Adult ADHD Evaluation and Assessment
Culturally Competent Adult ADHD and Autism Evaluation in California, New York, Oregon, Washington, and Online
Adult ADHD & Autism Assessment (Cherry AADI)
Have you ever wondered why some things feel so much harder for you than they seem to for everyone else?
The to-do list that never gets touched until the last minute. The conversations that leave you drained for the rest of the day. The sense that you’re always running a little behind, or performing a version of yourself that doesn’t quite fit. You may have learned to cope so well that no one else noticed, maybe not even you.
What if none of this is a personal failing? What if your brain simply works differently, and understanding how could change the way you live with it?
Our assessments are for adults who’ve spent years quietly wondering. Together, we’ll look at your patterns, your strengths, and the places where life has felt like an uphill climb, so you can walk away with a clearer understanding of yourself.
Yellow Chair Collective now offers the Cherry AADI (Cherry Adult ADHD-Autism Diagnostic Interview). It’s a specialized assessment for ADHD, autism, and co-occurring profiles (AuDHD) in adults.
Why So Many Adults Go Undiagnosed
ADHD and autism don’t start in adulthood. But for many people, they go unrecognized in childhood.
Some reasons are common:
- You did well in school, so no one thought to look closer. Good grades can hide a lot of effort, stress, and late nights.
- You learned to mask. You watched others, studied the rules, and adjusted. It worked, but it may have cost you a lot of energy.
- Your traits didn’t match the stereotype. Many people picture ADHD as a hyperactive young boy, or autism as one narrow set of traits. Women, people of color, and many others often show up differently.
- Mental health wasn’t part of the conversation at home. In many families, especially immigrant and Asian American families, struggles were seen as a matter of effort, discipline, or character. Getting help may not have felt like an option.
Many adults start wondering in their 20s, 30s, or later, often after burnout, a big life transition, or a child’s diagnosis. Wherever you are in that process, it’s not too late to understand yourself better.
Why the Cherry AADI?
Most diagnostic tools were designed for children and adapted for adults. The Cherry AADI was built around adult lived experience from the start.
Made for adults: it accounts for masking, compensatory strategies, burnout, and the ways neurodivergent traits can stay hidden for decades.
Culturally responsive: it considers culture, gender identity, and expression, all of which shape how neurodivergence shows up and gets recognized.
Strengths-based: it looks at your unique neurological profile and how well your environment fits you, not just at deficits.
Comprehensive: it explores core ADHD and autism criteria along with sensory processing, masking patterns, and demand avoidance. It also screens for anxiety, depression, and mood concerns that can look similar.
What to Expect
The assessment is a conversation, not a test you can pass or fail. Your clinician will guide you through a semi-structured interview about your life, from childhood memories to how things feel for you today. All sessions are held virtually, so you can join from wherever you feel most comfortable.
Sessions 1 & 2: The assessment interview (two 90-minute sessions)
We’ll explore attention, focus, organization, social experiences, sensory sensitivities, routines, emotions, and the ways you’ve learned to adapt. Splitting the interview into two sessions keeps it manageable, so you don’t have to spend three hours straight talking about yourself. Most of us would rather not.
Session 3: Your follow-up (one 50-minute session)
We’ll review your findings together, talk through what they mean, and discuss recommendations for daily life, relationships, work, school, or accommodations. You’ll have space to ask questions and process what you’ve learned.
We usually schedule the two assessment sessions about a week apart, so the full process takes about three weeks.
Who This is For
- Adults who wonder if they might have ADHD, autism, or both (AuDHD)
- Parents whose child was recently diagnosed and who are starting to see themselves in the description
- High achievers who look “fine” on the outside but are exhausted from holding it all together
- People who grew up in families or cultures where mental health wasn’t talked about, and are getting curious now
- Anyone who has always felt a little out of step and wants to know why
- Adults looking for clarity to support workplace or academic accommodations
After Your Assessment
A diagnosis, or the lack of one, isn’t the finish line. It’s information you can use. Many people describe a sense of relief, of finally having language for things they’ve felt their whole lives. Others need some time to sit with it. Both are completely okay.
Investment
AADI Assessment with an associate clinician: $500
AADI Assessment with a licensed clinician: $850
These are introductory rates for our new program. Comparable adult ADHD and autism assessments typically cost $1000-1500. Rates may increase in the future.
This assessment is private pay only. We are unable to accept insurance for the assessent. Payment plans are available, and we offer a limited number of sliding scale spots.
Who Can Participate
All assessment sessions are virtual and available to adults who are physically located in California, Oregon, Washington, or New York during at the time of the appointment, since our evaluating clinicians are licensed in these states.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to get started?
If you’ve been wondering for a while, this is your invitation to stop guessing. Reach out to schedule your assessment, and we’ll walk you through the next steps.
