ADHD care · Telehealth across Washington

ADHD evaluation and treatment for teens and adults in Washington

Medically reviewed by Dr. Iman Yunis, DNP, PMHNP-BC · Last reviewed October 26, 2026

A careful, evaluation-first approach to ADHD by secure video, with a doctorate-trained, board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner. Start with a free 2-minute screening, then get answers from a professional.

New patients typically seen within 2–3 days

• ✓ Ages 13 and up
• ✓ 60-minute evaluation
• ✓ Most major insurance

The short answer

Yes. Peak Psychiatry and Wellness offers ADHD evaluations for teens 13 and up and adults anywhere in Washington, by secure video. Dr. Iman Yunis, a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner with a doctorate (DNP), uses a structured interview, validated rating scales, and history from family or school to confirm or rule out ADHD and look for related conditions, then builds a plan that may include medication, practical strategies, and therapy referrals. New patients are typically seen within 2–3 days.

What is ADHD

Understanding ADHD

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental condition that affects attention, organization, activity level, and impulse control. It is not a character flaw, a lack of effort, or a lack of intelligence. Many people with ADHD are creative, energetic, and capable, and also exhausted from working twice as hard to keep up.

ADHD begins in childhood, but it often continues into adulthood. Symptoms can change over time: hyperactivity may fade into inner restlessness, while trouble with focus, time, and follow-through remains. Many adults, especially women, are not diagnosed until their 20s, 30s, or later.

Not sure where you stand? Our free adult ADHD screening (ASRS) takes about 2 minutes. It is not a diagnosis, but it can help you decide whether an evaluation makes sense.

Types of ADHD

The three presentations of ADHD

Clinicians describe ADHD in three presentations, based on which symptoms are most prominent. A person’s presentation can change over their lifetime.

• Predominantly inattentiveTrouble sustaining attention, careless mistakes, losing things, forgetfulness, difficulty organizing tasks, and being easily distracted. Often quieter and more likely to be missed, especially in girls and women.
• Predominantly hyperactive-impulsiveFidgeting, restlessness, difficulty staying seated, talking a lot, interrupting, and acting before thinking. In adults this often feels like an inner motor that will not switch off.
• Combined presentationSignificant symptoms of both inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity. This is the most commonly diagnosed presentation.

Signs and symptoms

How ADHD shows up in daily life

In teens

• Falling grades despite ability, missing assignments, or last-minute cramming
• Losing track of time, belongings, or plans
• Difficulty starting homework or long projects
• Impulsive decisions, risk-taking, or emotional outbursts
• Conflict at home about chores, screens, or follow-through

In adults

• Chronic lateness, missed deadlines, and underestimating how long things take
• Starting many projects and finishing few
• Trouble with paperwork, bills, and routine tasks
• Zoning out in meetings or conversations, then feeling lost
• Restlessness, impatience, or interrupting others
• Feeling overwhelmed, behind, or like you are not living up to your potential

Emotional symptoms people do not expect

Many people with ADHD also struggle with frustration, quick reactions, and strong sensitivity to criticism or rejection. Years of feeling disorganized can wear down self-esteem. These experiences are real and worth bringing up during an evaluation.

Causes

What causes ADHD?

ADHD has no single cause. Research points to a combination of factors that affect how the brain develops and regulates attention and activity:

• Genetics: ADHD runs strongly in families and is one of the most heritable mental health conditions. It is common for a parent to recognize their own ADHD after a child is diagnosed.
• Brain development: Differences in the development and activity of brain networks involved in attention, planning, and self-control.
• Early-life factors: Premature birth, low birth weight, and exposure to substances such as alcohol or tobacco before birth are associated with higher risk.

What does not cause ADHD: ADHD is not caused by bad parenting, eating too much sugar, or a lack of willpower. Stress, sleep loss, and screens can make focus harder for anyone, which is one reason a careful evaluation matters.

Diagnosis

How an ADHD evaluation works

There is no blood test or brain scan for ADHD. A diagnosis is made by a qualified clinician based on a thorough evaluation. At Peak, that includes:

1. 01Detailed historyYour current symptoms, when they started, and how they affect work, school, home, and relationships.
2. 02Childhood pictureADHD begins before age 12, so we ask about school and early life. Old report cards and family input help.
3. 03Rating scalesStandardized questionnaires, sometimes also completed by a parent, partner, or teacher.
4. 04Ruling out look-alikesScreening for anxiety, depression, sleep problems, trauma, substance use, and medical causes that can mimic ADHD.

To be diagnosed, symptoms need to be present across more than one setting (such as work and home), go beyond what is typical for your age, and cause real problems in daily life. Getting the diagnosis right matters, because the plan depends on it.

Conditions that look like ADHD

What else could it be?

Trouble focusing is a symptom, not a diagnosis. Several conditions can look like ADHD or occur alongside it:

• AnxietyWorry can make it hard to concentrate and finish tasks. Take the anxiety test
• DepressionLow energy, low motivation, and poor concentration. Take the depression test
• Sleep problemsPoor sleep, including sleep apnea, can cause daytime inattention.
• Trauma and PTSDHypervigilance and intrusive thoughts can pull attention away. Learn more
• Bipolar disorderPeriods of racing thoughts and restlessness can resemble ADHD. Learn more
• Medical causesThyroid problems, hormonal changes, and some medications can affect focus.

Treatment

A comprehensive ADHD treatment plan

Good ADHD care is more than one fix. After your evaluation, Dr. Yunis builds a plan around your goals and your life, which may include:

• Practical strategiesTools for planning, time management, and routines that fit how your brain works.
• Therapy and coachingCognitive behavioral therapy adapted for ADHD and ADHD coaching can help with organization, procrastination, and self-esteem. We can recommend options.
• Treating what comes with itAnxiety, depression, and sleep problems often travel with ADHD, and treating them can improve focus on their own.
• Medication, when appropriateConsidered only after a thorough evaluation, as one part of a broader plan, with regular follow-up.

Read more in our article Adult ADHD treatment: what a comprehensive plan looks like.

Lifestyle strategies

Everyday strategies that help

These strategies help many people with ADHD, whether or not they also use other treatment:

• Get it out of your head: use one calendar and one task list, and set reminders for everything.
• Make tasks smaller: break big projects into concrete next steps you can finish in 15–25 minutes.
• Use time blocks and timers: short, focused work periods with planned breaks.
• Create a launch pad: keep keys, wallet, and essentials in the same spot by the door.
• Reduce friction: automate bills, use autopay, and keep supplies where you use them.
• Body basics: consistent sleep, regular movement, and regular meals noticeably affect attention.
• Body doubling: working alongside someone else, in person or online, can make starting easier.
• Be kind to yourself: ADHD is not a moral failing. Systems beat willpower.

ADHD in women and girls

Why ADHD is often missed in women

ADHD has long been underdiagnosed in women and girls. Many have the inattentive presentation, which does not disrupt a classroom the way hyperactivity does, so it is easy to overlook. Others learn to mask their symptoms by over-preparing, staying up late to catch up, or relying on perfectionism, which works until it does not.

• Symptoms are often first labeled as anxiety, depression, or “just stress”
• Hormonal changes across the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, postpartum, and perimenopause can make symptoms more noticeable
• Many women recognize their own ADHD after a child is diagnosed
• Burnout from years of compensating is common

If this sounds familiar, you are not alone, and a careful evaluation can bring clarity. Learn more about our women’s mental health care.

Before your visit

How to prepare for your ADHD evaluation

A little preparation helps us get an accurate picture in one visit:

• Take the free adult ADHD screening and note your answers.
• Write down your top three daily struggles and how long they have been happening.
• Gather anything from childhood if you can: report cards, teacher comments, or past evaluations.
• List current medications, supplements, and any past mental health treatment.
• Think about sleep, caffeine, alcohol, and substance use. These affect focus and are part of every evaluation.
• If possible, ask a parent, partner, or close friend how they see your attention and organization.

Read more about what to expect at your first psychiatric evaluation.

At work and school

Thriving with ADHD at work and school

ADHD affects the places where structure, deadlines, and sustained attention matter most. Small, practical changes often make a big difference.

At work

• Ask for clear written priorities and deadlines, and confirm them by email.
• Protect focus time: silence notifications and block your calendar for deep work.
• Use a “parking lot” note for ideas and distractions so you can return to the task at hand.
• Build in buffers before meetings and deadlines, since time often slips.
• Some people benefit from workplace accommodations, such as a quieter workspace or flexible scheduling. An evaluation can help document needs when appropriate.

At school (for teens)

• Use one planner or app for every class, checked at the same time each day.
• Break long assignments into steps with mini due dates.
• Work with the school on supports such as a 504 plan when symptoms affect learning.
• Keep parents and teachers on the same page with brief weekly check-ins.

Family members can help most by focusing on systems and encouragement rather than criticism. ADHD is about how the brain manages attention and time, not about caring less.

ADHD guide

Everything in this ADHD guide

• ScreenerFree adult ADHD test (ASRS) →A 2-minute screening based on the World Health Organization scale.
• ArticleAdult ADHD treatment plan →What a comprehensive plan looks like, beyond medication.
• Related conditionAutism evaluation →ADHD and autism often occur together. Evaluations for teens and adults.
• GuideTeen psychiatric care →A guide for parents of teens 13 and up.
• Related conditionDepression and anxiety →Common alongside ADHD, and treated together.
• ArticleYour first psychiatric evaluation →What happens and how to prepare.
• PrintableFirst visit checklist →A printable checklist to bring to your evaluation.
• GuideWhat it costs →Insurance, self-pay, and no surprise bills.

Insurance and cost

Covered by most major Washington plans

We are in network with these plans and verify your benefits before your first visit. Tap your plan to learn more:

Self-pay: $300 initial evaluation · $150 follow-ups

See all insurance and payment options.

FAQ

ADHD questions, answered

Related care

Other ways we help

Free adult ADHD test →Autism evaluation →Women’s mental health →Depression and anxiety treatment →What to expect at your first visit →

Sources

References

Written and medically reviewed by Dr. Iman Yunis, DNP, PMHNP-BC, using the national guidelines and research below. For education only; not a substitute for personal medical advice.

1. National Institute of Mental Health. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd
2. Wolraich ML, et al. Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of ADHD in Children and Adolescents. Pediatrics. 2019;144(4):e20192528. doi.org/10.1542/peds.2019-2528
3. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: diagnosis and management (NG87). 2018, updated 2019. www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng87
4. Song P, et al. The prevalence of adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: a global systematic review and meta-analysis. J Glob Health. 2021;11:04009. doi.org/10.7189/jogh.11.04009
5. Kooij S, et al. Research advances and future directions in female ADHD. Front Glob Womens Health. 2025;6:1613628. doi.org/10.3389/fgwh.2025.1613628

Get clarity on ADHD

Start with the free 2-minute screening, or book your evaluation. New patients typically seen within 2–3 days.