ADHD Assessment 

What is an Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Evaluation? 

An Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) assessment is an in-depth clinical process wherein psychologists or other mental health professionals determine whether an individual has ADHD. Some of the symptoms of ADHD include attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, which can be severe, frequent, or impairing compared to an average individual with the same level of development.

A multifaceted assessment aims to diagnose ADHD and deepen understanding of the individual’s unique strengths and challenges. This helps to rule out other conditions that might mimic or coexist with ADHD, further offering a foundation for treatment planning. Let’s look at how the assessment is typically conducted.

Initial Consultation

The assessment begins with an initial intake, where the provider gathers comprehensive background information. During this consultation, various parameters are considered, including: – presenting concerns, symptoms, duration and impact on daily functioning, developmental history, medical history, family history of ADHD or other psychological disorders, academic and occupational history, and any previous psychological treatments or assessments.

Clinical Interviews

The evaluation includes clinical interviews at the core of the assessment process. Your psychologist will conduct in-depth interviews (if the client is a child, the psychologist will interview the child’s parents). Through this interaction with the client (or parent), the psychologist aims to get the more detailed information regarding the individual’s behavioral, academic, social, and emotional functioning.

Rating Scales and Checklists

In any ADHD assessment, there are standardized psychological tests and checklists. These tools aid in systematically evaluating the presence and severity of ADHD symptoms across various settings. They also help compare normative data with the individual’s age group. Both the assessed individual and key informants (parents, teachers, or partners) might need to complete these forms.

Psychological Testing

The provider might perform various psychological tests to assess cognitive abilities (IQ), memory and learning, executive functioning skills (i.e., attention, impulse control, planning, and organization), and emotional and behavioral functioning. These tests are beneficial in differentiating between ADHD and other conditions having similar overlapping symptoms, such as learning disabilities, mood disorders, or anxiety disorders.

Observation

For individuals–especially children–observations in naturalistic environments (e.g., schools) are essential to understanding behaviors (social interactions?)and coping mechanisms. Debriefs may also involve watching tapes from the environments.

Review of Records

The assessment begins with an initial intake, where the provider gathers comprehensive background information. During this consultation, various parameters are considered, including: – presenting concerns, symptoms, duration and impact on daily functioning, developmental history, medical history, family history of ADHD or other psychological disorders, academic and occupational history, and any previous psychological treatments or assessments.

Feedback Session

Once the battery of assessments is finished, the psychologist will generally meet with you for a feedback session to review the results, make any necessary diagnoses, and provide some recommendations on what type of treatment or support plan would be best. This could include medication, psychotherapy, academic support, and advice on managing symptoms at home or elsewhere.

The ADHD assessment is designed to give an in-depth, 360-degree picture of the person’s experiences to get a precise and true-to-life diagnosis. This deep dive in every case will enable them to plan and provide focused interventions looking at an individual’s specific needs.