The Diagnostic Tools We Use
Validated assessment tools that support clinical evaluation for adult ADHD, autism, and AuDHD — all included in the price of your evaluation
Diagnostic tools should support clinical judgment, not replace it. We use validated assessment tools as one piece of the evaluation puzzle — alongside detailed clinical interviews, developmental history, and an honest review of how your neurotype actually shows up in your daily life.
What follows is a guide to the specific tools we use, when each makes sense, and what they actually measure. We don't use every tool for every patient — we use what fits your specific case, interpreted alongside the conversation we have with you.
All evaluation tools are included in the price of your evaluation. No separate testing fees, no surprise charges.
Why Tools Support, Not Replace, Clinical Judgment
Every patient who comes to Neurokin gets validated assessment tools as part of their evaluation. The specific tools depend on what's being evaluated and what makes clinical sense for your case.
What tools do well:
Standardized assessment tools provide objective measurement, comparison against population norms, structured screening for specific symptom patterns, and documentation that supports formal diagnosis. They reduce the variability that comes from subjective clinical impression alone.
What tools don't do:
Tools don't replace clinical judgment. They don't capture the full lived experience of being a neurodivergent adult. They don't always perform well across diverse populations (particularly women, AFAB individuals, and high-masking adults — where standard tools were often validated against narrower populations). They don't account for context that only conversation reveals.
How we use them:
Clinical interview first, tools second. We use the conversation with you to understand what's been going on, then select tools that help measure or document what we're already starting to understand. The clinical formulation comes from integrating both — the qualitative depth of the conversation and the quantitative measurement from the tools.
Creyos
Cognitive assessment platform measuring working memory, attention, executive function, and reasoning across 12 standardized tests. We use Creyos in adult ADHD, autism, and AuDHD evaluations — particularly when objective measurement of a cognitive profile would add value to the clinical picture.
QbCheck
FDA-cleared computerized task that measures attention, impulse control, and motor activity. QbCheck provides objective ADHD assessment data — valuable when ADHD symptoms are subtle, when there's diagnostic uncertainty, or when the patient wants objective documentation alongside clinical assessment.
ASRS-v1.1 and Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scales
Standardized self-report and informant-report scales validated for adult ADHD assessment. ASRS-v1.1 (Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale) is the WHO-developed screening tool. Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scales provide more detailed symptom profiling. We use both as part of a comprehensive ADHD evaluation.
RAADS-R, AQ-50, CAT-Q
Validated tools designed specifically for adult autism assessment. RAADS-R (Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale-Revised) is a comprehensive adult autism screen. AQ-50 (Autism Spectrum Quotient) is a short-form screen. CAT-Q (Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire) measures masking behaviors specifically — important for late-identified adults whose masking has obscured their autism for decades.
Clinical interview tools
Beyond rating scales, we use structured interview frameworks to ensure comprehensive coverage of developmental history, current functioning, sensory experiences, social patterns, and co-occurring conditions. Karina's clinical experience guides the conversation, but structured frameworks ensure nothing important gets missed.
All tools included in evaluation pricing
Many specialty practices charge separately for cognitive testing or specialized rating scales — sometimes hundreds of dollars on top of the evaluation. We don't.
Whatever tools fit your case (Creyos, QbCheck, validated rating scales, structured interviews) are included in the price of your evaluation. ADHD evaluation $1,650 / Autism evaluation $2,050 / AuDHD evaluation $2,500 — that's the full price, including all the assessment work.
No add-on testing fees. No surprise charges.
How We Decide Which Tools to Use
Not every tool for every patient. Selection is clinical, not algorithmic. Tool selection happens during your evaluation, not before it. Here's the general logic:
For ADHD evaluation specifically
ASRS-v1.1 and Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scales are nearly always part of the evaluation. QbCheck is added when objective measurement of attention and impulse control would clarify the picture — typically in cases with subtle symptoms, diagnostic uncertainty, or when the patient specifically wants objective documentation. Creyos is added when broader cognitive profiling adds value (executive function patterns, working memory, processing speed).
For Autism evaluation specifically
RAADS-R and AQ-50 are typical screening tools. CAT-Q is added for adults likely to have been masking — especially women, AFAB individuals, and high-functioning adults whose autism wasn't identified earlier. Creyos may be added when cognitive profile adds clinical value.
For AuDHD evaluation specifically
Both ADHD-specific tools (ASRS, Conners') and autism-specific tools (RAADS-R, AQ-50, CAT-Q). Cognitive testing with Creyos is more frequently included for AuDHD because the integrated picture often benefits from objective cognitive data.
Across all evaluations
A structured clinical interview is always central. The tools support and document; the conversation drives the diagnostic formulation.
Real Patients, Real Progress
Ready to Schedule?
If you're ready for evaluation that uses validated tools as part of comprehensive clinical assessment — not as a substitute for it — the next step is booking your initial consultation.
Your Questions About Diagnostic Tools, Answered
Are the assessment tools included in the price of my evaluation?
Yes. All evaluation tools — Creyos, QbCheck, validated rating scales, and structured interviews — are included in the price of your evaluation. No separate testing fees, no surprise charges.
How long do the tools take to complete?
Varies by tool. Creyos is about 30-40 minutes online. QbCheck is about 20 minutes in-office or by telehealth. Rating scales (ASRS, Conners', RAADS-R, AQ-50, CAT-Q) are typically 10-15 minutes each, often completed at home or in the patient portal between visits. The total tool time is built into the visit structure.
Can the tools "diagnose" me?
No. Tools generate data that informs clinical judgment, but they don't produce a diagnosis. ADHD, autism, and AuDHD diagnoses come from clinical formulation that integrates the tool results with the conversation, history, and observed patterns. Tools support diagnosis; they don't replace clinical evaluation.
Why don't you just rely on a single test?
No single test reliably diagnoses adult ADHD, autism, or AuDHD. The conditions are clinical diagnoses based on pattern recognition across multiple domains — symptom history, developmental trajectory, current functioning, sensory experiences, social communication, executive function, and more. Multiple tools each measure different aspects; the integrated clinical picture is what produces the diagnosis.
What if a rating scale says I have ADHD but the clinical interview suggests otherwise?
This happens occasionally — rating scales can produce false positives, particularly when high stress, anxiety, depression, sleep deprivation, or other factors mimic ADHD-like symptoms. The clinical interview helps interpret what the scales are actually measuring. We don't override scales unless we have specific clinical reason to; we integrate the tool results with everything else we're seeing.
Are these tools validated for diverse populations?
Most validated rating scales were originally developed and validated against majority populations — typically white, male, English-speaking, and not accounting for masking patterns common in women and AFAB individuals. Newer tools (CAT-Q for masking specifically) address some of these gaps. We use rating scales as one piece of evidence rather than treating them as definitive — particularly for patients whose presentations may not align well with how the original validation was designed.
Can I do the testing by telehealth?
Yes. Creyos and rating scales are completed online and work cleanly with telehealth. QbCheck has both in-office and telehealth options. Structured clinical interviews work well by either format.
What if I've already done some of these tests elsewhere?
Bring the results to your initial consultation. We may not need to repeat tests that have already been done recently — particularly if the prior testing was done within the past 6-12 months and the protocol was rigorous. We'll review what's been done and decide together what additional testing (if any) would add clinical value.
