ADHD Assessment
Understanding ADHD Assessments
Many children are active, energetic, forgetful, or easily distracted at times. However, for some children, difficulties with attention, concentration, impulsivity, organisation, and self-regulation occur more frequently and have a significant impact on their daily functioning. These challenges can affect learning, academic achievement, relationships, emotional wellbeing, self-esteem, and participation both at school and at home.
An ADHD assessment provides a comprehensive evaluation of a child's attention, behaviour, executive functioning, and learning profile. The assessment process considers how a child functions across different settings and helps to determine whether their difficulties are consistent with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or may be better explained by other factors.
Many children referred for ADHD assessments also experience challenges with learning, academic progress, anxiety, emotional regulation, or other developmental differences. Gaining a clear understanding of a child's strengths and difficulties can help families, schools, and health professionals make informed decisions regarding support, intervention, and future planning. For many families, an ADHD assessment provides valuable clarity, answers important questions, and helps identify the most appropriate pathway forward.
Possible reasons families seek an ADHD assessment include:
Difficulties sustaining attention or concentration
Excessive distractibility or forgetfulness
Challenges with organisation and task completion
Impulsivity or hyperactivity
Academic underachievement despite adequate ability
Difficulties with emotional regulation
Concerns raised by parents, teachers, or health professionals
Clarification regarding whether ADHD may be contributing to current challenges
Assessment Measures
At Skyview Psychology, ADHD assessments involve the use of multiple evidence-based assessment tools to develop a comprehensive understanding of your child's functioning.
Cognitive abilities are assessed using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fifth Edition (WISC-V), while academic achievement is assessed using the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test, Fourth Edition (WIAT-4). Together, these measures provide valuable information about cognitive strengths and weaknesses, academic achievement, and whether learning difficulties may be contributing to concerns.
Parents and teachers are also asked to complete the Conners Comprehensive Behaviour Rating Scales, which are completed online during the assessment. These questionnaires provide important information about attention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, executive functioning, learning, and behaviour across different settings. Where clinically indicated, a structured diagnostic interview such as the Young DIVA-5 may also be conducted to further evaluate ADHD symptoms and determine whether diagnostic criteria are met.
What to Expect
The ADHD assessment process typically involves several stages to ensure a comprehensive understanding of your child's developmental history, current functioning, learning profile, and support needs.
Initial Parent Consultation
The process begins with a parent consultation session, during which detailed developmental, educational, medical, behavioural, and family information is gathered. This appointment provides an opportunity to discuss current concerns, clarify referral questions, and explain the assessment process in more detail. Parent and teacher questionnaires will also be provided at this stage. This session is usually conducted in person in my Bega rooms, however, may be completed via telehealth in some circumstances.
Questionnaires and Information Gathering
Parents and teachers complete online Conners questionnaires, which provide information about your child's behaviour, attention, emotional functioning, and executive functioning across home and school environments. Where relevant, additional information such as previous assessments, school reports, and teacher feedback may also be reviewed.
Assessment Sessions
Your child will then attend two or three assessment sessions, depending on their age, needs, and the assessment measures being used. During these sessions, a range of activities and tasks are completed to assess cognitive abilities, attention, executive functioning, and academic achievement. These sessions are conducted in person in my Bega rooms.
Scoring, Interpretation and Report Writing
Following the assessment sessions, all information is carefully reviewed, scored, analysed, and interpreted. Information from interviews, questionnaires, assessment measures, observations, and collateral sources is integrated into a comprehensive written report. The report outlines assessment findings, diagnostic conclusions where appropriate, identified strengths and challenges, and tailored recommendations for home, school, and other settings.
Feedback and Recommendations
Once the report has been completed, a feedback session is held with parents or caregivers to discuss the assessment findings and recommendations. This session provides an opportunity to ask questions, gain a clear understanding of the results, and discuss appropriate supports, interventions, accommodations, and next steps. A copy of the assessment report is provided at this time. This session is usually conducted in person in my Bega rooms, however, may be completed via telehealth in some circumstances.
Please note that I may work collaboratively with other professionals (Paediatricians/Psychiatrists/GP’s) for formal ADHD diagnoses.