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ADHD Wise Squirrels for late-diagnosed adults with ADHD.

ADHD Wise Squirrels for late-diagnosed adults with ADHD.

Bring This to Your ADHD Evaluation | Coach's Corner

Oct 28, 2026 · 6 min · 8 segments

**Want help putting this into practice?** Book a free good-fit coaching session with Dave: https://wisesquirrels.com/coach In this episode, Dave shares the one…

**Want help putting this into practice?** Book a free good-fit coaching session with Dave: https://wisesquirrels.com/coach In this episode, Dave shares the one thing to bring to your ADHD evaluation: evidence from your childhood. You’ll learn why clinicians look for symptoms that started before age 12, plus three simple ways late-diagnosed adults can gather that evidence, even when the memories are fuzzy. Wondering if you have ADHD? Take the free ADHD self-assessment: wisesquirrels.com/adhd-assessment Coach's Corner is a short-form bonus series from ADHD Wise Squirrels, released between our full-length interviews with ADHD experts and high achievers. One idea, a few minutes, something you can use today. Meet fellow Wise Squirrels and get new episodes and ADHD tools in your inbox. Join us here: https://wisesquirrels.com/newsletter

**Want help putting this into practice?** Book a free good-fit coaching session with Dave: https://wisesquirrels.com/coach In this episode, Dave shares the one…

Speakers: Dave DelaneyHost

Top entities: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder×10 Substack×4 Personal protective equipment×2 W. W. Grainger×2 Newsletter

Bring Childhood Evidence to an ADHD Evaluation1:37 – 4:50

D

Dave DelaneyHost

1:37

And today is about what comes after that conversation starter.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

1:41

Okay, so you took a self-assessment, maybe the one from Wise Squirrels, and it lit up like a pinball machine.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

1:49

You've booked an evaluation or you're thinking about it.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

1:52

And here's the one thing I want you to bring with you.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

1:55

Evidence from your childhood.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

1:58

Why childhood? Because to diagnose ADHD in an adult, a clinician needs to see that several symptoms showed up before you were 12 and that they showed up in more than one part of your life, like home and school.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

2:13

ADHD doesn't appear out of nowhere at 47.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

2:17

It was there all along and you were just very busy hiding it.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

2:21

I know I was.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

2:23

And that's the problem for us late diagnosed folks.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

2:26

A lot of us got good at masking.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

2:28

We compensated.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

2:30

We worked twice as hard to look half as organized.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

2:33

And when someone asks, what were you like at eight? Most of us just say, um, fine.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

2:39

I had a lunchbox.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

2:40

Yeah.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

2:41

So here's what to gather.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

2:43

First, report cards, if you can find them.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

2:46

Skip the grades and read the teacher comments.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

2:49

Talks too much.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

2:50

Daydreamer.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

2:51

So bright.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

2:52

If only he'd focus.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

2:54

If you're nodding right now, I see you.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

2:57

These are the comments of my report cards.

attention deficit hyperactivity disorderEntityDisorder
90%10 mentions
SubstackSoftware ApplicationWebsite
70%4 mentions
Personal protective equipmentEntityClothing
50%2 mentions
W. W. GraingerCompanyDistribution company
30%2 mentions
NewsletterEntityPeriodical format
10%1 mention

Mental HealthHealth
Adult ADHD DiagnosisHealth > Mental Health > Neurodevelopmental Disorders > Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Cognitive and Behavioral TraitsPsychology
ADHD EvaluationHealthcare > Medical Diagnosis > Psychiatric Assessment
Childhood Symptom EvidenceHealthcare > Medical Diagnosis > Psychiatric Assessment > ADHD Evaluation
Attention and Executive Function DifficultiesPsychology > Cognitive and Behavioral Traits
Compensation and MaskingPsychology > Cognitive and Behavioral Traits > Attention and Executive Function Difficulties
Late-Diagnosed ADHDPsychology > Cognitive and Behavioral Traits > Attention and Executive Function Difficulties > Compensation and Masking
School RecordsEducation > Student Development
Teacher ObservationsEducation > Student Development > School Records
Childhood ADHD IndicatorsEducation > Student Development > School Records > Teacher Observations
Seeking Professional HelpPersonal Development > Self-Assessment
Preparing for a Clinical AppointmentPersonal Development > Self-Assessment > Seeking Professional Help
Gathering Childhood HistoryPersonal Development > Self-Assessment > Seeking Professional Help > Preparing for a Clinical Appointment
Psychiatric AssessmentHealthcare > Medical Diagnosis
Neurodevelopmental DisordersHealth > Mental Health
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity DisorderHealth > Mental Health > Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Self-AssessmentPersonal Development
Personal Development
Medical DiagnosisHealthcare
Student DevelopmentEducation
Health
Education
Psychology
Healthcare

Bring Childhood Evidence to an ADHD Evaluation1:37 – 4:50

D

Dave DelaneyHost

1:37

And today is about what comes after that conversation starter.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

1:41

Okay, so you took a self-assessment, maybe the one from Wise Squirrels, and it lit up like a pinball machine.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

1:49

You've booked an evaluation or you're thinking about it.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

1:52

And here's the one thing I want you to bring with you.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

1:55

Evidence from your childhood.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

1:58

Why childhood? Because to diagnose ADHD in an adult, a clinician needs to see that several symptoms showed up before you were 12 and that they showed up in more than one part of your life, like home and school.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

2:13

ADHD doesn't appear out of nowhere at 47.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

2:17

It was there all along and you were just very busy hiding it.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

2:21

I know I was.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

2:23

And that's the problem for us late diagnosed folks.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

2:26

A lot of us got good at masking.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

2:28

We compensated.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

2:30

We worked twice as hard to look half as organized.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

2:33

And when someone asks, what were you like at eight? Most of us just say, um, fine.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

2:39

I had a lunchbox.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

2:40

Yeah.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

2:41

So here's what to gather.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

2:43

First, report cards, if you can find them.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

2:46

Skip the grades and read the teacher comments.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

2:49

Talks too much.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

2:50

Daydreamer.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

2:51

So bright.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

2:52

If only he'd focus.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

2:54

If you're nodding right now, I see you.

D

Dave DelaneyHost

2:57

These are the comments of my report cards.

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