ADHD Resource Hub
ADHD Screening & Diagnosis
Diagnosis and treatment of ADHD in Canada
This flow chart shows how to request or seek clarification on whether or not you or a loved one has ADHD.
The path you choose is entirely dependent on yours and your family’s circumstances, and medical history.
ADHD diagnosis FAQ's
Who can diagnose me in Canada?
In Canada, ADHD can be formally diagnosed by a regulated health care practitioner that is:
- a Medical Doctor (family doctor, pediatrician or psychiatrist), or
- a Nurse Practitioner, or
- a Psychologist.
Your ADHD specialized psychotherapist can screen and assess for ADHD, and also deliver non-pharmacological treatment (behaviour therapy/training & psychotherapy management).
While the credential means these practitioners can conduct and assessment and provide a diagnosis, it doesnt mean ADHD is within their scope of training.
Always ask how long they have been assessing and treating ADHD for, and how much specialized training they have in it.
Do I need a Psychologist Assessment (a 'Psychoeducational report')?
Anyone still in school – all the way though to college, university or post-grad programs would benefit from a psychoeducational assessment that includes ADHD measures.
If your child is struggling (this can look like both acting out as well as boredom) in school, a psychoeducational assessment can offer a valuable roadmap to yours or your child’s brain, whereby ADHD can be ruled it in or out, and learning differences can be identified.
If you are an adult and all you are looking for is to have ADHD ruled in, (or out!), you can still have ADHD diagnosed via OHIP by a medical practitioner.
How long does it take to get a comprehensive assessment? ?
Adequate diagnosis must be based upon a complete history and evaluation of the patient, and not solely on the presence of the required number of DSM-5 characteristics.
At Dig a Little Deeper, our experiencedMental Health Nurse Practitionerswill:
- carefully evaluate intake and history forms you fill out before your first appointment,
- including validated assessment tools that also screen for common comorbidities (a ‘differential’ diagnostic exercise),
- meet for a minimum of 90 minutes with you (and family members for pediatric assessments), and
- then meet with you again to share their findings and suggest a treatment plan).
A formal diagnosis facilitates medical management (medication), as well as psychosocial support for Individual Education Plan (IEP) development in an academic journey (from elementary to post-secondary), or in tailored workplace accommodation’s to help you perform at your best.
What if I just want to do therapy?
Sometimes your therapist will suggest screening in order to rule ADHD out. Many mental health conditions look like ADHD but aren’t, and vice versa.
Depending on your own values, preferences and needs, a formal diagnosis may or may not be necessary.
But undiagnosed, or under-treated ADHD is a well-described barrier in the attainment of positive therapy outcomes, and your results can really help positively shape your therapy treatment plans.
Comprehensive ADHD assessment, diagnosis and treatment with ongoing follow up care
Integrated Mental Health Services
Some conditions in mental health benefit from a coordinated and experienced care team approach between the person, their therapist and a medical practitioner.
Our private, coordinated care clinic is led by experienced child and adult mental health nurse practitioners, highly trained and experienced in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of conditions like ADHD, depression, anxiety, OCD, in children, adolescents and adults.
Our service is available through self-referral.
Please visit our Integrated Medical Care page to learn more, and sign up through our Intake Form to get started.
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ADHD Self-Screening:
A Thoughtful First Step
Here is what you should know:
We’ve made credible screeners available here in an effort to provide ethical and credible resources to anyone interested.
Screeners such as the ASRS, are not diagnostic, but can be a meaningful first step toward clarity.
Please keep in mind:
- It’s not a diagnosis. A formal diagnosis requires a comprehensive assessment by a qualified clinician who will consider your full lifespan history and daily functioning.
- It’s normal to relate to some items. Many people, especially those under chronic stress or dealing with anxiety, may recognize themselves in ADHD symptoms. A full evaluation can help distinguish what’s really going on.
- Your results are private and not stored. You may wish to save or print your results to discuss with a healthcare provider.
- A positive score means it’s worth a closer look. If your results suggest ADHD might be present, we encourage you to explore next steps.
If you’re feeling validated, overwhelmed, or even relieved by your screener results, you’re not alone. Many adults reach this point after years of struggling without answers.
Our team offers comprehensive, neurodivergent-affirming assessments and treatment tailored to adult ADHD and its common co-occurring conditions.
The most common screening tool used to determine whether further investigation is necessary is the standardized Adult Self Report Scale (ASRS).
This is a well-established rating scale developed by the World Health Organization for adult ADHD screening. Research has shown the ASRS to be a highly sensitive and specific screener for ADHD in adults. (Less than 1% of individuals without ADHD will score positive on the ASRS).
You can download a fillable Adult Self Report Scale (source: CADDRA) to share with your health care clinician.
Prefer an auto-calculated score?
Click HERE for an automated screening quiz that mirrors the standardized Adult Self Report Scale (ASRS).
OTHER SCREENERS: ADULTS AND YOUTH
- An Adult ADHD Functionality Scale Screener, or
- an Adult Executive Functioning Scale, the (ADEXI).
- View the European ICD-10 criteria for ADHD.
- View the DSM-5 Diagnosis criteria for Youth.
Wonder how much you are “masking”?
Explore the recent Adult ADHD Masking Measure (AAMM) and discuss it with your doctor or therapist.
ADHD can present differently in girls & women.
Screeners for girls & women
The primarily inattentive presentation of ADHD more frequently found in women, although not exclusively, and can often go undiagnosed resulting in later coexisting disorders of anxiety and depression. ADHD can also be misdiagnosed as one of these disorders.
Unfortunately, even today many women with ADHD may be only evaluated for only depression and anxiety, while their underlying ADHD remains undiagnosed and untreated.
Read more about the differences the research describes about the lifespan presentation and impact of ADHD in Girls and Women.
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