Adults come to us for ADHD care in two ways: already diagnosed and looking for a new provider, or wondering for the first time whether ADHD explains years of struggling with focus, organization or restlessness. Here is how evaluation, testing and treatment work at Hope Integrative Medicine, including the costs, so there are no surprises.
When ADHD testing is required
If you have not completed a formal ADHD evaluation or testing in the past, we require objective ADHD testing before starting ADHD treatment. Many conditions, including anxiety, depression, poor sleep, thyroid problems and substance use, can look like ADHD. Testing supports a thorough diagnosis rather than prescribing medication based on symptoms alone.
If you were formally evaluated or tested before, bring or send those records. Your provider reviews them at your first visit.
What the testing is
The testing is a separate computerized assessment of the three core symptoms of ADHD: attention, activity and impulsivity. It is completed online as part of your evaluation, usually before your virtual visit with your provider, on a third-party, web-based, FDA-cleared ADHD assessment platform. It gives your provider objective data from validated testing to aid the diagnosis, but on its own it is not enough to diagnose ADHD.
The test is designed to measure the three core symptoms of ADHD in people ages 6 to 60. Attention: during an on-screen task, inattention shows up in variations in how quickly and accurately you respond. Activity: the platform tracks motor activity during the task, which its maker reports measuring to within 1 mm. Impulsivity: incorrect response patterns show how impulsive responses may affect your performance.
What it costs
ADHD testing is self-pay and is not covered by insurance. Our front desk will tell you the current cost when you schedule. The fee is only for the testing, not for your visits with the provider.
Your initial virtual evaluation and follow-up appointments with the provider may be billed to your insurance according to your plan benefits.
Ready to Get Started?
Primary care, mental health, and addiction medicine in one practice. New patients are often able to be scheduled within a week of requesting an appointment.
Your visit with the provider
At your virtual visit, your provider goes over the results with you and evaluates you, looking at symptom criteria, your history, how symptoms affect your life, and symptoms across settings, supported by interviews and rating scales. High scores in all three areas do not automatically mean combined-type ADHD, normal activity during testing does not rule ADHD out, and the testing can help inform the ADHD subtype but cannot establish it by itself. The provider then discusses treatment recommendations with you. Visits are by secure video from anywhere in South Carolina, or in person at our West Ashley office.
Medication: long-acting stimulants only
When medication is clinically appropriate, our providers prescribe long-acting stimulant medications, such as extended-release amphetamine (Adderall XR), lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) and extended-release methylphenidate (Concerta). We do not prescribe immediate-release stimulants, such as Adderall IR or Ritalin. Long-acting medicines give steadier symptom control through the day, with fewer peaks and crashes, and they have a lower risk of misuse.
Non-stimulant options, including atomoxetine (Strattera), viloxazine (Qelbree) and bupropion (Wellbutrin), are also available and are a good fit for some adults.
Counseling is part of treatment
Medication helps many adults, but skills matter too. We offer counseling for ADHD symptom management, organization, coping strategies and daily functioning as part of a complete treatment plan.
How to start
Request an appointment and choose ADHD as your reason for visit. We will confirm whether you need testing, explain the cost and help you schedule both steps.
Get help from Hope Integrative Medicine
If you think you may have ADHD, or you need a new ADHD provider, we can walk you through testing, the evaluation and treatment. Our mental health team sees patients in person in West Ashley and by telehealth across South Carolina, alongside our primary care providers, and new patients are often able to be scheduled within a week of requesting an appointment. Request an appointment.
This article is general health information and does not replace advice from your own provider. Never start, stop or change a medication without talking with your prescriber. If you are having thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988 or call 911.
Frequently Asked Questions
At Hope Integrative Medicine, ADHD testing is self-pay and not covered by insurance. Your separate initial evaluation and follow-up visits with the provider may be billed to your insurance according to your plan benefits.
If you have not completed a formal ADHD evaluation or testing before, yes. We require objective testing before starting ADHD treatment so the diagnosis rests on more than symptoms alone. If you were formally evaluated before, your provider reviews those records instead.
An on-screen task completed online, usually before your virtual visit, on a third-party, web-based, FDA-cleared ADHD assessment platform. It is designed to measure attention, activity and impulsivity; your provider then goes over the results with you and evaluates you. The testing aids the diagnosis but is not enough on its own.
Our providers prescribe long-acting stimulants, such as Adderall XR, Vyvanse and Concerta, when clinically appropriate. We do not prescribe immediate-release stimulants such as Adderall IR or Ritalin.
Yes. We evaluate and treat adults with ADHD by secure video anywhere in South Carolina, and in person at our West Ashley office in Charleston.