ADHD Assessments with Phil LaCourse,MA LLP, CAADC, CCS-R
Are you wondering if ADHD may be affecting your ability to focus, stay organized, manage time, complete tasks, or keep up with everyday responsibilities?
At Mental Wellness Counseling, Dr. Phil LaCourse provides comprehensive ADHD assessments and evaluations to help individuals better understand their symptoms, strengths, and challenges.
An ADHD assessment can provide valuable information about whether your experiences are consistent with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and whether additional support may be beneficial.
What Is an ADHD Assessment?
An ADHD assessment is a comprehensive psychological evaluation designed to determine whether an individual may meet the diagnostic criteria for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that can affect attention, organization, impulse control, activity level, time management, and other areas of daily functioning. Symptoms can vary significantly from person to person.
Because difficulties with attention and concentration can have many possible causes, an ADHD evaluation looks at the broader picture rather than relying on a single test.
During an assessment, Phil LaCourse considers your current concerns, developmental history, functioning, and assessment results to develop a comprehensive understanding of your individual situation.
Adult ADHD Assessment
Many adults seek an adult ADHD assessment after experiencing persistent difficulties with concentration, organization, procrastination, time management, forgetfulness, or completing tasks.
Adults with ADHD may have developed strategies that helped them manage their symptoms earlier in life. However, increasing demands at work, school, home, or in relationships can sometimes make these challenges more noticeable.
You may consider an ADHD evaluation if you regularly experience difficulties such as:
- Staying focused during conversations, meetings, or tasks
- Completing projects or following through on responsibilities
- Managing time or frequently underestimating how long tasks will take
- Staying organized
- Remembering appointments, deadlines, or everyday responsibilities
- Getting started on tasks
- Managing distractions
- Frequently procrastinating
- Feeling restless or having difficulty slowing down
- Acting impulsively or making decisions without fully considering the consequences
Experiencing some of these difficulties does not necessarily mean that you have ADHD. An assessment can help explore the possible explanations for your concerns.
ADHD Testing and Evaluation
There is no single test that can determine whether someone has ADHD.
A thorough ADHD evaluation typically combines multiple sources of information to develop a clearer understanding of an individual’s symptoms and functioning.
Depending on your individual circumstances, an ADHD assessment with Phil LaCourse may include:
- A comprehensive clinical interview
- Review of developmental and personal history
- Discussion of current symptoms and concerns
- Standardized ADHD questionnaires and assessment measures
- Examination of how symptoms affect daily functioning
- Consideration of other factors that may contribute to attention or concentration difficulties
- Review and discussion of assessment findings
- Recommendations based on the results
The assessment process is individualized based on your concerns and needs.
ADHD Symptoms in Adults
ADHD can present differently in adults than it may have during childhood. Some adults primarily experience difficulties with attention and organization, while others experience more noticeable impulsivity or restlessness.
Common concerns associated with adult ADHD may include difficulty with:
Attention and concentration: Losing focus, becoming easily distracted, or having trouble sustaining attention.
Organization: Difficulty keeping track of belongings, responsibilities, paperwork, schedules, or other details.
Time management: Frequently running late, underestimating how long tasks will take, or struggling to prioritize responsibilities.
Task completion: Starting projects but having difficulty completing them, particularly when tasks are repetitive or require sustained attention.
Impulsivity: Acting or speaking quickly without fully considering the consequences.
Daily routines: Difficulty maintaining consistent routines or keeping up with everyday responsibilities.
These experiences can also occur for many reasons other than ADHD. A professional assessment can help provide greater clarity.
ADHD Assessment for Children and Adolescents
ADHD can affect children and adolescents in different ways, including attention, behavior, academic performance, relationships, and daily routines.
When evaluating a child or adolescent for ADHD, it can be helpful to consider functioning across different settings, such as home and school. Information from parents, caregivers, teachers, and other relevant sources may be considered as part of the evaluation when appropriate.
An ADHD assessment can help families better understand a child’s strengths and challenges and identify recommendations for appropriate support.
What Happens During an ADHD Assessment?
The assessment process begins with understanding what brought you to seek an evaluation.
Phil LaCourse will discuss your concerns, history, and current functioning and may use standardized assessment measures to gather additional information. The goal is to look at the complete picture rather than focusing on one symptom or test result.
After the evaluation, your results and findings will be reviewed with you. You will have an opportunity to ask questions and discuss recommendations and possible next steps.
What If My Symptoms Aren’t ADHD?
Difficulty concentrating, staying organized, managing time, or completing tasks can occur for many different reasons.
An ADHD assessment can help consider factors that may contribute to these experiences rather than assuming ADHD is the cause.
Regardless of the outcome, the evaluation can provide useful information about your current functioning and help identify areas where additional support may be beneficial.
Why Consider an ADHD Assessment?
For some people, receiving a clearer understanding of longstanding challenges can help make sense of experiences they have had for years.
An ADHD assessment may help you:
- Better understand your attention and executive functioning
- Identify patterns that may be affecting work, school, or relationships
- Gain greater clarity about your strengths and challenges
- Explore whether ADHD may be contributing to your concerns
- Understand potential recommendations and support options
- Take a more informed approach to your mental health and overall well-being
Schedule an ADHD Assessment
If you are considering ADHD testing or an ADHD evaluation, Mental Wellness Counseling is here to help.
Psychologist Phil LaCourse provides individualized ADHD assessments focused on understanding the whole person—not simply a list of symptoms.
Contact Mental Wellness Counseling to learn more about ADHD assessments and determine whether an evaluation may be appropriate for you.