When it comes to understanding ADHD, the type of assessment you choose matters. You might find yourself asking:
- Does it matter where I get assessed and by whom?
- What’s the difference between options, and why does pricing vary?
- Will the type of assessment I choose affect the support I receive afterward?
At Springboard Clinic, we hear these questions all the time, especially when comparing our comprehensive ADHD assessment with online options like FRIDA ADHD assessment. While both can help identify ADHD, they serve very different purposes.
What is an ADHD Assessment? Do Adults Need Them?
An ADHD assessment is a structured way to understand how symptoms of attention, focus and executive functioning are affecting your life. It’s not about checking off symptoms from a list – it’s about building a full picture of how your brain works.
ADHD assessments aren’t just for children. Many adults pursue an assessment later in life, often after years of wondering why staying focused, staying organized, or managing emotions feels harder than it should. For some, it’s about finally having an explanation. For others, it’s about unlocking access to the right supports, accommodations or treatment so they can thrive at work, in school, and in relationships.
Why Other Health Conditions Matter
One of the most important considerations in choosing an ADHD assessment is whether it accounts for other mental health conditions or neurodiverse profiles. ADHD commonly co-occurs with challenges like:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Learning differences
- Memory and executive function challenges
- OCD
If these aren’t identified, treatment can miss the mark. That’s why a thorough evaluation matters: it ensures you can get clarity not just on ADHD, but on the whole picture of your mental health.
Who Can Diagnose ADHD?
ADHD should be diagnosed by licensed health professionals with expertise in mental health. Depending on the assessment, this may include psychologists, psychiatrists, paediatricians, family doctors, or nurse practitioners.
At Springboard, every assessment is collaborative. Your diagnostic team includes a combination of the following professionals:
- A highly trained psychometrist
- A psychologist or psychological associate with expertise in ADHD
- A medical professional (doctor, psychiatrist, paediatrician, or mental-health specialized nurse practitioner)
This approach ensures that your diagnosis is both accurate and multi-dimensional, capturing the full picture of your strengths, challenges and needs. Alternatively, a FRIDA assessment is completed by a nurse practitioner only, during a single online session.
How is a Springboard ADHD Assessment Different from a FRIDA ADHD Assessment?
Springboard ADHD Assessment (In-person in Toronto, Oakville and Online)
Springboard ADHD assessments are comprehensive, collaborative, and personalized. They go beyond confirming ADHD symptoms to explore cognitive functioning, co-occuring conditions, and your individual strengths. By the end, you walk away with a clear roadmap: not just a diagnosis, but recommendations, strategies, and supports you can put into action.
FRIDA ADHD Assessment (Online)
FRIDA is designed for fast access to ADHD diagnosis, especially for those seeking medication management. It’s convenient, conducted online, and focuses on confirming whether ADHD is present. While this can be valuable for quick access, it typically doesn’t include the same level of testing, exploration of co-occuring conditions, or long-term planning.
Depth and Insight
Springboard Clinic
- Comprehensive testing and structured interviews
- Leverages information from family, educators, or past records if helpful and available
- Detailed, personalized report with practical strategies and accommodations
- Particularly helpful if you suspect other concerns like depression, anxiety, or learning differences – conditions that are often intertwined with ADHD
- Provides ongoing options for therapy, coaching, and follow-up support
- Over 16 years of experience providing assessments, therapy and coaching for ADHD, executive function and related concerns
FRIDA
- Symptom-focused evaluation to confirm ADHD diagnosis
- Brief report to support medication access
Format and Timing for your ADHD Assessment
Springboard Clinic
- Multiple in-person or online sessions (testing, interviews, and follow-ups)
- Collaborative approach that may include input from family, coworkers, and teachers, if relevant
- Focus on long-term management and growth, not just diagnosis
FRIDA
- Online, completed in fewer sessions (questionnaires, interview)
- Fast access to diagnosis and prescriptions
- Primarily focused on medical management, rather than broader strategies
Who Should Choose Which?
Springboard ADHD Assessment
Best if you want a thorough understanding of your ADHD profile and possible co-occuring conditions. Many people who come to Springboard are unsure whether their challenges are due to ADHD, anxiety, depression, memory loss, or another factor. A comprehensive assessment helps provide clarity, and clinics like Springboard also offer coaching and therapy – because a diagnosis is just the first step in building a plan that works for you.
FRIDA ADHD Assessment
An option if you’re looking for a diagnosis and access to medication, and you’re comfortable with an online format.
Making the Right Choice
Choosing the right ADHD assessment depends on your goals. If you’re looking for depth, clarity, and ongoing support, a Springboard ADHD assessment in our warm and caring clinics in Toronto and Oakville is a great option.
Learn more about our ADHD assessments and book a consultation with our team here.
