Brief ADHD Assessment

ADHD stands for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It is a medical condition. A person with ADHD may struggle to sit still, and have self-control. ADHD can affect a child at school, at home, and in friendships.

All kids struggle at times to pay attention, listen and follow directions, sit still, or wait their turn. But for kids with ADHD, the struggles are harder and happen more often.

Kids with ADHD can show signs in any or all these areas:

• Inattentive. Kids who are inattentive (easily distracted) have trouble focusing their attention, concentrating, and staying on task. They may not listen well to directions, may miss important details, and may not finish what they start. They may daydream or dawdle too much. They may seem absent-minded or forgetful, and lose track of their things.
• Hyperactive. Kids who are hyperactive are fidgety, restless, and easily bored. They may have trouble sitting still, or staying quiet when needed. They may rush through things and make careless mistakes. They may climb, jump, or roughhouse when they shouldn't. Without meaning to, they may act in ways that disrupt others.
• Impulsive. Kids who are impulsive act too quickly before thinking. They often interrupt, might push or grab, and find it hard to wait. They may do things without asking for permission, take things that aren't theirs, or act in ways that are risky. They may have emotional reactions that seem too intense for the situation.

Sometimes parents and teachers notice signs of ADHD when a child is very young. But it's normal for little kids to be distracted, restless, impatient, or impulsive — these things don't always mean that a child has ADHD.

If you think your child has ADHD, request an appointment.  To diagnose ADHD, we start by asking about a child's health, behavior, and activity during the diagnostic assessment.  We talk with parents and kids about the things they have noticed.  We ask you to complete checklists about your child's behavior, and might ask you to give your child's teacher a checklist too.  After getting this information,  we diagnose ADHD if it's clear that:

• A child's trouble with paying attention, hyperactivity, or impulsivity go beyond what's usual for their age.
• The behaviors have been going on since the child was young.
• The behaviors affect the child at school and at home.

Many kids with ADHD also have learning problems, oppositional and defiant behaviors, or mood and anxiety problems, so these concerns will also be assessed.