ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)

Expert ADHD Care for Children, Adolescents, and Adults

If you or your child is struggling with focus, organization, or impulsivity, finding the right support is the first step toward reclaiming control from someone who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Marc A. Heiser, MD, PhD, is a board-certified ADHD psychiatrist in Los Angeles.

As a dedicated ADHD specialist Dr. Heiser provides a comprehensive, science-based approach to mental health. Whether you are seeking an adult ADHD psychiatrist for yourself or looking for pediatric intervention for your child or adolescent, our practice offers personalized care designed to improve executive functioning and long-term quality of life.

What Is ADHD?

ADHD is a common neurodevelopmental disorder that affects both children and adults. Characterized by symptoms, such as inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, ADHD can interfere with academic performance, work responsibilities, and personal relationships. Individuals with ADHD may struggle with staying organized, following instructions, or managing time effectively, leading to frustration and reduced self-esteem.

Types of ADHD:

1. Predominantly Inattentive: Difficulty sustaining focus, following instructions, and staying organized, formerly referred to as ADD.
2. Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive: Excessive movement, restlessness, and acting without thinking.
3. Combined Presentation: Both inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms are present.

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects the brain’s management system, specifically areas responsible for executive functioning, impulse control, and sustained attention. It is not a result of poor parenting or a lack of willpower; it is a biological condition related to how the brain processes dopamine and norepinephrine.

ADHD Symptoms in Children and Adults

ADHD manifests differently depending on age and environment. Recognizing these signs is the first step toward an accurate diagnosis.

Inattention Symptoms

• Difficulty focusing: Often zoning out during conversations or tasks.
• Disorganization: Struggling to keep track of physical items or digital schedules.
• Forgetfulness: Missing appointments or losing daily essentials like keys and phones.

Hyperactivity Symptoms

• Restlessness: For children, this may be running/climbing; for adults, it is often an internal sense of “driven by a motor.”
• Excessive talking: Difficulty waiting for a turn in conversation.
• Fidgeting: Constant tapping of hands or feet.

Impulsivity Symptoms

• Interrupting others: Blabbing out answers before a question is finished.
• Risk-taking behavior: Acting on whims without considering long-term consequences.
• Emotional impulsivity: Quickness to anger or intense emotional reactions.

How ADHD Presents Differently in Adults

Many adults reach out for adult ADHD treatment because their symptoms look different than the “hyperactive child” stereotype. In adults, ADHD often shows up as:

• Workplace challenges: Difficulty meeting deadlines or managing complex projects.
• Relationship strain: Partners feeling ignored or burdened by the other’s forgetfulness.
• Chronic procrastination: An inability to start tasks until the very last minute.
• Emotional dysregulation: Feeling easily overwhelmed by stress or rejection.

When to See an ADHD Specialist in Los Angeles

It may be time to schedule a consultation if you experience:

• Consistent struggles with focus despite significant effort.
• Ongoing academic or workplace performance issues.
• Anxiety or depression that may be masking or stemming from untreated ADHD.
• Chronic difficulty managing daily responsibilities like bills, chores, or health.

By seeing an adult ADHD psychiatrist you ensure that your symptoms are evaluated through a psychiatric lens, distinguishing ADHD from other conditions with similar presentations.

Comprehensive ADHD Evaluation in Los Angeles

A proper diagnosis is the foundation of effective treatment. Dr. Marc Heiser performs a deep-dive evaluation to ensure patients are not misdiagnosed.

What to Expect During Your First Visit

Your initial consultation is a dedicated time for Dr. Heiser to understand the unique “why” behind your challenges. This visit is structured as a collaborative exploration of your history and current experiences

• Duration: Evaluations for adults and children are thorough, typically involving one or more sessions to capture a full clinical picture.
• Clinical Interviews: A detailed review of personal history, developmental milestones, and family psychiatric history.
• Standardized Assessments: Evidence-based questionnaires completed by the patient.
• Collaboration: Gathering input from teachers, family members, or colleagues when appropriate.
• Record Review: Analyzing previous school reports or medical records to identify long-term patterns.

Why a Thorough Psychiatric Evaluation Matters

Many conditions, such as anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, or past trauma, can mimic ADHD. A professional evaluation prevents misdiagnosis and ensures the treatment plan addresses the root cause of the struggle.

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Adult ADHD Psychiatrist – Specialized Care for Adults

Adult ADHD is often misunderstood. As an adult ADHD psychiatrist Dr. Heiser specializes in treating:

• Late-Diagnosed ADHD: Helping adults understand a lifetime of “feeling different” after receiving a diagnosis later in life.
• High-Performing Professionals: Strategies for CEOs, creatives, and professionals who excel but struggle with the behind-the-scenes organization.
• ADHD and Burnout: Addressing the exhaustion that comes from overcompensating for ADHD symptoms.
• ADHD Mistaken for Anxiety or Mood Disorders: Chronic restlessness or racing thoughts are actually symptoms of ADHD that have been misdiagnosed for years as generalized anxiety or a mood disorder.
• Impact on Relationships and Career: Untreated adult ADHD often manifests as a performance gap at work and persistent strain in personal relationships, where symptoms like forgetfulness or emotional impulsivity are frequently mistaken for a lack of care or professional commitment.

Dr. Heiser’s expertise in adult ADHD treatment in Los Angeles ensures that therapy and medication are tuned to the high-demand lifestyles of Southern California professionals.

Personalized ADHD Treatment 

We move beyond a one-size-fits-all model to create a multi-modal treatment plan.

Medication Management

Finding the right balance for your brain biology is a collaborative process. Dr. Heiser offers expert guidance on the following:

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• Stimulants vs. Non-Stimulants: These medications increase the availability of neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and norepinephrine, in the prefrontal cortex. Dr. Heiser helps you choose between fast-acting stimulants or non-stimulant alternatives that provide a steady, 24-hour level of symptom control.
• Safety and Side Effects: Frequent monitoring helps reduce issues, such as insomnia, changes in heart rate, and loss of appetite. By closely tracking these data points, he helps you find a path that supports your health without compromising your comfort.
• Dosage Adjustment: This involves refining prescriptions over time. The aim is to reach a level where you experience significant relief from distractibility or impulsivity while using the lowest possible dose.

Psychotherapy for ADHD

Treatment often includes Executive Functioning Therapy or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Unlike traditional talk therapy, these sessions focus on the mechanics of how you think and act:

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• Cognitive Reframing: You work on identifying negative thought patterns, such as believing you are simply lazy when your brain is actually struggling to engage with a task. Replacing these thoughts helps reduce the shame often associated with the disorder.
• Emotional Regulation: You learn skills to handle the sudden frustration or overwhelm that comes when plans change or tasks feel too large to start. This helps prevent small setbacks from ruining your entire day.

Behavioral Coaching

This provides practical support for daily life by creating external structures to support an internal lack of focus:

• Time Management: Instead of just using a calendar, you learn to visualize time. This includes breaking large projects into tiny, manageable pieces and using alarms to prevent hyperfocus from making you late for other commitments.
• Organization Tools: Dr. Heiser helps you build frameworks for clearing out physical and digital clutter. By creating specific homes for items like keys, wallets, and files, you reduce the mental load of searching for items every day.

• Productivity Frameworks: You will learn to use structured systems designed for the ADHD brain. This involves using visual cues to stay on task, setting up “body doubling” environments where you work alongside others. By breaking the cycle of procrastination, you can complete tasks with less mental friction.

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Long Term ADHD Management & Ongoing Support

Dr. Heiser provides ongoing support to help you stay on track as your life, career, and academic needs change over time.

Monitoring Progress

We track your journey using tangible data and regular check-ins. We look at how your symptoms change in different settings, such as during high-stress work quarters or transitions between school grades. By measuring these shifts, we can see exactly where your current plan is succeeding and where it needs more support.

Adjusting Treatment Plans

Your brain biology and life circumstances are not static. A plan that worked during college might need a shift when you start a demanding new career or begin a family. Dr. Heiser stays involved to pivot your medical or behavioral strategies as needed, making sure your care remains aligned with your current reality.

Supporting Academic Accommodations

Navigating the world of 504 Plans and IEPs can be daunting. Dr. Heiser helps by providing the necessary clinical documentation to secure support, such as:

• Extended time on exams to account for processing speed.
• Testing in a quiet, distraction-free room.
• Preferred seating to help maintain focus on the instructor.
• Permission to use recording devices or note-taking assistance.

Workplace Performance Strategies

For professionals, we develop ways to manage a heavy workload without falling into the trap of burnout. This includes:

• Task Triaging: Learning how to rank tasks by urgency rather than just doing what feels most exciting.
• Environmental Design: Tweaking your office space to reduce noise and visual interruptions.
• Delegation Skills: Learning how to communicate your needs to a team so that your strengths are utilized while your struggles are supported.

Building Confidence and Self-Esteem

Many people grow up feeling they are broken or not trying hard enough. Our approach focuses on:

• Strength-Based Perspectives: Shifting the focus from what you can't do to the creative, fast-thinking, and hyper-focused strengths you bring to the table.
• Small Wins: Setting daily goals that are actually achievable helps rebuild a sense of agency and pride in your work.
• Self-Compassion: Learning to treat yourself with the same kindness you would show a friend, which reduces the emotional spikes that often derail progress.

Why Choose Dr. Marc A. Heiser – Psychiatrist

Selecting the right professional is a significant step in managing your mental health. As a leading psychiatrist in Los Angeles, Dr. Heiser’s expertise combines deep scientific research with compassionate, patient-centered care.

Board-Certified Expertise

Dr. Heiser is double board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in both Adult Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. This means he has met the highest national standards for clinical knowledge and patient safety, ensuring your care is grounded in proven medical science.

Experience Across the Lifespan

ADHD looks different at age seven than it does at age thirty-five. Because Dr. Heiser treats children, adolescents, and adults, he understands the disorder's long-term trajectory. He helps families navigate school-age challenges and assists adults in managing the high-pressure demands of the Los Angeles workforce.

Personalized Care Model

We do not believe in a rushed or impersonal approach. Dr. Heiser spends significant time getting to know your history, your biology, and your personal hurdles. Your treatment plan is built from the ground up to reflect your specific needs, rather than a generic checklist.

In-Person Los Angeles Office

While we offer virtual sessions for your convenience, we maintain a physical presence in the heart of the city. Our office on Wilshire Boulevard provides a stable home base for your care, allowing nuanced, face-to-face connections that are often lost in digital-only practices.

Discreet and Professional Environment

We understand that privacy is a top priority for our patients. Our office is a calm, professional, and confidential space where you can speak openly without hesitation. From our scheduling process to our in-office protocols, every detail is managed with the utmost respect for your privacy and comfort.

ADHD (FAQs)

Appointments

1. How long does a session last?

A psychiatric evaluation usually lasts 90 minutes for adults and 2 hours for children. This time allows for a review of prior records and discussions with other providers, such as therapists or teachers. Standard medication management visits are 30 minutes and held monthly, while psychotherapy sessions are one hour and occur weekly.

2. Do you offer appointments on weekends?

Dr. Heiser generally does not see patients on weekends as part of his regular schedule. However, he remains available to handle urgent issues that cannot wait until the following week. This ensures that current patients have a reliable point of contact for pressing medical concerns even outside of standard office hours.

3. What payment methods do you offer?

Our office aims to make the billing process as smooth as possible for all patients. We prefer credit card payments, which can be kept on file to streamline checkout after each visit. This allows you to focus entirely on your care and discussion during your scheduled time.

4. Do I need a referral to schedule an appointment?

No referral is required to schedule a psychiatric evaluation. Many patients seek care directly when symptoms begin interfering with work, relationships, or daily responsibilities. With your permission, we can coordinate with other providers to ensure continuity of care.

5. How soon can I expect to be seen?

Appointment availability varies throughout the year. Our office works to schedule new patients as promptly as possible while preserving adequate time for comprehensive evaluations. You will be informed of the earliest available appointment when you contact us.

Diagnosis

6. How do I know if I need an ADHD psychiatrist?

If self-help tools and general therapy are not enough to manage distractibility or impulsivity, it may be time for a specialized psychiatric consultation. A psychiatrist provides medical oversight and diagnostic depth that general coaching cannot offer, particularly when symptoms are affecting work or close relationships.

7. Can ADHD be diagnosed in adulthood?

Many adults are diagnosed later in life after years of struggling with focus or organization. A diagnosis can clarify longstanding challenges and open new paths for treatment. Both current symptoms and childhood history are considered during evaluation.

8. What does a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation involve?

A comprehensive evaluation includes discussion of current concerns, medical history, family background, and prior treatment. When appropriate, information from therapists, teachers, or family members may be reviewed. The goal is an accurate diagnosis that supports thoughtful treatment planning.

9. Can anxiety or depression look similar to ADHD?

Yes. Difficulty concentrating, restlessness, and irritability can overlap across conditions. A careful assessment helps determine whether symptoms are primarily related to ADHD, anxiety, depression, or a combination of factors.

Treatment

10. What is the best treatment for adult ADHD?

Treatment often includes a combination of medication and behavioral strategies. Medication can help regulate attention and impulse control, while therapy supports organization, time management, and coping skills. Addressing both biology and behavior typically leads to stronger outcomes.

11. Do you prescribe medication for ADHD, anxiety, or depression?

Medication may be recommended when clinically appropriate. Decisions are based on a thorough evaluation of symptoms, medical history, and individual treatment needs. Ongoing follow-up ensures effectiveness and safety.

12. Is medication required for treatment?

Not always. Some patients benefit from psychotherapy alone, particularly when symptoms are mild or situational. Others respond best to an integrated approach that includes both medication and therapy.

13. How long does treatment typically continue?

The duration of treatment varies depending on the condition and individual goals. Some patients seek short-term support during life transitions, while others benefit from ongoing care. Treatment plans are reviewed regularly and adjusted as progress occurs.

Virtual Options

14. Do you offer virtual appointments?

Dr. Heiser prefers to meet new patients in person for the initial visit to establish a clinical foundation. However, both evaluations and follow-up appointments may be conducted through a secure video platform for patients located throughout California.

Crisis Support

15. Who do I contact if I have a crisis?

If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please contact Dr. Heiser directly using the information provided to current patients. If you are facing a life-threatening emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately.

Schedule Your Consultation Today

Living with ADHD can feel like an uphill battle, but you do not have to navigate these challenges alone. Whether you are seeking a diagnosis for your child or looking for specialized adult DHD support to help your career and relationships thrive, professional help is within reach. Dr. Heiser provides the medical expertise and practical tools necessary to help you move past the frustration of the past and toward a more focused, organized future.

Our office is open for in-person visits, providing a dedicated space for your care. For those with busy schedules or living farther away, we also offer secure, private virtual appointments throughout California.

Contact us today to schedule a comprehensive ADHD evaluation with a trusted ADHD psychiatrist in Los Angeles.