ADHD testing · Carlsbad · Vista
ADHD Testing in San Diego
A thorough ADHD evaluation answers the question a screener cannot: is this ADHD, something else, or both? We test kids, teens, and adults for ADHD and ADD in person across San Diego, in Carlsbad and Vista.
4.9 on Google · Doctoral-level psychologists · Serving North County since 2018
Who we test
Ages 5+
Kids, teens & adults
Where
2 offices
Carlsbad & Vista
Wait to start
1–2 weeks
From booking to first session
Timeline
6–8 weeks
Intake to written report
Start with
A free call
15 minutes, no pressure
What an ADHD evaluation is
What an ADHD evaluation actually involves.
An ADHD evaluation is a structured set of standardized tests and clinical interviews that a doctoral-level psychologist uses to determine whether attention and executive-function difficulties are caused by ADHD, by something that mimics it, or by both. At Coastal Therapy Group it runs across three to four appointments: a clinical interview, in-person cognitive and attention testing, rating scales, an outside expert review, and a feedback session before your written report.
We are a relational, attachment-informed practice, so our evaluators are clinicians first. That shows up in the report: not a wall of scores, but a clear answer about how your attention actually works, and a plan for what comes next.
01
We rule out the look-alikes.
Anxiety, sleep problems, trauma, depression, and learning differences all mimic ADHD. We test for them directly, including a performance-based measure (the Rorschach), so the answer is ADHD, something else, or both, and it is backed by data.
02
One psychologist, start to finish.
The same doctoral-level clinician meets you, administers the tests, scores them, and writes your report. No interns, no automated write-ups, no handoff to a stranger.
03
Reviewed before it is final.
Every evaluation is reviewed by an outside consulting expert, Dr. Elizabeth Laney, and presented to our full team before the report is signed. The diagnosis is stress-tested, not rubber-stamped.
Who this is for
Built for people whose effort and results never matched.
ADHD testing helps most when there is a specific pattern behind the question, not just a hard week. A few signs it is worth a formal evaluation:
- You start things with energy, then lose steam before they are finished.
- You miss details at work or school, not because you do not care, but because your attention keeps drifting.
- Time moves strangely: what felt like 20 minutes was actually two hours.
- You have been told you interrupt, talk fast, or seem restless in meetings.
- You run on pressure, deadlines, or caffeine, and crash when they are gone.
- A first ADHD assessment felt too quick, or left the other questions unanswered.
We test capable kids whose grades do not reflect the work, teens who are bright but disorganized, and adults who were missed the first time, including late-diagnosed adults and women whose ADHD was read as anxiety. Any one of these on its own is just a bad day. A pattern is worth testing.
What it costs
We post the price so you do not have to ask.
A comprehensive ADHD evaluation costs $3,000 to $5,000. The fee includes the free consultation, the clinical interview, all testing and scoring, the written report, and the feedback session.
If ADHD and autism are both on the table, an integrated AuDHD evaluation assesses both at once and runs $4,000 to $6,000, which is more accurate and more cost-effective than two separate evaluations. If full testing is more than you need right now, Insight Sessions are a lighter 3-session, assessment-informed alternative at $840. We confirm the exact figure for your case on the free call, before any work begins.
- ADHD evaluation Adult or child. Cognitive, attention, and executive-function testing, rating scales, and a Rorschach differential.
- $3,000 – $5,000
- Combined ADHD + autism (AuDHD) One integrated evaluation and report when both questions are on the table.
- $4,000 – $6,000
- Insight Sessions A lighter 3-session, assessment-informed consultation. A starting point when full testing is more than you need right now.
- $840
Out-of-network · Superbill provided · HSA / FSA accepted
Comprehensive psychological testing is frequently eligible for partial out-of-network reimbursement. We provide a superbill for CPT codes 96136, 96137, 96130, and 96131; coverage varies by plan, so confirm your out-of-network testing benefits before scheduling.
How it works
What the process actually looks like.
About 9 hours of your time across three to four appointments, plus the feedback session. Nothing surprises you: we tell you what each session is for before you book it.
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The free 15-minute call.
You tell us what you are trying to figure out. We tell you whether an ADHD evaluation is the right tool, what it would involve, and what it would cost. No sales energy.
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Clinical interview.
A 60-to-90-minute conversation about your history, developmental milestones, and how attention shows up at home, school, or work. For kids and teens, parent and school input weighs heavily.
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Cognitive and attention testing.
Performance-based measures of attention, working memory, processing speed, and executive function, administered in person with breaks. This is where an inattentive, ADD-style pattern gets measured rather than guessed at.
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Rating scales and a differential measure.
Validated rating scales from you and, where relevant, family, partners, or teachers, plus a Rorschach performance-based measure that helps separate ADHD from anxiety, trauma, and mood.
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Outside expert review and team consultation.
Before the report is finalized, the case is reviewed by our outside consulting expert and presented to our full team. The diagnostic impression is tested against alternative explanations.
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Feedback session and written report.
A 60-to-90-minute feedback session in plain English, then a written report you can use with schools, employers, ADA and 504 / IEP teams, and prescribing providers.
The testing team
Six psychologists and a postdoctoral fellow who do ADHD testing.
Not sure where to start? Our Director of Psychological Testing, Dr. Chelsea Dudley, can match you with the right clinician for your case. Every evaluation is conducted, scored, and written by the same doctoral-level clinician.
Common questions
Frequently asked ADHD testing questions.
The questions below come up almost every week. If yours is not here, the 15-minute call is the place for it.
01 What does an ADHD evaluation actually involve?
A clinical interview about your history, developmental milestones, and current symptoms; performance-based cognitive and attention testing (working memory, processing speed, executive function); a Rorschach performance-based personality assessment to examine thought process, emotional functioning, and contributors that often look like ADHD; validated rating scales completed by you and, where relevant, family members, partners, or teachers; and a feedback session where we walk through what we found. You leave with an integrated written report that includes the diagnostic conclusion and concrete recommendations.
02 Why do you include the Rorschach in an ADHD evaluation?
The Rorschach is a performance-based assessment that gives us information about thought process, attention to detail, emotional regulation, and reality testing, areas that often look like ADHD but are actually being driven by anxiety, trauma, depression, or a more complex picture underneath. Including it means we're not just measuring attention in a vacuum. We're testing whether the attention difficulty you're experiencing is ADHD, something else, or both, with data instead of guesswork. This is part of why CTG evaluations tend to give answers that previous single-question assessments missed.
03 How long does ADHD testing take?
About 9 hours of your time across 3 to 4 sessions, plus the feedback session. From your first appointment to receiving your written report, the full process typically takes 6 to 8 weeks.
04 How much does ADHD testing cost in San Diego?
A comprehensive ADHD evaluation costs $3,000 to $5,000. The fee includes the free consultation, the clinical interview, all testing and scoring, the written report, and the feedback session. If ADHD testing is combined with an autism evaluation (an AuDHD evaluation), the combined fee is $4,000 to $6,000. We confirm the exact figure for your case on the free consultation call, before any work begins.
05 What ages do you test?
We evaluate ages 5 and up. For younger children, parent and school input weighs heavily. For teens and adults, we incorporate self-report alongside performance testing.
06 What's the difference between an online ADHD screener and a formal evaluation?
A screener flags whether ADHD is worth investigating. A formal evaluation answers the question. The screener cannot rule out other conditions that look like ADHD (anxiety, sleep disorders, trauma, depression, learning differences, autism), and it cannot produce documentation for accommodations or treatment planning. A comprehensive evaluation does both.
07 Will the report support accommodations at work or school?
Yes. Reports include diagnostic conclusions and documentation appropriate for ADA accommodations, IEP/504 plans, college disability services, professional licensure boards, and workplace accommodation requests.
08 Can ADHD testing also assess for autism, learning differences, or anxiety?
Yes. Most adult and teen ADHD referrals at CTG are not pure ADHD questions. We routinely differentiate ADHD from anxiety, depression, sleep issues, trauma, and learning differences as part of the standard evaluation. If you suspect autism is also part of the picture, we offer integrated AuDHD evaluations that assess both at once.
09 Do I need a referral to get tested?
No. You can book a free consultation directly with our team.
10 Will I be prescribed medication after the evaluation?
We don't prescribe medication, but the report gives your prescribing provider (psychiatrist, primary care physician, or psychiatric nurse practitioner) the diagnostic clarity they need to make informed decisions about medication. We can refer to trusted prescribers if you don't have one. For how a psychological evaluation differs from a psychiatric one, see our psychological testing overview.
11 Can I do ADHD testing online?
Some components of the evaluation can be conducted via telehealth, but core performance-based attention measures are most reliably administered in person at our Vista office. We'll discuss the right format for your case at the consultation.
When you are ready
Let's figure out whether ADHD testing is the right next step.
Fifteen minutes on the phone with our Director of Psychological Testing, Dr. Chelsea Dudley. No pitch, no pressure. By the end of the call you will know what you need, what it would cost, and whether we are the right people for it.
4.9 on Google · Out-of-network · Superbill provided · Serving North County since 2018