ADHD Testing for Kids in Los Angeles

15 places for ADHD testing in Los Angeles

From the Westside to the Valley, Glendale and Pasadena, then the South Bay and Long Beach, with one just over the Ventura County line. Each says on its own site that it evaluates children or teens for ADHD. Call to check ages, fees and how soon testing can start.

1. 1

   UCLA Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics

   Westwood · 300 UCLA Medical Plaza, Suite 3100, Los Angeles, CA 90095

   Good for A medical team with developmental pediatricians

   UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital’s program for children with developmental and behavioral concerns, with ADHD testing among its services. The team includes developmental-behavioral pediatricians and psychologists, and offers assessment plus follow-up care. You can refer your child yourself, or your pediatrician or therapist can.

   • Developmental-behavioral pediatricians
   • Parents can self-refer
   • Assessment and follow-up care
   • Weekdays 8 am to 5 pm

   uclahealth.org (opens their site)310-825-0867On Summerground

2. 2

   Grey Matter Psychological Assessment

   720 Wilshire Blvd, Ste 204, Santa Monica, CA 90401

   Good for Westside families who want a posted price

   Clinical psychologists Dr. Quincee Gideon and Dr. Megan Johnson test children from age 6, teens and adults. An ADHD evaluation includes a clinical interview and history, 2 to 4 hours of standardized testing over one or two sessions, a written report and a feedback session, and most finish 2 to 6 weeks after intake. It’s listed at $5,875–$7,250, with superbills for PPO reimbursement and payment plans.

   • Ages 6 and up
   • ADHD evaluation: $5,875–$7,250
   • Superbills and payment plans
   • Virtual option for CA residents

   greymatterpsych.com (opens their site)310-401-5072On Summerground

3. 3

   Spectrum Psych

   West LA · 1849 Sawtelle Blvd, Suite 740, Los Angeles, CA 90025

   Good for A child and teen ADHD evaluation on the Westside

   A West LA practice whose licensed psychologists do child and adolescent ADHD evaluations, and can look at whether autism, anxiety or depression are part of the picture. An evaluation includes interviews about your child’s history and concerns, standardized testing, a feedback meeting on the results, any diagnoses and treatment recommendations, and a full written report.

   • Child and teen ADHD evaluations
   • Licensed psychologists
   • Feedback meeting and written report
   • Call or text to book

   spectrumpsychla.com (opens their site)310-861-4041On Summerground

4. 4

   The Children’s Neuropsychology Center

   Beverly Hills area

   Good for Younger children, from toddlers up

   Founded by Dr. Viannae Carmona Nelkin, a licensed pediatric neuropsychologist who trained at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Cedars-Sinai and Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. The center does ADHD testing alongside autism and neuropsychological evaluations for toddlers, children, teens and young adults. For kids, testing feels like solving puzzles, building, drawing and memory games.

   • Pediatric neuropsychologist
   • Toddlers through young adults
   • ADHD and autism testing

   thecnpc.com (opens their site)On Summerground

5. 5

   Whole Child Neuro

   Encino

   Good for Families who want the school looped in

   Pediatric neuropsychologists led by Dr. Laura McDonald test children and teens for ADHD in Encino. It starts with an intake where Dr. McDonald meets you and your child for a full developmental, school and medical history, and she reaches out to your child’s teachers. A feedback session a few days after the last testing day comes before the written report, and she keeps in touch afterward as recommendations are put in place.

   • Pediatric neuropsychologists
   • Gathers input from your child’s school
   • Free consultation

   wholechildneuro.com (opens their site)818-900-9444On Summerground

6. 6

   Duality Psychological Services

   15250 Ventura Blvd, Suite 705, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403

   Good for Testing and therapy from one Valley practice

   A Sherman Oaks practice offering therapy and psychological testing, including ADHD evaluations for children, teens and adults. Testing looks at attention, executive functioning, processing and working memory, and emotional patterns, and is meant to tell ADHD apart from anxiety, trauma or learning differences that can look similar. Therapy is in person in Sherman Oaks or online anywhere in California.

   • Children, teens and adults
   • Testing and therapy
   • Online therapy across California

   dualitypsychservices.com (opens their site)818-208-7897On Summerground

7. 7

   Evidence Based Psychological Care

   Calabasas

   Good for Families who’d like to work in Farsi

   Psychologists trained in pediatric neuropsychology at UCLA evaluate children, teens and young adults for ADHD, autism and learning disorders at a Calabasas office. Testing covers attention and executive functioning, learning, thinking skills and emotions, and every evaluation ends with a written report and a feedback session. Dr. Asal Houshiarnejad, who leads assessment, works with families in English and Farsi.

   • English and Farsi
   • Free 20-minute call
   • Documentation for 504 plans and IEPs

   ebpcare.com (opens their site)On Summerground

8. 8

   NeuroCognitive Solutions

   315 Arden Ave, Suite 1, Glendale, CA 91203

   Good for A choice of a targeted or a full evaluation

   Dr. Adelina Matevosyan, a neuropsychologist trained at the UCLA Semel Institute, evaluates children, teens and young adults. You can choose a targeted ADHD and executive functioning evaluation or a full neuropsychological assessment: a 1 to 1.5 hour parent interview, 6 to 10 hours of testing over 2 or 3 days, a feedback session and a written report. She also does independent educational evaluations (IEEs).

   • Targeted ADHD evaluation option
   • 6–10 hours of testing over 2–3 days
   • Independent educational evaluations

   neurocognitivesolutions.com (opens their site)818-287-0300On Summerground

9. 9

   Starleaf Psychological Services

   Pasadena

   Good for Kids who may need therapy or groups afterward

   Licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Jade Starleaf leads this Pasadena team, which evaluates children, teens and young adults for ADHD. An evaluation uses a clinical interview, rating scales from parents, teachers and older kids themselves, behavioral observation, and cognitive and academic screening when a learning problem might be involved. The practice also offers therapy, parent coaching and social skills support.

   • Children, teens and young adults
   • Parent and teacher rating scales
   • Therapy and parent coaching

   starleafpsych.com (opens their site)On Summerground

10. 10

    The Exceptional Learner

    200 E Del Mar Blvd, Suite 160, Pasadena, CA 91105

    Good for Students who test best at home

    Tests students from age 7 through college for ADHD within a full psychoeducational assessment, since anxiety, a learning difference or giftedness can look like inattention. It combines interviews with the student, parents and teachers, rating scales, and performance-based measures, some in virtual-reality settings. Testing can be at the Pasadena office, in your home in the LA area, or online for any student in California.

    • Ages 7 through college
    • Office, home or online testing
    • Psychoeducational assessment

    theexceptionallearner.com (opens their site)On Summerground

11. 11

    Here Counseling

    Pasadena

    Good for A flat, posted price

    A Pasadena counseling practice that offers ADHD testing to anyone 5 or older who lives in California, in person or online. The standard process costs $3,500: a planning meeting, the testing itself (one sitting of 1 to 5 hours), a psychological report and a coaching session. For children and teens, parents and teachers add their observations.

    • $3,500 standard testing process
    • Ages 5 and up
    • In person or online

    herecounseling.com (opens their site)On Summerground

12. 12

    John T. Stephenson, Ph.D.

    24520 Hawthorne Blvd, Suite 220, Torrance, CA 90505

    Good for A board-certified pediatric neuropsychologist

    A board-certified pediatric neuropsychologist in private practice since 2002, seeing children, teens and young adults in Torrance. Each evaluation is tailored to your questions, such as ADHD, autism or a learning disorder, with testing over one or two sessions and sometimes a school observation. It includes a parent consultation, a records review, a written report and an in-depth feedback meeting.

    • Board-certified pediatric neuropsychologist
    • Testing in 1 or 2 sessions
    • Free parking

    johnstephensonphd.com (opens their site)310-428-6708On Summerground

13. 13

    Holistic Psychiatry LA

    24520 Hawthorne Blvd, #102, Torrance, CA 90505

    Good for Families who may want medication managed after

    A psychiatry practice led by Dr. TJ Rai, MD, offering ADHD evaluation and diagnosis for children, teens and adults. If your child has ADHD, treatment can continue in the same office: medication, including stimulants and non-stimulants, with monitoring, plus behavioral strategies and executive function coaching.

    • Psychiatrist (MD)
    • Children, teens and adults
    • Medication management

    holisticpsychiatryla.com (opens their site)310-373-2585On Summerground

14. 14

    Jenna Palacios, Licensed Educational Psychologist

    Long Beach, Torrance and Downey

    Good for Spanish-speaking families

    A licensed educational psychologist whose services page offers ADHD, autism and dyslexia testing for kids in Long Beach, Torrance and Downey, in person or online. Evaluations include a records review, interviews, observations, a report with diagnostic impressions and recommendations, and a feedback meeting. She’s fluent in English and Spanish, trained in bilingual assessment, and also does independent educational evaluations (IEEs).

    • English and Spanish
    • Independent educational evaluations
    • Free 20-minute consultation

    jpedpsych.com (opens their site)562-285-7513On Summerground

15. 15

    Lifespan: Center for Family Psychological Services

    Westlake Village (Thousand Oaks) · 2801 Townsgate Rd, #133, Westlake Village, CA 91361

    Good for Families who want to use insurance

    A group of licensed psychologists just outside LA County doing ADHD assessments for children, teens and adults, with behavior rating scales, cognitive testing and continuous performance tests, plus therapy and parent coaching after a diagnosis. It’s in network with Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California, Cigna, Health Net, MHN, Optum, Tricare and UnitedHealthcare, among others. Self-pay evaluations run $2,500 to $6,000.

    • In network with most major insurers
    • Self-pay: $2,500–$6,000
    • Report 2–3 weeks after testing
    • Telehealth across California

    lifespancfps.com (opens their site)805-852-5039On Summerground

Who can diagnose ADHD in a child

An ADHD diagnosis in Los Angeles can come from several kinds of professionals. There’s no single test for ADHD, and the CDC says a diagnosis can be made by a mental health professional, like a psychologist or psychiatrist, or by a primary care provider, like a pediatrician. Here’s who does ADHD evaluations for kids in LA:

• Your pediatrician. The American Academy of Pediatrics’ guidelines cover children 4 to 18. Many pediatricians diagnose ADHD in the office, check hearing and vision to rule out other problems, and refer you on when the picture isn’t clear.
• Psychologists and neuropsychologists. They do in-depth, hands-on testing and look hard at what else could explain the struggle, like anxiety, a learning disorder or autism. Most private practices on this list are theirs.
• Developmental-behavioral pediatricians. Pediatricians with extra training in development and behavior, often in hospital clinics like UCLA’s in Westwood.
• Child psychiatrists. Medical doctors who diagnose and can also prescribe and manage medication. See our guide to child psychiatrists in Los Angeles.
• Licensed educational psychologists (LEPs). California’s licensing board requires them to have worked as school psychologists, so they test with school in mind and know the IEP and 504 process.

Whoever you choose, expect questionnaires for you and your child’s teachers. Under the AAP’s guidelines for parents, symptoms have to show up in two or more settings, such as home and school, last more than 6 months and start before age 12.

What a full ADHD evaluation includes

Whether a practice calls it an ADHD evaluation or an ADHD assessment, a full one is more than a checklist. A questionnaire or online quiz can suggest ADHD, but it isn’t a diagnosis. Most private evaluations here follow the same four steps:

1. Intake. A parent interview of an hour or more about your child’s development, health, school and what you’ve tried. Bring report cards and any past testing.
2. Rating scales. You, your child’s teachers and, for older kids, your child fill out questionnaires about attention and behavior.
3. Testing. One-on-one sessions with puzzles, memory tasks and attention tests, plus reading, writing and math when learning is in question. It ranges from 2 to 4 hours at Grey Matter to 6 to 10 hours over two or three days at NeuroCognitive Solutions.
4. Feedback and report. A meeting to walk through the results, then a written report with any diagnosis and recommendations for home, school and treatment, which may include therapy, medication or executive function coaching.

Ask whether the evaluation will also look for things that look like ADHD or come with it, such as anxiety, a learning disorder, a language problem or autism. If autism is a question too, see autism testing for kids in LA; for reading and writing worries, see dyslexia testing.

What ADHD testing costs in LA, and who pays

Most practices on this list don’t post prices. Three do: Lifespan lists $2,500 to $6,000 for self-pay psychological evaluations, Here Counseling in Pasadena charges $3,500 for its standard ADHD testing, and Grey Matter in Santa Monica lists $5,875–$7,250 for a full ADHD evaluation. Get the fee in writing and ask what it covers, such as the feedback meeting, a school observation or coming to an IEP meeting.

• Insurance. Ask your plan whether it covers psychological testing for ADHD, whether you need a referral or prior authorization, and which in-network psychologists do it. Lifespan names the insurers it’s in network with, and UCLA Health lists accepted insurance on each doctor’s page.
• Superbills. Some practices that don’t bill your plan, like Grey Matter, give you a superbill, a detailed receipt you can send your insurer for possible out-of-network reimbursement.
• Medi-Cal. Start with your child’s doctor or Medi-Cal health plan, or call the LA County Department of Mental Health 24/7 line at (800) 854-7771.
• Your pediatrician. A good first stop: many diagnose ADHD in the office and refer you for more testing if needed.
• Your school district. Its special education assessment is free. See the next section.

How to get a free assessment from your school district

Every California public school district, LAUSD included, follows the same state rules when you ask for a special education assessment, and the assessment costs you nothing. ADHD is named under ‘other health impairment’ in the federal definition of a child with a disability, so it can qualify a child for special education when it affects schoolwork.

1. Ask in writing. Email or mail a dated letter to your child’s principal or the district’s special education office asking for a special education assessment, and describe what you’re seeing. Under Education Code 56029, a written request is what counts as a referral. Keep a copy.
2. Get a plan within 15 days. The district has 15 calendar days to give you a proposed assessment plan, not counting breaks between school terms, like summer, or vacation days beyond five school days (Education Code 56043).
3. Take your time to sign. You have at least 15 days to review the plan and give written consent.
4. IEP meeting within 60 days. Once the district has your signed consent, it has 60 days, with the same break rule, to finish the assessment and hold an IEP meeting on whether your child qualifies.
5. Disagree? Ask for an IEE. You can ask for an independent educational evaluation by an outside evaluator at public expense. The district pays or asks for a due process hearing to defend its own assessment (Education Code 56329). NeuroCognitive Solutions and Jenna Palacios, on this list, do IEEs.

If your child doesn’t qualify for an IEP, ask about a Section 504 plan, which provides services and changes to the learning environment. The CDC explains the difference.

Questions parents ask