Screening FAQ

No. Screening uses brief questions to identify whether a fuller assessment may be helpful. A positive result does not confirm ADHD, and a low score does not rule it out. Diagnosis requires a qualified healthcare professional to assess symptoms, history, daily functioning, and other possible explanations.

Begin by noting the attention, organization, or impulsivity difficulties that affect your life. You can use our free self-check for reflection, then discuss your concerns with your primary care clinician or an ADHD-qualified practitioner. Our self-check is educational, not a validated diagnostic test.

A clinician may ask about symptoms now and in childhood, how they affect work, school, and relationships, your medical and mental health history, and substance use. With your permission, input from someone who knows you and old school records can help. There is no single test that diagnoses ADHD; additional tests depend on your situation.

Bring your screening results, examples of everyday difficulties, a medication list, and any relevant past assessments or school records you can obtain. Be open about alcohol and other substance use so the clinician can interpret symptoms safely. Missing childhood records does not mean you should avoid seeking advice.

Our proposed Screening-First Protocol encourages ADHD screening early in substance-use care, with positive results followed by a professional assessment. Intoxication, withdrawal, sleep problems, and other conditions can resemble ADHD. The treatment team determines when you are stable enough for an accurate assessment; screening should not delay urgent care or medically supervised withdrawal treatment.

The self-check and educational resources on this site are free. Practitioners set their own screening and assessment fees. A brief questionnaire, a clinical assessment, and a larger testing package are different services, so there is no single price we can quote. Ask for the total expected cost before booking.

Coverage depends on your plan, the practitioner, the services billed, and any referral or prior-authorization requirements. Insurance acceptance is not a guarantee that a particular assessment is covered. Confirm with both the provider and your insurer before your appointment; you may still owe a deductible, copayment, or coinsurance.

Ask whether the clinician is in network for your exact plan, which services and billing codes are expected, whether a referral or authorization is needed, and your likely out-of-pocket cost. Ask separately about follow-up visits and any additional testing. For out-of-network care, check whether your plan reimburses any portion and whether the provider supplies the paperwork you need.

Ask about self-pay prices, sliding-scale fees, payment plans, and lower-cost community services. In the United States, people who are uninsured or not using insurance can usually request a good faith estimate for scheduled care. Ask the provider for a written estimate, including any separate fees, before you commit.

No. We are a virtual information and practitioner-referral resource, with no physical clinic. We share current information, review practitioner listings, and advocate for screening ADHD before substance-use treatment. Screening, diagnosis, treatment, scheduling, fees, and insurance arrangements are handled directly by practitioners.

Some directory practitioners offer telehealth. Ask whether they can legally see someone in your state or region and whether an ADHD assessment is available virtually. A telehealth listing does not guarantee that every service, prescription, or insurance plan is available to you.

No. Listing review and license verification do not guarantee outcomes or replace your own questions about training, experience, scope of practice, fees, and approach. Ask specifically about adult or child ADHD and co-occurring substance-use experience, as appropriate for your needs.