ADHD
Evaluation
At NYC Neurobehavioral Health, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder evaluations (ADHD) are conducted with clinical rigor, nuance, and a commitment to translating complex findings into clear, practical recommendations. Dr. Harvey integrates developmental history, targeted testing, and real-world functioning to provide a diagnosis, explanation, and plan you can use with confidence.
What to Expect
We begin with a detailed clinical interview to understand the full picture, not just a checklist of symptoms. This typically includes:
- current concerns and goals;
- developmental history and early social communication patterns;
- education/work history, relationships, daily functioning;
- medical, psychiatric, sleep, and family history;
- mental health and medical factors that can influence presentation (sleep, anxiety, mood, trauma, etc.).
When clinically helpful, records and input from someone who knows you well, such as a parent, partner, or teacher, can add important context and strengthen diagnostic confidence.
The evaluation may include rating scales and carefully selected tests to clarify how attention and executive functioning are operating in daily life. Depending on the referral question, testing may help characterize:
- sustained attention and concentration;
- executive functioning, including organization, planning, inhibition, task initiation, and cognitive flexibility;
- working memory and processing speed;
- learning, reading, writing, or math, when academic concerns are part of the picture;
- emotional functioning and other factors that may influence performance.
Attention problems are not always ADHD. Anxiety, depression, sleep disruption, trauma, learning disorders, autism, and medical factors can mimic or intensify ADHD symptoms. A strong evaluation separates primary ADHD from other explanations and identifies when multiple conditions are interacting at the same time.
For adults, this often includes careful review of childhood patterns, long-standing coping strategies, and the ways work, relationships, and life demands may have masked or complicated the picture over time.
You will receive a detailed feedback meeting and a clear written report that translates findings into practical next steps. Recommendations may include:
- school supports, including IEP or 504 guidance and classroom accommodations;
- workplace accommodations and executive functioning supports;
- therapy, coaching, or behavioral strategies;
- medication consultation or referral, when appropriate;
- additional referrals for sleep, mood, learning, or autism assessment when indicated.
The goal is not just a diagnosis, but a plan you can actually use. When helpful, Dr. Harvey can also help translate findings for schools, physicians, and other professionals involved in care.
The Highest Standards
Meeting the highest standards in ADHD evaluation means resisting quick labels and understanding how attention, impulse control, activity level, and executive functioning operate in real life. ADHD can be subtle in bright students, high-functioning adults, and people whose difficulties have been mistaken for stress, anxiety, or lack of effort. A comprehensive evaluation should never rely on one rating scale or one test. It should integrate:
- a careful developmental, academic, occupational, and psychosocial history;
- standardized rating scales across settings, when available;
- direct assessment of attention, executive functioning, working memory, processing speed, and learning when indicated;
- collateral input from a parent, partner, teacher, or other informant when clinically useful;
- screening for co-occurring conditions and look-alike diagnoses that can change treatment planning.
Book a brief consultation with Dr. Harvey today to discuss your concerns, clarify next steps, and determine whether a comprehensive ADHD evaluation is the right fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects attention regulation, impulse control, activity level, and executive functioning. In some people it shows up mainly as distractibility, disorganization, or forgetfulness. In others it is more apparent as impulsivity, restlessness, or both. The key issue is that these patterns are persistent and interfere meaningfully with functioning at school, work, in relationships, or in daily life.
No. ADHD is not diagnosed by one test score or one computerized task. A sound diagnosis is based on a comprehensive evaluation that may include interview, developmental history, rating scales, records, collateral input, and targeted testing when useful.
The goal is a clear, well-reasoned report that translates findings into practical recommendations. Depending on the referral question, reports can often support conversations about school accommodations, standardized testing accommodations, or workplace supports. Final eligibility decisions are made by the school, testing agency, or employer.
Yes. Adult ADHD evaluation often requires careful review of childhood patterns, current executive functioning demands, compensation strategies, and overlapping conditions such as anxiety, depression, or sleep disruption.
Collateral input is helpful, but it is not required. When outside informants are unavailable, the evaluation leans more heavily on interview data, records, rating scales, and targeted testing to build diagnostic confidence.
Yes. Several conditions can mimic or intensify ADHD symptoms, including anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, learning disorders, trauma, and autism. This is one reason a high-quality evaluation includes careful differential diagnosis rather than assuming that distractibility or procrastination automatically equals ADHD.
Yes. When clinically indicated, the evaluation can examine both ADHD and autism, especially when concerns involve attention, executive functioning, sensory regulation, social communication, or rigidity. Careful assessment matters because overlapping symptoms can change both diagnosis and recommendations.
If you have questions about ADHD evaluation, reach out to Dr. Harvey.