an ADHD evaluation actually looks like.
Understanding Executive Dysfunction
Many people are noticing new or worsening concerns with attention, concentration, motivation, or what's sometimes called “executive dysfunction” — difficulty starting tasks, staying organized, or following through. ADHD is one possible explanation for these concerns, but it is far from the only one. Other common contributors include:
- Anxiety disorders
- Depression & mood disorders
- Chronic stress & burnout
- Sleep disorders or sleep deprivation
- Trauma & PTSD
- Substance use (including caffeine, alcohol, cannabis)
- Medical conditions (e.g. thyroid dysfunction, anemia)
- Medication side effects
- Learning disabilities
- Hormonal changes (e.g. perimenopause)
- Grief & major life transitions
- Chronic pain or illness
Because so many different things can produce similar-looking symptoms, a careful evaluation is important before assuming ADHD is the explanation — and before starting any treatment aimed at it.
The Clinical Evaluation
ADHD can be diagnosed through a clinical interview and careful history-taking. This means talking in detail about when attention difficulties started, how they show up across different areas of your life (school, work, relationships, daily tasks), and whether they've been present since childhood — a key criterion for an ADHD diagnosis. We'll also explore the other explanations above, since ruling those in or out is part of getting an accurate picture.
When the Picture Isn't Clear: Neuropsychological Testing
Sometimes, even after a thorough clinical interview, the diagnosis isn't fully clear — symptoms may be ambiguous, overlap with other conditions, or the history may be difficult to piece together. When this happens, we may refer you for formal neuropsychological testing, which offers a more comprehensive, standardized assessment of attention, memory, and executive functioning to help clarify the diagnosis.
Below, you'll find a list of neuropsychological testing providers we trust, along with the insurance they accept, to help make that next step easier.
Neuropsychological Testing Referrals.
Below are neuropsychological testing providers we trust and refer to. Filter by insurance to find a provider that works with your plan.
Mount Sinai Neuropsychology
For Adults & Older Adults
Jane Martin, PhD — Director
Mount Sinai Neuropsychology
For Adolescents & Adults
Ami Norris-Brilliant, PsyD — Clinical Director
Bryant West Psychology
For Adolescents & Adults
Neha Menon, PsyD — Clinical Psychologist, Assessment Specialist
Bryant West Psychology
For Adolescents & Adults
Lynsey Hinnenkamp, PhD — Counseling Psychotherapist
Casey Psychology
For Adolescents & Adults
Cassady Casey, PhD — Clinical Psychologist & Neuropsychologist
So Now You Do (or Don't) Have ADHD — What Next?
Figuring out whether your attention or executive functioning concerns are coming from ADHD, or from something else entirely, is really only the beginning. A diagnosis of ADHD is just the first step — it tells us whether medication is likely to help, but it doesn't do the work for you. The real work comes after: building the organizational habits, routines, and strategies that actually make day-to-day life feel more manageable.
Below are a few resources we often recommend to patients who are building out that toolkit, whether or not medication is part of the plan.
Inflow
Inflow is the leading cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) mobile app specifically designed and studied for managing adult ADHD — built to help with focus, procrastination, and follow-through in daily life.
getinflow.ioTodoist
A straightforward task management app that helps break work down into manageable to-do lists, with reminders and recurring tasks to help build consistent routines — a simple, practical starting point for external organization.
todoist.comForest
A focus timer that gamifies staying on task — you "grow a tree" for every distraction-free work session, and it withers if you leave the app. A simple, low-effort way to build in structured focus blocks.
forestapp.ccHabitica
A gamified habit and task tracker that turns daily routines and to-do items into a role-playing game, which can make building new organizational habits feel more rewarding and less like a chore.
habitica.com