Do You Think Your Child Would Benefit From An ADHD Assessment?

Does your child have trouble staying organized and keeping up with their homework?

Are they avoiding schoolwork, unable to sit still, or characterized by excessive daydreaming?

Would you like to get them tested for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)?

Maybe your child has an easy time staying focused on the things they love, such as playing with Legos, reading their favorite books, or making stop-motion movies. But when it comes to the basics of everyday life, they struggle. Perhaps they need frequent supervision just to get through daily routines like getting out the door for school or preparing for bedtime. Maybe they constantly forget what they were told to do and have to be reminded of the same instructions again and again. Perhaps they leave a trail of belongings wherever they go or have trouble keeping track of equipment for sports.

Over time, your child’s issues could lead to serious academic and social challenges. They might fall behind on their homework, act impulsively around their peers, and develop strained relationships with their teachers.

If your child exhibits any of these behaviors, it may be worth pursuing an ADHD assessment. At Morning Star Psychological Services, we provide neuropsychological testing for toddlers, preschoolers, school-age children, and teenagers who are living with ADHD. Our goal is to give you a framework for understanding your child and a roadmap of the next steps you can take to support them.

Many Kids With ADHD Don’t Get The Support And Accommodations They Need

According to the CDC, about 11 percent of kids ages 5 to 17 are diagnosed with ADHD, with boys having a slightly higher likelihood (14.5 percent) than girls (eight percent).* At the same time, many, many children with ADHD never receive a diagnosis because their symptoms don’t fit the classic criteria of ADHD. These children are often “spacey,” daydreamy, and seemingly lost in their own world—they’re not loud or disruptive, and they typically don’t cause much trouble in school. As a result, they usually fly under the radar and never get the support and accommodations they need.

This is often the case with girls, as ADHD tends to present itself in subtler ways in girls than it does in boys (although many boys have less disruptive symptoms, too). It’s especially important for kids with subtler symptoms to get tested for ADHD, because if they don’t, they often blame themselves for their struggles. They might give themselves a self-diagnosis like “I’m stupid” or “I’m a failure.” But when kids know that their challenges are not their fault, it can dramatically shift their perspective and help them improve their self-esteem.

ADHD Can Be A Superpower And A Creative Advantage For Many People

We’re used to thinking of ADHD negatively, but the reality is very different from the cultural perception. The truth is that ADHD can actually provide many kids with a huge creative advantage. Because of the hyperfocus and hyperactivity inherent in the condition, people with ADHD are often able to accomplish incredible things and devote huge swaths of time and energy to their passions. Additionally, because an ADHD brain works differently than a neurotypical brain, those with ADHD can be unusually creative and perceptive.

On their own, however, many kids struggle to understand the advantages of life with ADHD. That’s why an assessment is so vital. It’s a chance for kids to not only get help with their challenges, but also tap into their strengths.

ADHD Testing Can Help Your Child Connect With Their Superpowers

Your child is unique and amazing. The things that make them challenging to parent right now could be the very things that make them amazing as an adult when they find their interests and passions in life. If you want to set them up for success, then we encourage you to pursue an ADHD evaluation with us. With this evaluation, you can get an accurate diagnosis and feel confident in your knowledge of your child’s needs and your ability to advocate for them.

On a deeper level, an ADHD assessment can give you very specific information about your child’s attention, self-control, and overall development. Do they pay better attention when they’re doing something active or when other people are speaking? Are they sluggish in the morning and overly active in the afternoons? What kind of environment do they learn best in and what kind of interventions can you use with them at home? Getting a diagnosis can provide answers to all these questions and help you understand exactly what accommodations they need.

How The ADHD Testing Process Works

The whole testing process is very straightforward, allowing parents and kids to get the answers they need within a very short span of time. There are four basic steps to the process, outlined in detail below:

1. Intake appointment—This is a two-hour meeting between you and your child’s specialist to discuss your child’s history, early development, and challenges in school. We’ll also go over any questions that you want answered during the evaluation. For kids on the younger side, we meet with the parents only, but if your child is an adolescent, whether they’re present during the intake is up to you.
2. Testing sessions—During the testing sessions, we will work with your child on many structured tasks to assess different cognitive domains, such as memory, learning style, executive functioning, social development, etc. There are generally two-to-five two-hour testing sessions for younger kids, while older kids and adolescents generally need two-to-three three-hour sessions.
3. Written report—Once the testing is done, we will begin working on a written report that has all the information you need to know about your child’s diagnosis. This will involve talking to coaches, teachers, and other influential figures in your child’s life.
4. Feedback session—About two to four weeks after the testing is finished, we will hold a feedback session with you to discuss the results of the test and talk about how to share them with your child. We will then conduct a feedback session with your child. Upon request, we can also discuss the testing results at school meetings.

Ultimately, ADHD testing can be the key to getting the right supports and accommodations for your child. It can also serve a huge emotional benefit, allowing your child to understand their unique strengths and challenges and helping them increase their self-esteem. What’s more, this is a chance for your child to connect with their superpowers and learn how to harness ADHD to their advantage in life. So, no matter how much your child is struggling, we’re confident that we can come up with a plan that sets them up for success.

You May Have Some Questions About ADHD Testing…

What if we don’t have the time and money for testing?

Getting an ADHD assessment can save you time, energy, and money in the long run, ensuring that you don’t spend money on ineffective treatments for your child later on. Additionally, since this is a self-pay practice and insurance isn’t involved, we are able to offer more comprehensive services and provide clients with more control over their family’s information.

What if my child gets labeled because of their diagnosis?

While the assessment may provide an ADHD diagnosis, the benefit of the evaluation is that it gives you detailed information about your child’s unique profile of strengths and challenges. A diagnosis can provide access to needed services and an alternative explanation for a child’s challenges (besides “I’m a failure”). In this way, ADHD testing can actually help your child improve their self-esteem and see themselves in a more positive and empowering light. It can also help them connect with other kids who have ADHD and form a healthier community of likeminded peers.

Will my family’s privacy be respected?

Absolutely! Because we run a self-pay practice, insurance companies are not involved and you don’t have to share the testing results with anyone. As the parent or guardian, you are in full control of what to do with the information we provide, as we are very respectful of each family’s personal belief system.

Your Child Can Learn To Thrive With ADHD

We’re here to provide the tools, knowledge, and advocacy necessary to support your child and ensure that they have a bright and successful future. To learn more about psychological testing for ADHD, you can fill out the contact page or call me at 603-810-0782 for a free 20-minute phone consultation. We look forward to hearing from you!

 

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db499.htm#:~:text=Key%20findings-,Data%20from%20the%20National%20Health%20Interview%20Survey,prevalence%20than%20girls%20(8.0%25).Data