Diagnostic Assessments
If you are experiencing a medical or mental health emergency please contact your local emergency responder (911)
Navigating ADHD: Your Personalized Adult Assessment Journey
ADHD Assessment for Adults in Burlington, Vermont
If you’ve been struggling with focus, forgetfulness, disorganization, or emotional burnout, it might be time to consider whether ADHD is part of the picture.
This adult ADHD assessment is designed for individuals who want clarity about their attention, memory, and executive functioning—especially if you’ve spent years adapting, overcompensating, or masking symptoms without answers. Whether you're a student, professional, or simply feeling overwhelmed, this process can help you understand what’s happening and what to do next.
What the Assessment Involves
In-Depth Conversation
The process begins with a conversation—not a checklist. You’ll have space to describe how ADHD may be showing up in your daily life, including patterns related to time management, emotional regulation, and attention.
Cognitive Testing
You’ll complete targeted assessments that explore areas such as working memory, task initiation, and sustained focus. These results help differentiate ADHD from other possibilities like anxiety, depression, or burnout.
Emotional Wellness Screening
Because adult ADHD often affects emotional regulation—especially through experiences like rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD ADHD)—I also assess emotional well-being as part of the diagnostic picture.
Why ADHD Is Often Missed in Adulthood
Many adults in Burlington—college students, professionals, and parents alike—live for years without realizing they have ADHD. The symptoms don’t always look like childhood hyperactivity. Instead, they show up as disorganization, forgetfulness, poor time management, emotional reactivity, or chronic procrastination.
You may have developed excellent coping mechanisms: overworking, perfectionism, or masking ADHD entirely. But those strategies often collapse under pressure—especially in fast-paced work environments or when managing academic demands. That’s when the questions begin: Why am I still struggling? What am I missing?
Why a Formal ADHD Diagnosis Can Help
Clarity
An adult ADHD diagnosis explains persistent issues like difficulty following through, time blindness, or feeling overwhelmed by daily routines—what some refer to as object permanence ADHD.
Direction
You’ll receive a detailed understanding of how ADHD operates in your life and how to move forward—with or without medication. Many clients also discover patterns like rejection sensitive dysphoria that help explain years of emotional intensity or self-doubt.
Support
A diagnosis opens the door to tools and accommodations that can make a real difference—both in daily functioning and long-term growth.
Frequently Asked Questions About ADHD Assessments
What is an adult ADHD assessment, and how is it different from a childhood diagnosis?
An adult ADHD assessment examines how symptoms like disorganization, forgetfulness, and inattention manifest later in life. Unlike childhood assessments that focus on hyperactivity and school behavior, adult assessments account for years of coping mechanisms, stress, and overlapping conditions such as anxiety or burnout.
Who should consider getting tested for ADHD as an adult in Vermont?
Adults who struggle with focus, time management, emotional regulation, or follow-through—especially college students and professionals in Vermont—should consider assessment. Many people are misdiagnosed or undiagnosed in childhood and only recognize ADHD traits once adult responsibilities intensify.
What does the adult ADHD assessment process involve?
The process includes comprehensive interviews, behavioral observation, emotional screening, and cognitive testing. It’s a personalized evaluation designed to understand how ADHD uniquely affects your thinking patterns, daily life, and personal goals.
Will an official ADHD diagnosis help with accommodations or treatment?
Yes. A diagnosis provides access to academic accommodations, workplace support, and personalized treatment plans. It opens the door to therapies, coaching, and—if appropriate—medication, offering clarity and tools to improve quality of life.
Is this assessment available remotely, or do I need to be in Burlington?
Some parts of the assessment can be completed remotely, but for thorough and ethical evaluation, at least one in-person session in Burlington is recommended. This ensures the highest level of clinical accuracy and personal attention.
