ADHD Evaluations
Arch Psychological provides comprehensive ADHD evaluation services to all ages. During an ADHD evaluation, we interview the client, consider all sources of information, and review all relevant historical, medical and educational records. We will also conduct appropriate testing. This objective approach allows us to ensure the accuracy of our diagnosis.
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition. People with ADHD might have trouble with:
Impulsivity.
Hyperactivity.
Distractedness.
Following instructions.
Completing tasks.
If you or your child has symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a healthcare provider may recommend an ADHD screening or assessment. A child can be evaluated for ADHD as early as 4 years old. Often times, parents wait to obtain an assessment until the symptoms are causing issues for the child at home or school.
Schedule a call to learn more about ADHD evaluations.
An ADHD evaluation has several purposes:
To find out whether there are symptoms that indicate ADHD
To understand whether the symptoms are severe enough and cause enough problems to require a diagnosis
To rule out other conditions that explain the symptoms better
To understand if the patient has more than one condition at the same
ADHD is often diagnosed first in children. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that medical providers regularly ask parents, teachers and other people working with the child about the child’s behavior in various settings. A healthcare provider or ADHD specialist will ask about symptoms of inattention, impulsivity, or hyperactivity.
If you notice behavioral changes or experience ADHD symptoms as an adult, you should discuss these with your primary care provider and discuss whether an ADHD assessment is appropriate. Adults can have ADHD screening and a diagnosis at any age. There’s no cure for ADHD. Having an ADHD evaluation and diagnosis can improve quality of life.
You should expect that the evaluator will do the following to diagnose ADHD:
Identify whether symptoms of ADHD are present and impairing daily functioning.
Rule out the presence of psychological or physical alternative causes for the symptoms.
Identify the presence of a second condition that you may have, such as the presence of a learning disability, anxiety disorder, intellectual disability or mood disorder.
A complete evaluation may include:
Interviewing the patient and/or parents
Reviewing family medical history, especially if other family members have ADHD
Parent- and teacher-completed child behavior rating scales
Parent self-reports of parenting style
Spending time with the patient to observe behavior either at home, school, work, or in the medical office
Clinic-based psychological tests
Review of earlier school and medical records
Intelligence testing, educational achievement testing, or screening for learning disabilities if the child has poor grades or struggles with learning
A medical, physical, or neurodevelopmental screening to rule out any other medical conditions that might produce ADHD-like symptoms
Additional vision and hearing screening, as well as formal speech and language assessment
During the interview, the evaluator discusses your or your child’s development, health, and family and lifestyle history. They might ask questions like:
How often do you or your child have trouble finishing a project or task once you complete the challenging parts.
Are there any immediate family members (parents, brothers or sisters) who you think may have or have had ADHD, whether or not they were diagnosed or treated?
How often do you or your child fidget or squirm with your hands or feet when sitting for a long time?
How often are you or your child distracted by activity or noise around you?
How often do you or your child have difficulty waiting your turn in situations when taking turns is required?
The evaluator may customize the rest of the screening process based on your unique symptoms.
You can expect the ADHD test to take at least one to three hours, depending on what’s involved. There may be a need for further testing that would occur over the course of several weeks, to include medical testing.
