What Should You Expect in an ADHD Evaluation & How is ADHD Diagnosed in Kids?
This post is part of a series where our team of child mental health professionals answer real questions submitted by readers like you. This post deals with worries related to ADHD, attention, and focus. Please take care when reading.
One parent recently wrote in with questions about what to expect in an ADHD evaluation. Here is their question, and an answer from our team of child mental health experts.
“Our daughter’s school wants us to have her evaluated for ADHD and learning disabilities. She’s very hyper, doesn’t listen, tends to forget everything, and is very unorganized. How exactly do they do that? Will they talk with her or us? Will they allow us to be in there with her?”
- A., West Virginia
Thank you so much for contacting Little Otter.
It sounds like both you and your daughter’s school have noticed that she seems to struggle with focus and hyperactivity, and that you may be concerned that she has undiagnosed ADHD. The good news is that the earlier we can diagnose and treat ADHD, the easier it will be for your child to live with this challenge long-term. It’s great that you’re considering an evaluation!
Navigating the process of having your child evaluated for ADHD or learning disabilities can be challenging and confusing! You’re not alone in having these questions. First, this process will differ if your daughter is in a public vs. a private school.
Public schools are required to assess and provide academic support for any child with reasonable concerns for a “qualifying disability” under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This federal legislation outlines 13 domains, or types of concerns, for which schools must provide educational, behavioral or functional support. Based on your question, your daughter could potentially qualify under a "specific learning disability" or "other health impairment," which covers ADHD.
Private schools do not have to provide evaluation services, which means you would need to seek an independent evaluation. A child clinical psychologist, school psychologist, or neuropsychologists can complete a psychoeducational evaluation and provide documentation to the school. If you daughter is at a private school, it is best to ask whether they require a specific test or type of testing in order to provide support. Some schools take a letter from a psychologist or licensed mental health professional stating a diagnosis such as ADHD, while others require a more lengthy report.
Mental health experts are trained to evaluate and diagnose ADHD, and distinguish behavior from what is expected at different stages of child development. There are 18 key symptoms for ADHD. It’s common for a child to have one or two of those symptoms, but that doesn’t mean they have ADHD. A child actually needs to present six or more symptoms to be diagnosed with ADHD. (Dr. Helen Egger explains more in the video.)
A typical evaluation will include caregivers completing structured surveys about a child's strengths and challenges, an interview with the caregiver and the child, and gathering information from teachers about the child's behavior.
Your child will also likely complete standardized cognitive assessment to evaluate their intellectual abilities in comparison to children their own age and grade. These tests may resemble puzzles or games, and typically assess intelligence, memory, how quickly they process information, and any concerns about their ability to process visual vs. verbal information.
Going through the evaluation process can sometimes feel discouraging, as often the language used to describe how your child is functioning can feel overly negative.
However, all children have different ways of learning, and this does not mean you child will have long-term difficulties at school. Rather, an evaluation is a helpful tool for helping teachers or mental health professionals tap into your child's strengths and create a learning environment in which they can thrive.
As research shows, early diagnosis and treatment is key for lifelong health and wellness. Many parents are apprehensive about such an evaluation, but try to remind yourself that it has the potential to help your child thrive in school and beyond. In addition, it can also limit the impact of other mental health challenges that tend to show up with ADHD, like anxiety and depression.
Little Otter is also available to provide ADHD evaluation and treatment in select states.
We’re also available to provide additional support related to attentional and learning strategies outside of teacher or school-based interventions.
I hope this is helpful! If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
