Getting an Online ADHD Evaluation in Pennsylvania

Who arranges an ADHD evaluation, and why

People in Pennsylvania come to an ADHD evaluation from very different starting points. Knowing which one is yours makes it easier to plan, because each comes with its own questions.

• Adults who have wondered for years why focus, planning or finishing tasks takes so much effort. The National Institute of Mental Health notes that many adults were not diagnosed as children, sometimes because a supportive setting helped them thrive, or because milder symptoms were manageable until adult demands grew.
• College and graduate students who want to understand their difficulties, or who have been told by a disability services office that they need current documentation.
• Parents of a child or teen who see the same struggles at home and in class, and want an outside view alongside anything the school does.

Where you need to be during appointments

For an online evaluation, what matters is where the person being evaluated is sitting during each appointment, not only where they usually live. If you live in Pennsylvania, plan to join every appointment from somewhere in the state.

This catches some families by surprise. A student who goes to college out of state, or an adult who travels for work, needs to schedule appointments for times when they will be back in Pennsylvania (or in West Virginia or Arizona, the other states where we see clients). A quiet, private room and a steady internet connection help the appointments go smoothly.

What Pennsylvania public schools do themselves

If your child attends a public school, the school district has its own evaluation process. Chapter 14 of the Pennsylvania education regulations covers special education. Under section 14.123, parents may request an evaluation at any time, and the request must be in writing. If you ask a school employee out loud, that person must give you a permission to evaluate form within 10 calendar days.

The same section says the initial evaluation must be completed, with a copy of the report given to parents, no later than 60 calendar days after the school receives your written consent. Days between the end of the spring term and the start of the fall term are not counted.

Chapter 15 covers students who need related aids, services or accommodations but not special education. The regulation calls them protected handicapped students. Under section 15.6, parents make the request in writing and should include relevant medical records they have. The district must review what you send and respond in writing within 25 school days. If it needs more information, it asks for more records and your permission to evaluate.

When the district and parents agree, section 15.7 says they sign a written service agreement listing the aids, services or accommodations and when they start and end. Oral agreements may not be relied upon. This is general information, not legal advice, and the school's team makes its own decisions.

Planning around what a college, employer or prescriber needs

Many adults arrange an evaluation because someone has asked for paperwork. The U.S. Department of Education explains that colleges may set reasonable standards for documentation, and that some ask for more than others. That documentation may include a current diagnosis, how and when it was reached, the evaluator's credentials, and how the condition affects learning and other major life activities.

The same page says a high school IEP or 504 plan is generally not enough on its own for college, and that neither the high school nor the college is required to pay for a new evaluation. So ask the disability services office for its requirements in writing before you book anything.

An employer's request works the same way: ask human resources what it needs to see. If you are hoping to talk with a prescriber about treatment, ask them first what they need from a report. An evaluation does not come with a prescription, and we cannot say whether a prescriber will accept a report.

How evaluations at Locascio Wellness run

We offer an adult ADHD evaluation and a child ADHD evaluation, both carried out entirely by secure video for people physically located in Pennsylvania, West Virginia or Arizona. For anyone under 18, a parent or guardian arranges the evaluation and takes part. You can read more about our online therapy in Pennsylvania.

1. 1Tell us what you needStart with the short evaluation request form, which asks for the type of evaluation, age group, state and timing. Or pick a time for a free 15-minute consultation on our booking page.
2. 2Intake and evaluation sessionsAn evaluation usually involves an intake appointment, then one or two sessions to complete the evaluation.
3. 3Findings and reportThe findings are explained in plain language, with time for questions. At the moment, the written report is usually ready about a month after the first evaluation appointment, so mention any deadline on the request form.

Cost, support and next steps

Evaluations are private-pay and are not billed to insurance. The cost depends on what the evaluation involves, it is given in writing before anything is scheduled, and a sliding scale is available. Our page on what evaluations cost explains more.

An evaluation is a starting point, whatever it finds. If you want ongoing help with focus, planning or the stress that often comes with them, therapists on our team offer ADHD therapy by video as a separate service.

An evaluation is not emergency care. If you or your child are in crisis, call or text 988, or call 911. Locascio Wellness does not provide emergency services.