Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Evaluation and Support
Columbia Health provides ADHD Evaluation and Support. If you’re interested in ADHD evaluation or support through Columbia Health, begin by contacting Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) at 212-854-2878 or make an appointment through the Patient Portal.
ADHD Evaluation and Support at Columbia Health
Columbia Health provides ADHD evaluations, short-term treatment, and accommodations at no additional cost for students who believe they may have the disorder.
CPS providers meet with students over multiple sessions to provide an accurate diagnosis, distinguishing between ADHD, other conditions, and typical attention concerns. During these sessions, providers will ask about symptoms, current functioning, and history of ADHD. These thorough practices help providers make accurate diagnoses and provide the most effective treatment.
Additionally, Disability Services (DS) supports students with ADHD through accommodations and workshops specifically for students registered with DS.
All students who seek medication from CPS psychiatrists or accommodations from DS for ADHD must go through an evaluation with CPS. Even if you’ve been diagnosed or treated before, CPS conducts a full evaluation to ensure the highest quality of care, as needs may change over time.
CPS doesn’t prescribe refills for stimulant medications before completing our ADHD evaluation process. Contact your prescribing physician for refills until you have completed your evaluation at CPS. If you prefer to be evaluated for ADHD medications off-campus, CPS can assist with a referral.
Note that CPS adheres to strict standards of confidentiality.
Who is eligible?
All Columbia students on the Morningside and Manhattanville campuses who have paid the full-time Columbia Health and Related Services Fee are eligible to receive ADHD evaluation.
How do I receive an ADHD Evaluation?
Overview
ADHD evaluations include multiple steps:
- Schedule a Treatment Planning Session to discuss the ADHD evaluation process and required documentation. To schedule, call CPS at 212-854-2878 or use the Patient Portal.
- Gather and submit all required documentation.
- Schedule and attend an intake session.
- Attend follow-up appointments as needed. During each step, your CPS provider will provide more detailed instructions to help you understand the process and complete the ADHD evaluation in a timely manner.
Before the Evaluation: Submit Your Documentation
The documentation you are required to submit includes:
- Reasonably available educational documents from elementary school to the present. This includes transcripts, report cards, IEP accommodations, and formal or informal feedback from educators.
- Student ADHD Questionnaire
- Work-related feedback, such as a written evaluation (if available)
- If you’ve previously been diagnosed with ADHD, a learning disability or another mental health condition: Test results, treatment notes, neuropsychiatric assessment reports.
- If you’ve previously been treated for another mental health condition but have not been evaluated for ADHD: Treatment records
Submitting this in advance through the Patient Portal will help to expedite your evaluation, but you may also bring physical copies of the documentation to your visit. Gathering these documents may take time, so please account for that while scheduling your intake visit.
Please note that outside clinical records may not satisfy the requirements of the CPS ADHD assessment, even if they contain an ADHD diagnosis.
When the Evaluation is Complete
If you’re diagnosed with ADHD, your CPS provider may make some referrals, including:
- CPS psychiatrist for a medication evaluation
- Disability Services to register for academic accommodations related to attention issues or learning difficulties.
They may also encourage you to use additional CPS resources, such as short-term counseling and workshops related to time management. They may also connect with your primary care provider at Medical Services to ensure you receive the best care.
If your CPS provider has additional questions, they may refer you for neuropsychological or psychoeducational testing off-campus to complete the ADHD assessment.
If you’re not diagnosed with ADHD, your CPS provider may make additional referrals to help you manage the symptoms you’re experiencing.
How much will it cost?
There is no fee for ADHD evaluation with CPS for students who have paid the full-time Columbia Health and Related Services Fee.
If your CPS provider recommends that you have neuropsychological or psychoeducation testing off-campus, the costs of this testing are determined by the provider or clinic providing the evaluation. We encourage you to check with your insurance to learn about how much of the cost they cover.
What else do I need to know?
Disability Services does not diagnose ADHD but can provide reasonable accommodations for those who are diagnosed.
If your CPS provider recommends that you register with DS or you would like to receive academic accommodations, register following the instructions on the Register with Disability Services page.
To register with DS, you will need to provide additional documentation, which you can find on the ADHD Additional Documentation page. You’re encouraged to contact DS directly for guidance around the documentation that is needed.
Disability Services provides non-clinical consultations to students experiencing academic difficulties related to attention issues or learning difficulties. They evaluate all requests for academic accommodations related to the disorder.
Where can I learn more about these topics?
If you would like to learn more about ADHD, you can check out the CDC ADHD fact sheet: Facts about ADHD, and previously answered questions on Columbia’s health Q&A resource, Go Ask Alice!
Here are a few selected Q&As to get you started:
Frequently Asked Questions
We want to provide the best care possible and that starts with an accurate diagnosis.
There is not a specific test that can determine whether an individual has ADHD. The diagnosis of ADHD is based on a comprehensive clinical assessment. This may include information from multiple sources, including rating scales, academic or work records, and history supplied by you, your family, physicians or mental health professionals, and current or former teachers.
Situations can change over time. To ensure you receive the highest quality of care possible, we provide a careful re-evaluation regardless of a current prescription or previous diagnosis.
Functioning may improve or worsen with changes in life circumstances and age. Similarly, the effectiveness of treatment interventions, including medications, may change over time, and need to be reviewed periodically.