You’ve Been Diagnosed with ADHD — What Happens Next?
- Daniel Steinberg, PhD
- May 7
- 3 min read
A guide to making the most of your comprehensive evaluation
You’ve just completed a thorough ADHD assessment. You have a formal diagnosis, a comprehensive report, and a list of personalized recommendations.
Now what?
If you're like many adults, you may feel both relieved and overwhelmed. After months (or years) of wondering what’s going on, you finally have answers — but the next steps aren’t always clear. Let’s talk about what to do with your report, how to act on it, and how to move forward with confidence.
1. Read the Report Like a Map — Not a Verdict
First things first: take a breath.
Your ADHD evaluation report isn’t a judgment or a label. It’s a clinical map — one that helps explain how your brain processes, organizes, responds, and sometimes struggles.
Start by reviewing:
The Summary of Findings (this offers a high-level overview)
The Diagnosis and Impressions section (this provides context and clarity)
The Recommendations (this is your action plan)
Don’t feel like you have to absorb everything at once. It’s okay to revisit the report over time.
2. Treatment Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All
ADHD management can include many components — and not everyone takes the same route.
Depending on your needs, your next steps might include:
Medication management with a psychiatrist, primary care physician, or other mental health prescriber
Therapy, especially approaches that target executive function, emotional regulation, and stress
ADHD coaching or skills-based support to help with organization, time management, and productivity
Lifestyle adjustments, such as structured routines, exercise, and sleep optimization
Your report likely includes specific suggestions about what might benefit you most.
3. Consider Sharing It — Selectively and Strategically
Your evaluation report is confidential. You are never required to share it.
But in some cases, sharing it can unlock valuable support. For example:
Medical providers may use the report to inform medication decisions
Therapists can align treatment with your diagnosis
Schools and universities may use it to grant academic accommodations
Workplaces may offer job-related accommodations under the ADA
If you're unsure whether to share it, talk with your clinician about who might benefit from having access — and how to protect your privacy.
4. Use the Report as a Springboard
The goal of assessment isn’t just diagnosis — it’s clarity and direction.
Use the findings to:
Reflect on how ADHD has affected different areas of your life
Identify which strategies or supports are most urgent
Set concrete, manageable goals based on the recommendations
Schedule follow-up care or treatment with the appropriate providers
Pro tip: make a short “next steps” list from the report and keep it visible — in your planner, phone, or workspace.
5. Stay Curious, Not Critical
Getting a diagnosis — even a validating one — can stir up a lot. Relief, regret, hope, frustration, motivation… it’s all normal.
You might wonder:
“How did I go this long without knowing?”
“Why didn’t someone catch this earlier?”
“What do I do now that I understand this about myself?”
Instead of turning inward with judgment, try staying curious. ADHD is part of your experience — not the sum total of who you are.
You’re not behind. You’re just beginning with better information.
Final Thoughts
A diagnosis doesn’t fix everything — but it does give you a path forward.
Whether your next steps involve medication, therapy, lifestyle changes, or simply being kinder to yourself, this is your invitation to begin.
You’ve done the hard part. You asked the right questions. You followed through with a comprehensive evaluation.
Now it’s time to turn insight into action.
Ready to Get Started?
If you’re ready to begin the evaluation process, you can learn more on my ADHD Assessment page or contact me when you're ready.
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What to expect after an ADHD diagnosis in Philadelphia.
How to start ADHD evaluation in Naperville and across Illinois.
Dr. Daniel Steinberg is a licensed clinical psychologist offering telehealth-based ADHD assessments for adults across PSYPACT-participating states. His approach emphasizes clarity, compassion, and clinically sound evaluation.
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