Child ADHD Assessment
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurological disorder that affects approximately 5% of children in most cultures. ADHD can negatively affect a child’s environment at home, school and with friends. The child may have difficulties in maintaining their concentration and/or controlling hyperactive/impulsive behaviours.
Children with ADHD also often present with learning difficulties, anxiety and/or affective disorders. A child with ADHD can also suffer from low self-esteem and have difficulties socialising with their peers.
Children with ADHD experience difficulties in three main areas:
- Inattentiveness – wandering off task, lacking persistence, having difficulty sustaining focus, and being disorganised.
- Hyperactivity – excessive fidgeting, tapping, or talkativeness.
- Impulsivity – interrupting or intruding on others.
A comprehensive evaluation will:
- Assess the child’s intellectual ability – An intellectual (IQ) assessment (using the WISC-V) is an essential component of the ADHD testing process to rule out other difficulties (such as intellectual impairments or learning disorders).
- Assess the child’s academic achievement (using the WIAT-III) in core areas of the curriculum.
- Assess the presence of an Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
- Determine the type (inattentive, hyperactive, mixture) and define the degree of severity
Child ADHD assessments in children aged between 6-17 years involves a diagnostic interview with parents/teachers and the use of behavioural rating scales (Conners-4) to gain information about the child’s functioning in both the home and school environments (or an equivalent if home schooled).
We are now also using the Conners Continuous Performance Test 3rd Edition Online (Conners CPT-3) as part of testing for ADHD. This test measures attention-related problems in individuals aged eight years and older. The Conners CPT-3 is an online test which can be completed during the appointment, allowing us to better understand the individual’s attention abilities and provide us with a more accurate diagnosis of ADHD.
Here at Waterman Psychology Services in Adelaide, we make use of a reliable and comprehensive digital assessment system installed in iPads for our educational assessments in combination with ADHD testing. Thus, the process takes less time, and the results are more accurate.
If you have already previously completed an educational assessment in the last 2-3 years and are able to provide this to us, we will not need to repeat the educational assessment process as we will already be able to rule out learning difficulties. However, if any significant impairments (such as an academic decline) have appeared within the last 2 years, it may be beneficial to update the assessment. If you need clarification or have any concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact our office.
Specialists in our educational psychology clinic in Adelaide provide recommendations on how to support your child after an ADHD diagnosis, and how to continue to assist them in the future. When requested by parents, we make referrals to other medical and allied health professionals, including paediatricians, psychologists, and speech pathologists. See our full range of psychological assessments in Adelaide.
BOOK A CHILD ADHD ASSESSMENT
If you suspect that your child has behavioural issues or learning disorders, you should have them diagnosed in an educational psychology clinic immediately. Early assessment is the key to helping them achieve their full potential. The sooner you have a comprehensive psychoeducational assessment in hand, the better equipped you will be to help your child succeed — in school and in life.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
This assessment is for children aged 6 to 17 years old. Children who are
younger than 6 should first consult with a paediatrician or GP
Yes, the assessment involves a diagnostic interview with parents, plus
behavioural rating scales filled out by both parents and teachers to
evaluate the child across multiple settings.
Assessments also explore learning disorders (e.g. dyslexia, dyscalculia,
dysgraphia) and related emotional or behavioural factors, to distinguish
ADHD from other concerns.
Throughout the assessment process, the psychologist may flag signs of
autism and recommend completion of autism screeners. If you are then
wanting a formal autism (ASD) assessment, we can complete this
assessment for you at a later date.
We complete an educational assessment, where we assess IQ and
academic achievement, to rule out learning disorders or intellectual
disability, which are commonly associated with ADHD. Assessing IQ and
academics can also identify any symptoms that may be better explained
by a learning disorder rather than the child having ADHD.
By completing the assessment in this way, it also allows the psychologist
to observe the child while they are completing a series of tasks, allowing
the psychologist to be more accurate with their diagnosis. Additionally,
assessing IQ and academics can also provide the psychologist with useful
information to help cater recommendations specific to their needs while
at school.
Guidance includes behavioural strategies, school support plans,
emotional regulation techniques, and referrals to specialists if needed.
If you’re considering medication or further medical review, a GP referral
to a paediatrician is the next step after receiving the report.
Yes, if you would like to psychologist to talk to the child and explain the
diagnosis, the psychologist will include age-appropriate language and
reframing to help the child understand their brain and how it work with
the diagnosis.