After an Adult ADHD Assessment or Autism Evaluation: What Happens Next (Medication, Therapy, Coaching, and Accommodations)
- Ryan Burns
- 19 hours ago
- 8 min read
Last reviewed: 02/26/2026
Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly
If you just completed an adult ADHD assessment, it’s common to feel relief and uncertainty at the same time. You may be holding an ADHD assessment report full of scores, acronyms, and recommendations. Or you may have completed an autism evaluation for adults (or an ADHD and autism assessment) and are trying to understand what it means for your day-to-day life.
In this article, you’ll learn:
How to interpret results, including “subclinical” findings
What your report is trying to explain (the “why,” not just the label)
What medication follow-up often looks like when ADHD is diagnosed
Therapy and coaching options that fit midlife women’s realities
How to use documentation for work or college accommodations
🧭 Key takeaway: A diagnosis is a tool for planning support, not a verdict about your worth or potential.
First: what your results mean after an adult ADHD assessment (and what they don’t mean)
Diagnosis as a tool, not a verdict
A high-quality ADHD assessment for adults is more than a checklist or a single test score. It typically pulls together multiple sources: a clinical interview, developmental history, symptom/impairment review across settings, and standardized measures to support clinical judgment. [1][2]
What a diagnosis can do:
Give language for patterns you’ve worked hard to hide (especially common in ADHD diagnosis in adult women)
Point you toward treatments that match your needs
Support requests for work, school, and testing accommodations
What it cannot do:
Explain everything about you
Replace your lived experience
Predict exactly what will “work” without some trial and adjustment
🧩 Key takeaway: Your assessment result is a starting point for an individualized plan, not the finish line.
Why “subclinical” can still deserve support
Sometimes results don’t meet full criteria for ADHD or autism, but still show meaningful challenges in attention, executive function, emotion regulation, sensory load, or burnout. A “subclinical” or “traits present” conclusion often means the pattern is real, but the full diagnostic threshold wasn’t met based on the information available (for example, childhood history, degree of impairment, or cross-setting evidence). [2]
Support can still be appropriate when:
You’re functioning, but it’s taking an unsustainable amount of effort
Anxiety, insomnia, trauma, or depression is amplifying focus and follow-through problems
Perimenopause, chronic stress, or caregiving demands changed your cognitive “bandwidth”
Misconception to leave behind: “If it’s not a diagnosis, nothing can help.” Practical supports can be life-changing even without a formal label.
Understanding your report and recommendations
If you’re staring at your ADHD assessment report thinking “Okay, but what do I do with this?”, start by looking for the story it’s telling.
The “why” behind the conclusion
Most reports aim to explain how your brain and nervous system handle:
Attention and distractibility
Working memory (holding information long enough to use it)
Planning, time management, and task initiation
Emotional regulation and stress reactivity
One important nuance: neuropsychological test performance can be helpful, but it’s not decisive on its own. Many adults with ADHD do not show clear impairment on traditional executive function tests, even when they have significant real-world challenges. [3]
Misconception to leave behind: “If the testing looked ‘fine,’ I can’t have ADHD.” Real-life impairment, history, and pattern consistency matter. [2][3]
Target areas: sleep, executive function, anxiety, sensory load
Recommendations often cluster around a few high-impact “levers.” Here’s how to translate them into next steps.
Sleep
If sleep is a target area, it’s not a side note. Poor sleep can mimic or worsen attention problems, emotional reactivity, and working memory. If insomnia is part of your picture, consider evidence-based help like CBT-I, and explore resources such as our insomnia services.
Executive function
Many adults do best with external supports that reduce the need to “power through.” That might include task scaffolding, planning systems, body doubling, or structured accountability. If this is a primary need, Executive Function Coaching can be a practical bridge between insight and daily routines.
Anxiety and burnout
Anxiety can look like overthinking, avoidance, or perfectionism. Burnout can look like “I can’t start anything,” especially in midlife women who have spent decades compensating. CBT approaches have evidence for improving adult ADHD symptoms and functioning, particularly when tailored to skills and coping. [10][11]
Sensory load
If your report mentions sensory overwhelm, it may be describing a nervous system that hits capacity quickly in noisy, bright, fast-paced environments. Sensory load is also a common topic in autism assessments and in people with combined ADHD and autistic traits. [6][7][8]
Practical example #1: Turning a recommendation into a plan
If your report says “reduce distractions and improve task initiation,” a concrete plan might be:
Use a 10-minute “launchpad” routine (same first step every workday)
Put the hardest task first, before email and notifications
Add a scheduled check-in with a coach or therapist for accountability
💬 Key takeaway: Reports are most useful when you convert recommendations into small, testable experiments.
Medication questions (if ADHD is diagnosed)
Medication is not required for ADHD, and it’s not a cure. But for many adults, it can reduce friction enough to make skills, therapy, and accommodations more effective. [1][9]
How to coordinate with prescribing providers
In many cases, the clinician who completes ADHD testing for women or other adult evaluations is not the same person who prescribes medication. If you’re coordinating care:
Share your diagnostic summary and key functional targets (not just scores)
Ask what information the prescriber needs (vitals, medical history, current meds)
Clarify who is monitoring side effects and follow-up timing
NICE guidance emphasizes ongoing review and monitoring, including heart rate and blood pressure when using stimulant medication. [1]
🩺 Key takeaway: Medication works best when it’s paired with careful monitoring and a skills-based plan.
What follow-up typically looks like (monitoring + adjustment)
Early follow-up is usually more frequent while finding the right medication type and dose. Common elements include:
Tracking benefits and side effects (sleep, appetite, mood, anxiety)
Adjusting timing or formulation (short- vs long-acting)
Checking blood pressure and heart rate regularly during titration [1]
Misconception to leave behind: “If medication helps, I won’t need skills.” Most people still benefit from systems, coaching, and therapy, because medication doesn’t automatically build routines.
Therapy/coaching options that match midlife women’s realities
For many women, a late diagnosis isn’t just about attention. It’s about years of masking, people-pleasing, and self-blame. Research on women’s experiences highlights how delayed identification can shape mental health, identity, and burnout. [4][5]
Skills + systems + burnout recovery
Evidence-based therapy for adult ADHD often focuses on:
Planning and prioritizing (realistic, not perfectionistic)
Task initiation and follow-through
Emotion regulation and self-compassion
Unhelpful beliefs like “If I can’t do it perfectly, I shouldn’t start”
CBT-based approaches show benefit for adult ADHD symptoms and functioning, especially when they directly teach coping strategies and skills. [10][11]
Neurodiversity-affirming supports
Neurodiversity-affirming care treats differences in attention, sensory processing, and communication as variations in human wiring, not character flaws. This often includes:
Collaborative goal-setting (you decide what “better” means)
Strength-based planning
Reducing shame-based messaging
If you’re exploring support beyond assessment, you can start with our specialized therapy services or learn more about psychological assessments and next-step planning.
🧠 Key takeaway: The best support fits your nervous system, your responsibilities, and your season of life.
Workplace/college accommodations—how to use your documentation
If you need support at work or school, your evaluation can provide the documentation that helps you ask for changes. Under the ADA, employers may need reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities, and they may request documentation when the need is not obvious. [12][13]
What employers/schools typically ask for
Your evaluator may be able to provide an ADHD accommodations letter or documentation summary. Requirements vary, but many organizations look for:
A diagnosis (or clear description of functional limitations)
How symptoms substantially limit major life activities (for example: concentrating, organizing, learning)
Accommodation recommendations tied to essential job functions or course demands [12][13]
If you’re searching “adult autism diagnosis near me” because you suspect autism-related needs, the same principle applies: clear functional impact matters more than labels alone, and an evaluator can help translate your profile into practical supports. [6][12]
🗂️ Key takeaway: Documentation is most effective when it links your needs to specific work or school tasks.
Practical accommodation examples (energy, focus, sensory)
Accommodations are not “special treatment.” They’re adjustments that help you do the essential parts of your role. [12][15]
Examples to consider (choose what fits your job or program):
Written instructions and priorities after meetings
Flexible scheduling or protected focus blocks
Reduced interruptions (headphones, quiet workspace, fewer meetings)
Clear deadlines with intermediate checkpoints
Extended time or reduced-distraction testing
Sensory supports (lighting changes, predictable seating, remote options when possible)
Practical example #2: A simple, realistic workplace request
Instead of “I need less stress,” try:
“Can we move my weekly planning meeting to Monday morning and send priorities in writing?”
“Can I have a 90-minute focus block daily with notifications off?”
If you’re not sure how to phrase your request, the Job Accommodation Network provides sample language for accommodation request letters. [14]
If you live locally and are looking for ADHD assessment Tennessee options, documentation can also support college disability services, professional licensing exams, and standardized testing accommodations.
Next steps
Scheduling follow-up, referrals, and building a plan
Here’s a simple way to build momentum after results:
Book a feedback/follow-up session to ask questions and prioritize recommendations
Decide your first 1–2 targets (sleep, medication consult, coaching, therapy)
Share your summary with your primary care provider or prescriber if medication is on the table
Identify one accommodation you can request this month (work or school)
If you’d like help deciding what to do first, start by reviewing our mental health screening resources and exploring self-check tools like the ASRS ADHD screener and the AQ-10 autism screener as conversation starters (not diagnostic tools).
If you’re ready to talk through next steps for therapy, coaching, or assessment, you can reach our team through the ScienceWorks contact page.
About ScienceWorks
ScienceWorks is led by Dr. Kiesa Kelly - a clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist by training. She has 20+ years of experience with psychological assessments and completed an NIH-funded postdoctoral fellowship focused on ADHD.
Her work emphasizes neurodiversity-affirming assessment and support for previously undiagnosed adults, particularly women and non-binary folks. She also provides specialized therapy and coaching aligned with evidence-based care.
References
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: diagnosis and management (NG87). Last reviewed May 7, 2025. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng87
Adamou M, Arif M, Asherson P, et al. The adult ADHD assessment quality assurance standard. 2024. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11327143/
Coghill D. Accurate assessment of adult ADHD: a key to better outcomes? 2025. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12434369/
Attoe DE, Climie EA. Missed diagnosis: A systematic review of ADHD in adult women. 2023. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10173330/
Holden E, et al. Adverse experiences of women with undiagnosed ADHD: a mixed methods survey. Sci Rep. 2025. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-04782-y
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Autism spectrum disorder in adults: diagnosis and management (CG142). https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg142/chapter/recommendations
National Autistic Society. Criteria and tools used in an autism assessment. https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/diagnosis/assessment-and-diagnosis/criteria-and-tools-used-in-an-autism-assessment
Hours C, Recasens C, Baleyte JM. ASD and ADHD comorbidity: What are we talking about? Front Psychiatry. 2022. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8918663/
Cortese S, Adamo N, Del Giovane C, et al. Comparative efficacy and tolerability of medications for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children, adolescents, and adults: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Lancet Psychiatry. 2018. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30097390/
Knouse LE, Cooper-Vince C, Sprich S, Safren SA. Meta-analysis of cognitive-behavioral treatments for adult ADHD. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2017. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28504540/
Liu CI, et al. A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of cognitive behavioral therapy for adults with ADHD. 2023. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36794797/
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Enforcement guidance on reasonable accommodation and undue hardship under the ADA. https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/enforcement-guidance-reasonable-accommodation-and-undue-hardship-under-ada
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Enforcement guidance on the ADA and psychiatric disabilities. https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/enforcement-guidance-ada-and-psychiatric-disabilities
Job Accommodation Network (JAN). Sample language for accommodation request letters. https://askjan.org/articles/Sample-Language-for-Accommodation-Request-Letters.cfm
ADA National Network. Reasonable accommodations in the workplace. https://adata.org/factsheet/reasonable-accommodations-workplace
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have urgent safety concerns, contact local emergency services.