How Is ADHD Diagnosed? What to Expect and Why It Matters
If you’ve ever wondered whether your daily struggles with focus, time, or motivation are something more than just burnout or being “too busy,” you’re not alone. More adults, especially high-achieving women of colour, are asking the same question: Do I have ADHD?
And while social media can offer relatable content and self-reflection tools, true clarity comes from a comprehensive diagnostic process. This process is not just about checking boxes. It is about understanding how your brain works, and finally having a language for the patterns you have been navigating your whole life.
What Is ADHD?
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects the brain’s executive functions. These include attention, memory, motivation, planning, emotional regulation, and impulse control.
Though ADHD is often associated with hyperactive children, research confirms it continues into adulthood and may even intensify under stress (Faraone et al. 2021). For adults, symptoms tend to show up in less obvious but deeply disruptive ways, chronic procrastination, disorganization, forgetfulness, and difficulty regulating emotions.
Women, especially BIPOC women, are often underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed due to gendered and racial stereotypes. Many spend years internalizing their symptoms as laziness or moral failure when, in fact, their brains are simply wired differently (Odoom & Cudjoe, 2020).
What the ADHD Diagnosis Process Actually Looks Like
If you are seeking a diagnosis, here is what you can generally expect in Canada.
1. It Starts with a Clinical Assessment
ADHD cannot be diagnosed through a blood test, brain scan, or online quiz. It requires a clinical interview and evaluation by a qualified professional, usually a psychiatrist, psychologist, or primary care provider with training in ADHD.
This includes:
A comprehensive history of symptoms across your lifespan
A review of family history, as ADHD has a strong genetic component
Assessment of how symptoms impact daily functioning in multiple areas such as work, school, and relationships
The practitioner will explore your executive functioning, your emotional regulation patterns, and your coping mechanisms. They may also ask about early childhood behaviours and academic history, since ADHD is a lifelong condition that begins in childhood, even if it was missed at the time.
2. Screening Tools and Questionnaires
Your clinician may use evidence-based screening tools such as:
The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS)
The Conners’ Adult ADHD Rating Scale (CAARS)
The Barkley Adult ADHD Rating Scale
These tools help capture patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. They are not diagnostic on their own, but they offer a structured way to gather data about your experiences.
3. Rule-Outs and Differential Diagnosis
Many conditions can mimic or overlap with ADHD symptoms, including:
Anxiety
Depression
Trauma (especially complex trauma)
Sleep disorders
Hormonal imbalances
Learning disabilities
Your provider will assess whether ADHD is the primary issue or whether it coexists with other mental health conditions. This is especially important for BIPOC women, who are more likely to have their symptoms dismissed as emotional distress rather than neurodivergence (Ramsay 2010).
4. Collateral Information (Optional)
In some cases, your clinician might request input from a partner, parent, or someone close to you to understand how your symptoms show up in daily life. This step is more common in comprehensive evaluations and can be especially useful if childhood records are unavailable.
What Happens After a Diagnosis?
If you receive an ADHD diagnosis, the goal is not to label you; it is to empower you. Knowing what you are working with can help you:
Access therapy and coaching tailored to ADHD
Consider medication or alternative treatments
Learn new tools that work with your brain, not against it
Reduce shame and increase self-compassion
A 2022 study found that adults who received a late ADHD diagnosis reported improvements in self-understanding, self-esteem, and quality of life after treatment began (Hirvikoski et al. 2022). Simply having a name for what you have been living with can offer immense relief.
Barriers to Diagnosis for BIPOC Women
Many women of colour are told they are too emotional, not disciplined enough, or just “not trying hard enough.” Cultural norms around strength, independence, and productivity can make it even harder to seek support.
But your experience is valid. And ADHD does not care how many degrees you have or how successful you appear on the outside. If your internal world feels like chaos, you deserve answers and support that honour your full reality.
Final Thoughts
Getting assessed for ADHD is not about fitting into a label. It is about giving yourself permission to stop blaming your character for things that were never your fault. It is about healing from the inside out, with tools that work for you.
If you are a high-achieving BIPOC woman navigating burnout, overwhelm, or chronic stress and wondering if ADHD could be part of the picture, know that you are not alone. At Balens Therapy, we support neurodivergent professionals who are ready to move beyond survival and into self-trust.
Works Cited
Faraone, Stephen V., et al. “The World Federation of ADHD International Consensus Statement: 208 Evidence-Based Conclusions About the Disorder.” Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, vol. 128, 2021, pp. 789–818.
Hirvikoski, T., et al. “Outcomes of late-diagnosed ADHD in adults: A qualitative follow-up study.” Journal of Attention Disorders, vol. 26, no. 2, 2022, pp. 323–331.
Odoom, R., & Cudjoe, D. “Racial Disparities in the Diagnosis and Treatment of ADHD.” Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Social Work, vol. 29, no. 4, 2020, pp. 321–339.
Ramsay, J. R. “ADHD and Self-Esteem in Adults: An Exploratory Study.” Journal of Attention Disorders, vol. 13, no. 2, 2010, pp. 256–269.
