What to ask when searching for ADHD testing in the Twin Cities
One of the most common fears I sense during my free consultations is- “how do I know if a place that offers ADHD evaluation is legit or a scam?”
I try to be as transparent as possible and have no problem sharing what I know about the field, so here are my real responses to these very common questions.
Who can complete an ADHD assessment?
ADHD evaluations are usually completed by neuropsychologists, but even experienced clinical psychologists and some psychiatrists offer them.
What should I look for in a clinic that claims to offer ADHD assessments?
I’ll be honest with you, not all ADHD assessments are created equal.
Credentials: I recommend looking at the clinicians biography/about me page. What are their credentials? Someone with PhD, PsyD, or MD is best.
Experience: how many evaluations have they completed? Is this something they do once in a while or do they focus specifically on ADHD?
In person component: Since COVID, a lot of the ADHD assessments have turned virtual. When looking for a quality assessment, there should still a component (if not most of the evaluation) that is in office. If the whole evaluation is offered online, is there an option to come in person? A video interview is not ideal and raises a yellow flag for me. However if the whole evaluation was done asynchronously without ever completing an interview with a clinician (even video online), then that’s a red flag for me and I’ll ask you to get another evaluation done.
Is there a wait list?
Another common concern is the wait. Often by the time someone is late-night Googling their ADHD symptoms, they have reached a crisis situation. Their job or relationship is at stake. Now it is urgent to get the ADHD assessment done ASAP.
The wait time for an appointment varies widely and depends mostly on if you go through insurance route or if you’re ok paying out of pocket. Self-pay evaluations are often much quicker (usually 2-4 weeks), whereas places that accept insurance can take much longer (would not be surprised to hear a wait for 3+ months).
Do they take insurance or is it self-pay only? What are their fees?
I’ve met great professionals on either side of that. At my private practice, I do not contract directly with any insurance companies. But as a healthcare expense, you can use your HSA/FSA account for payment and you can even request a superbill to submit to your insurance for reimbursement using your out-of-network benefits.
For a self-pay assessment, fees are usually listed directly on the website. My fees are listed here. For insurance-based assessments, fees are much more complicated depending on billing and coding and don’t be surprised if the best answer you receive is an estimate.
Does the testing include ASD, learning disabilities, dyslexia, TBI, or other cognitive impairments?
It depends. At my practice, I focus specifically only on ADHD. At other places, you may get a more comprehensive report. If that’s important to you, make sure you ask this before you get started.
Other logistics: feedback session, report turn-around time, next steps
Quality evaluations will include a feedback session during which you will go over the results of the assessment and if any diagnoses are made and why. You should be able to ask questions and understand what’s in the report.
Speaking of the report: an ADHD assessment is not complete without a full write-up. This report is crucial for any ADHD school or work accommodations and medication prescriptions. The amount of time that it takes for a clinician to finalize the report varies, but is usually 1-2 weeks.
Next steps: you have completed a neuropsych evaluation and answered the question: do I have ADHD? Now what? Even the best neuropsychologist/clinical psychologist won’t be able to prescribe any medication, but they should have a list of referrals to prescribers that specialize in ADHD (like me).
If you complete your ADHD assessment with me at ADHD Alliance of MN, the feedback session includes a treatment plan discussion. ADHD prescriptions (if indicated) are sent same day to your preferred pharmacy. This eliminates the need to make another appointment, wait another couple of weeks, fill out additional forms, and go over the entire medical history and ADHD symptoms again.
What if I already have a neuropsych report?
Great! If you want to bring your outside completed neuropsych report to me, your initial appointment is going to be significantly cheaper (only $500 vs $2000 for the full ADHD assessment).
I hope this is helpful. I’m working on collecting information from local neuropsychologists to put together a helpful comparison table. If you are a neuropsychologist in the Twin Cities and want to be included, please email me at DrPrisacari@adhdallianceofmn.com