You can get screened for ADHD through your primary care doctor, a psychiatrist, a psychologist, or an online telehealth platform. The right starting point depends on your age, budget, and whether you need a quick screening or a full diagnostic evaluation. Most people begin with their regular doctor, who can either complete the assessment or refer you to a specialist.
Who Can Diagnose ADHD
Several types of licensed professionals are qualified to screen for and diagnose ADHD. These include psychiatrists, psychologists, neurologists, pediatricians, nurse practitioners, licensed clinical social workers, and other licensed counselors. Not all of them offer the same depth of evaluation, though.
A psychiatrist or your primary care physician can conduct a clinical interview, review your symptoms, and prescribe medication if needed. An initial psychiatric consultation typically costs $300 to $600. A psychologist can do a more detailed evaluation using standardized testing and behavioral observation, which runs $1,000 to $2,500. If you need a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation, the kind often required for standardized test accommodations like the SAT or GRE, expect to pay $2,500 to $5,000 or more.
Starting With Your Primary Care Doctor
For most people, the simplest first step is booking an appointment with the doctor you already see. Primary care physicians and pediatricians routinely screen for ADHD using validated rating scales. For adults, providers often use the Adult Self-Report Scale, a short checklist based on the core diagnostic criteria for inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity. The first six questions on this scale are the most predictive and work well as an initial screen.
Your doctor can also run a physical exam to rule out conditions that mimic ADHD symptoms: thyroid disorders, sleep problems, anxiety, depression, undetected seizures, and lead exposure. This step matters because many of these conditions cause attention and focus problems that look like ADHD but require completely different treatment. If your doctor suspects ADHD but wants a more thorough evaluation, they’ll refer you to a specialist.
What a Full Evaluation Looks Like
A screening is not the same as a diagnosis. Screening identifies whether your symptoms warrant a closer look. A full diagnostic evaluation is more involved and typically includes a detailed clinical interview about your symptoms, a review of your developmental and medical history, rating scales filled out by you and (ideally) someone who knows you well, and sometimes cognitive or academic testing. For children, teachers are usually asked to complete rating scales as well, since symptoms need to be present in more than one setting.
The diagnostic criteria require a persistent pattern of inattention or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with daily functioning. Symptoms must have been present before age 12, even if you’re being evaluated as an adult. This is where adult evaluations get tricky: confirming childhood onset relies on memory, which is often inaccurate years later. Bringing old report cards, school records, or a parent who can speak to your childhood behavior can strengthen the evaluation.
The full process can wrap up in a single long appointment or stretch over several weeks if your provider needs to rule out other medical conditions or gather additional information.
Evaluation for Children vs. Adults
Pediatric ADHD screening is built around gathering information from multiple sources. Clinicians combine parent interviews, teacher rating scales, behavioral observation, and sometimes academic testing to document impairment at both home and school. Your child’s pediatrician can start this process, and many school districts offer free evaluations through special education services, though a school evaluation alone may not result in a medical diagnosis.
Adult evaluations lean more heavily on self-report, your own description of how symptoms affect work, relationships, and daily responsibilities. Clinicians will often ask for collateral information from a partner, family member, or close friend. Because adult ADHD was underdiagnosed for decades, many adults seeking evaluation for the first time are in their 30s, 40s, or older, which makes documenting childhood symptoms harder but not impossible.
Telehealth and Online Screening
Online ADHD assessments have become widely available, with platforms offering initial diagnostic services starting around $150 to $300. These typically involve a video consultation with a licensed provider who reviews your symptoms and history. Some platforms charge up to $900 depending on the depth of the evaluation.
Telehealth providers can legally prescribe ADHD medications, including stimulants. Federal telemedicine flexibilities that allow controlled substance prescriptions without an in-person visit have been extended through 2026 while permanent regulations are finalized. This means patients in rural areas, those with disabilities, or anyone who has difficulty getting to an office can continue receiving prescriptions through video visits.
The trade-off with online screenings is depth. A 30-minute video call can identify clear-cut cases, but it may not catch overlapping conditions like anxiety or learning disabilities. If you need a detailed report for workplace accommodations, school services, or standardized testing, an online screening alone probably won’t be sufficient. Adding a written accommodation report typically costs an extra $200 to $400.
Lower-Cost Options
If cost is a barrier, university training clinics are worth exploring. These are clinics run by graduate psychology programs where supervised trainees conduct evaluations. Costs typically range from $300 to $800, significantly less than a private practice psychologist. The downside is longer wait times, sometimes several months.
Community mental health centers often offer ADHD evaluations on a sliding scale based on income. Federally qualified health centers, which exist in every state, provide behavioral health services regardless of ability to pay. You can search for one near you through the Health Resources and Services Administration website.
If you have insurance, call your plan before booking. Many insurers cover ADHD evaluations when billed under mental health or behavioral health benefits, though coverage for neuropsychological testing specifically can be limited. Ask your provider’s office whether they bill under psychological testing codes, and confirm with your insurer that those codes are covered under your plan.
How to Find a Specialist
CHADD, the largest national ADHD advocacy organization, maintains a professional directory of ADHD specialists searchable by location. They also operate a phone helpline (1-866-200-8098, weekdays 1 to 5 PM Eastern) with Spanish-language support. Psychology Today’s therapist directory lets you filter by ADHD specialty and insurance accepted. Your insurance company’s provider directory is another practical starting point, since it shows only clinicians already in your network.
When choosing a provider, ask specifically whether they conduct ADHD evaluations, not just therapy. Ask what the evaluation includes, how long it takes, and whether you’ll receive a written report. If you’re an adult, confirm the provider has experience with adult ADHD specifically, since many clinicians are trained primarily in pediatric presentations.