ADHD Therapy Tools and Approaches

When it feels helpful, we may talk about assessment tools that support self-understanding rather than diagnosis. One example is the RAADS-R (Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale–Revised). Although the RAADS-R is not an ADHD test, it is sometimes used with adults who are exploring neurodivergence—especially when autism, ADHD, or AuDHD traits overlap.

The RAADS-R is a self-report questionnaire designed to help adults reflect on lifelong patterns related to social communication, sensory experiences, emotional regulation, and daily functioning. Many people find that completing or discussing parts of this tool helps put language to experiences they’ve had for years but never fully understood.

In my therapy, tools like this are never used to label, define, or limit you. They are not pass-fail tests, and they are not used to “prove” anything. Instead, they can serve as a starting point for conversation—helping us notice patterns, validate our lived experience, and better understand how your nervous system works.

If ADHD-related traits are part of what you’re exploring, we may also talk more broadly about attention, impulsivity, executive functioning, and emotional regulation in ways that feel relevant to your real life. Any discussion of tools or frameworks is always optional, collaborative, and guided by what feels supportive to you.