Best Online ADHD Treatment

*As of publishing, Circle Medical does not accept Medicare and Talkiatry only accepts insurance (no self-pay). **Talkspace, Cerebral, Sesame Care and ADHD Advisor do not prescribe stimulants.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a type of mental health condition that causes a variety of symptoms such as inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity, according to Mayo Clinic. It usually starts in childhood, but you may not receive a diagnosis until adulthood. 

About 8.7 million adults in the United States have ADHD, according to 2021 research from the Journal of Managed Care + Specialty Pharmacy.

With more companies offering online ADHD treatment, you might be wondering if online therapy is right for you. We spoke with Dr. Michael Schirripa, an Australian-based psychiatrist, to find out what you need to know. 

ADHD is a pattern of inattentive and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with everyday life.

• Inattention means you might have a hard time staying focused on tasks and being organized.
• Hyperactivity means you might feel restless and have a hard time not fidgeting, tapping or talking.
• Impulsivity is acting without thinking and having difficulty with self-control.

“Many people can find incredible relief once they do receive an ADHD diagnosis,” explained Schirripa. “It can make sense of symptoms that have been present for many years and have been quite baffling to the person suffering from them.”

According to the Cleveland Clinic, there are four types of ADHD:

• Predominantly inattentive presentation: Formerly known as attention-deficit disorder (ADD), people with this type don’t usually struggle with hyperactivity or impulsivity but rather experience trouble focusing on tasks and staying organized.
• Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive presentation: This type includes symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity more than symptoms of inattention. This might look like difficulty sitting still, fidgeting, talking a lot and interrupting others.
• Combined presentation: This presents symptoms from both of the above groups. About 70% of people with ADHD fall into this group.
• Unspecified presentation: This is reserved for those who have severe ADHD symptoms but don’t meet the official criteria of the above three types.

Online treatment for ADHD involves meeting with a provider through a web-based portal rather than meeting face to face.

There are a lot of reasons why someone might prefer ADHD treatment online versus in person. Maybe you have a schedule that makes it hard to attend visits with a provider in person. Or you may just prefer to be treated from the comfort of your own home.

Whatever your reason, you want to be sure to work with a provider you trust.

Every platform works differently, but in general, you’ll sign up for a service and answer some questions about your health and medical background before being matched with a provider. You will have ongoing support that typically involves messaging on a secure platform and video sessions with a provider.

Diagnosing ADHD online is usually done through a video interview process, explained Schirripa. “Any previous diagnosis or clinical documentation that supports a diagnosis of ADHD is very useful for the clinician. A clear and accurate diagnosis is essential and also needs to rule out other causes of ADHD symptoms, such as an anxiety disorder, a substance use disorder or another general medical condition that may be presenting with symptoms similar to ADHD.”

Therapy without medication can be done by a licensed mental health professional once the initial diagnosis has been made, Schirripa said. According to 2022 research, online therapy can be quite effective for those with ADHD. Depending on the platform, this might involve weekly sessions with a therapist over video, text messaging or phone calls.

According to Schirripa, stimulant medication is most commonly prescribed for ADHD. Not all online ADHD services will provide prescription medications, but if they do, they’re usually overseen by a psychiatrist, Schirripa said.

Other online resources for ADHD besides therapy include:

• Educational articles and videos
• Podcasts
• Webinars
• Online support groups, such as ones offered through the Attention Deficit Disorder Association

To find an online treatment option that fits your needs, preferences and budget, you should consider the providers’ qualifications, your preferred treatment type and the quality of a provider’s customer service. Below are some details to consider when choosing an online service for ADHD treatment.

Provider qualifications

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), not all online therapists are licensed. A service may offer online therapy, but that doesn’t necessarily mean its therapists are licensed to treat ADHD.

Only psychiatrists, nurse practitioners and physician assistants who specialize in mental health can prescribe ADHD medications. Currently, only six states — Iowa, Idaho, Louisiana, New Mexico, Colorado and Illinois — allow psychologists to prescribe medications.

Even though they mostly aren’t prescribing medications, psychologists, therapists and counselors still need to be licensed to provide other types of treatment, such as talk therapy via video sessions, Schirripa said.

It’s important to make sure the provider you choose is licensed to treat people in the state they practice in.

Treatment type

If your treatment involves a prescription stimulant medication, it’s best supervised by a specialized psychiatrist who can also explain the risks and benefits of medication, how the medication works and any side effects that could be possible, Schirripa explained.

Nonmedication options include different treatment types such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT can help provide important skills and techniques for managing ADHD symptoms, such as time management and organization skills, Schirripa said. In fact, according to 2019 research, it’s one of the most successful nonmedication ADHD treatments.

CBT might look like:

• Teaching you how to manage symptoms
• Making changes to how you think about things
• Using coping skills to change behavior
• Practicing acceptance and mindfulness

Customer service

Other factors to consider when choosing an online treatment service for ADHD include:

• Communication methods: How do you want to communicate with your online provider? Do you prefer text-based therapy only? Do you want to meet on a regular basis with one therapist over video chat? Read the bios of therapists to find which one matches your communication preference.
• Availability: Does the online service offer hours outside of regular business hours for those who work odd hours or can’t make a 3 p.m. video appointment? Do therapists only work certain days or hours? These can affect how often you can meet with your therapist.
• Confidentiality: Make sure the online service platform is secured. It should be compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and be able to verify both your therapist’s and your own identity.

Diagnosis can lead to getting the appropriate treatment for ADHD and help you gain control over the symptoms that may have contributed to school, work and relationship struggles in your past, Schirripa explained.

Certain providers can diagnose ADHD online. These include licensed mental health providers such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, nurse practitioners and licensed counselors and therapists.

While an online questionnaire can suggest that you may have ADHD, only one of these medical professionals can provide you with an official diagnosis.

According to the APA, some online therapy services can be less expensive than in-person therapy. You may pay a weekly or monthly fee to get a certain number of telehealth visits, or some services may have unlimited use. Some online services can cost around $40 to $140 a session. Monthly subscriptions can cost under $100 to up to $450 a month, depending on the company.

Insurance coverage for telehealth visits is becoming more common. Since coverage varies among insurance providers, make sure to check with yours to find out if it provides coverage or reimbursement for online therapy.

Schirripa added the costs can vary, from the initial costs of assessments to ongoing consultations and prescriptions of further medications.

Anyone can do online treatment for ADHD, but it may be especially beneficial and convenient if you are a person who:

• Needs flexible scheduling
• Prefers to meet with a therapist from the comfort of home
• Lives far away from therapy offices and clinics
• Doesn’t want to meet with a therapist in person
• Has difficulty getting to in-person appointments

Pros and cons of online ADHD treatment

The ConsumerAffairs Research Team used a research-backed, data-driven approach informed by our expert editors to choose the best online ADHD treatment companies.

We looked at the following factors to make our picks:

• Services offered: Online mental health platforms offer a range of services. Some provide consultations, diagnoses, therapy and prescription medication. We prioritized platforms that offer several of these services so you can check as many boxes as possible with one provider.
• Cost: Online therapy generally costs between $80 and $200 per session. Accessibility matters, so we gave preference to providers with costs on the lower end of this range.
• Prescription options: Telehealth platforms that employ medical health professionals who can prescribe medication are better equipped to serve their patients. While states have varying laws about prescribing certain medications online, the best online ADHD treatment platforms have options to meet with licensed physicians, psychiatrists, psychiatric advanced practice nurses and physician assistants to prescribe medications. We gave preference to companies that can prescribe a wide range of medications to treat ADHD symptoms.
• Insurance compatibility: Lowering patients’ out-of-pocket costs for online treatment makes a telehealth platform more accessible. We favored platforms that have flexible payment options and work directly with insurance companies, saving patients time and effort.
• LegitScript certification: LegitScript provides a stamp of approval for businesses that facilitate transactions for pharmacies. Seeing the LegitScript icon on a telehealth company's website shows they are recognized for operating in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.