The first step in signing up for ADHDAdvisor.org is to take a diagnostic assessment to determine if you may have ADHD. On the home page, I filled out the free self-assessment, which takes about 10 minutes to complete. Following completion, I was prompted to schedule an official assessment, which was a live video appointment scheduled for 30 minutes. However, I filled out the self-assessment a second time, answering “no” to all the symptom questions and was still prompted to schedule an official assessment.
The first parts of the self-assessment consisted of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, which are common screening tools for mental health issues. Then I completed the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS), a screening for ADHD symptoms in adults. All this took about 15 minutes. The assessment did not label these screenings, but I recognized the questions from my own clinical work as a psychotherapist.
After completing the questionnaires, I was asked if I was looking for a professional diagnosis of ADHD and then prompted to schedule a 30-minute intake. I noted that I didn’t need a professional diagnosis, since I already have one, and was able to continue the process.
Appointments for the assessment were available within two days. I had to schedule this before I could request an appointment for therapy or coaching. I completed some general intake paperwork with questions about my history and my family medical history.
The sign-up process took about 15 minutes total, which felt sufficient and manageable for someone seeking support for ADHD. I had to upload photo identification to confirm my identity during the sign-up process before I could confirm my appointment. The system then matched me to a licensed clinical social worker and I was able to choose my appointment time.
After signing up for my assessment, ADHDAdvisor.org set me up with a portal that allowed me to view documents about my treatment, schedule appointments, make payments, and chat with my providers. I paid $20 to hold my intake, and the remaining $130 for the diagnostic interview was charged after the first appointment.
Some Red Flags
However, as a mental health professional myself, I noticed a few things that raised red flags:
Red flag #1: The website states that you’ll get a “full refund if not satisfied” with the service you receive at ADHDAdvisor.org. While this might sound like a positive thing, mental health providers typically don’t offer refunds, for ethical reasons.
For example, if a provider offers refunds to anyone who says they’re not satisfied, they’ll probably get refund requests from clients who don’t receive a diagnosis of ADHD, because that’s not the outcome they were hoping for. It may also incentivize providers to overdiagnose ADHD. In general, ADHD is underdiagnosed, not overdiagnosed. However, some telehealth companies have come under fire for providing minimal assessment and diagnosing ADHD in many of their patients.
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Red flag #2: A standard diagnostic interview is 60 minutes in length, and many providers conduct 90-minute interviews, because 60 minutes is not always sufficient to get a thorough history and accurate diagnosis. A 30-minute intake, which is what ADHDAdvisor.org offers, doesn’t seem like enough time to truly determine whether someone has ADHD.
Red flag #3: As I completed the scheduling process, I was given a non-optional release of information to complete for my primary doctor. While it can be important for care teams to communicate with each other about treatment, individuals still have the right to decide how their private information is shared and should have the option to opt out. In my case, since I was trialing the company for this review, I didn’t want to give them access to my records or healthcare providers. I ended up typing “I do not consent” in each box instead of my doctor’s contact information because I couldn’t continue without filling out and signing the release.
Red flag #4: I wasn’t able to view my provider’s profile or get more information about her before my appointment, which was disappointing. As a client, you have the right to know who is treating you. It’s important to note that social workers typically don’t receive training in assessing and diagnosing ADHD. I decided to Google my assessor and was relieved to find her online profile, which showed that she did indeed have training in clinical assessment and diagnosis. For people using this service, I recommend looking up your provider’s credentials to ensure that they are able to diagnose ADHD.
The website also doesn’t provide information about crisis services. Usually, companies that provide mental health services include a disclaimer about the limitations of their capabilities, with a referral for crisis resources for anyone who needs them.