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What is an ADHD evaluation?

An ADHD evaluation is a structured clinical process — not just a questionnaire. It's designed to understand the full picture of what's going on: what's hard, how long it's been happening, and whether ADHD is the right explanation or whether something else (or something additional) better fits. At Rooted Minds, this happens across two appointments. The goal at the end isn't just a label — it's a clear answer you can actually do something with.

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At a Glance

Number of Visits

2 appointments

Total Time

~2 hours across both

Format

WA State

Ages Seen

Children, teens & adults

Before Visit 1

Rating scales via portal

Between Visits

ADHD scales if indicated

How It Goes — Step by Step

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The Process

Before Visit 1

Complete Your Intake Forms

You'll receive intake paperwork through the SimplePractice portal. Fill these out before your first appointment — the more detail you provide, the more useful our time together will be.

Visit 1

60–90 minutes

The Full Evaluation

A comprehensive clinical interview covering your psychiatric, medical, developmental, and family history. We explore how symptoms show up across different settings — home, school, work, relationships — and how long they've been happening. For children, a caregiver joins the full visit. There is no diagnosis at the end of this appointment.

Between Visits

ADHD Rating Scales (if indicated)

If the intake suggests ADHD is likely, you'll receive Vanderbilt or other ADHD-specific rating scales to complete before your second visit. These take about 10–15 minutes. For children, both a parent and teacher version may be sent — follow up with the school early so there's no delay.

Visit 2

30–45 minutes

Feedback + Next Steps

We review the rating scale results and everything gathered at the first visit. You'll receive a clear clinical impression — diagnosis confirmed or ruled out, in plain language. If medication makes sense, we discuss options and can start a prescription at this visit. We also address referrals, therapy recommendations, and any documentation needed for school or work.

📌 No diagnosis at Visit 1. This is intentional. A thorough evaluation takes time — rushing to a diagnosis without the full picture does more harm than good. The second visit is where everything comes together.

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What We're Looking At

ADHD presentations Inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive, or combined — and how each shows up at your age and stage

Co-occurring conditions Anxiety, depression, trauma, and sleep disorders all overlap significantly with ADHD symptoms

Developmental history ADHD begins in childhood — symptoms before age 12 are required for diagnosis

Functional impact What it's actually costing you — at school, work, in relationships, and daily life

Multiple settings DSM-5 requires symptoms in at least two settings — home, school, and work all count

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Helpful Things to Bring

Old report cards Especially ones with teacher comments — they show how things looked at school

Prior evaluations or testing IEPs, 504 plans, school psych evals, prior assessments

Current medications list Everything you or your child takes, including vitamins and supplements

When did this start? Even a rough sense of timing helps — childhood examples are especially useful

Your questions — written down Bring a list. It's easy to forget in the moment and we want to cover all of them

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For Children — What to Tell Them

You can tell your child something like this before the visit:

"We're going to talk to Renee who helps kids who have a hard time paying attention or sitting still. She'll ask you some questions — there are no right or wrong answers. You're not in trouble. She just wants to get to know you and figure out how to help."

No shots, no physical exam — just talking

They can bring a comfort item if that helps

It's okay if they feel nervous — completely normal

No need to prepare or study anything beforehand

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After the Evaluation

If ADHD is confirmed We discuss what type, what it means, and what the options are — medication, behavioral strategies, therapy, and accommodations

If medication is right for you A prescription can be started at the feedback visit. Follow-up appointments monitor response and adjust as needed

School or work documentation We can provide letters to support IEP, 504 plan, or workplace accommodation requests

If ADHD isn't the right answer You'll leave with a clear explanation of what is driving things — and a direction forward

💬 Most people leave the second visit feeling like they finally have an answer they can actually do something with.

Questions before your appointment?

Reach out any time — we're happy to answer questions about the process, what to expect, or anything else before you come in.

360-389-3712 info@rootedmindspsychiatry.com

Your ADHD EvaluationWhat to Actually Expect