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Child & Adolescent ADHD Assessment
ADHD Assessment for Children (ages 7+) & Teens in Halifax, Nova Scotia
ADHD (Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder) is one of the most commonly diagnosed disorders of childhood and is a problem that parents often first notice during the school years. We offer specialized ADHD assessments for children, teens, and adults for the areas of Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford, and Clayton Park.
Core Features
At its core, ADHD is defined by three core features (not just two as implied by its name). Note that not all features are necessary for a diagnosis. For example a child may have attention difficulties in the absence of hyperactivity and vice versa.
1) Inattention - Children and teens with ADHD have problems sustaining attention. They struggle to keep their concentration and maintain effort - especially with tasks they don't find particularly interesting. They are far more distractible than other children and are more likely to get pulled off task by irrelevant things that are happening around them.
2) Hyperactivity - Many (but not all) children with ADHD demonstrate excessive motor movement (i.e., they have difficulty sitting still). Typically, children who are hyperactive have problems adjusting their activity level to meet the demands of their environment. This is an important distinction. Children without ADHD can also be very active, excitable, and can get "wound up". This is part of being a child and is very normal and healthy. The real problem for ADHD kids is that it can be a great challenge to slow down and focus when the situation requires it (e.g., school)...not that their highest activity level looks much different from a typical child in a free, non-structured environment (e.g., playing with friends).
3) Impulsivity - This is the final core feature of child or teen ADHD, but there are certainly many more associated features that our psychologists look for during a child assessment. Despite not getting equal billing as inattention and hyperactivity by being part of the name, impulsivity is now considered to be a defining characteristic of ADHD. In fact, some experts argue that the impulsivity factor is even more important than inattention when it comes to diagnosing ADHD. Teens and children with ADHD may appear to act on whatever comes to their mind without considering the consequences for themselves or others. Poor impulse control can affect their behaviours, their speech, their decision making, their relationships with others, and their schoolwork - just to name a few.
Core Features
At its core, ADHD is defined by three core features (not just two as implied by its name). Note that not all features are necessary for a diagnosis. For example a child may have attention difficulties in the absence of hyperactivity and vice versa.
1) Inattention - Children and teens with ADHD have problems sustaining attention. They struggle to keep their concentration and maintain effort - especially with tasks they don't find particularly interesting. They are far more distractible than other children and are more likely to get pulled off task by irrelevant things that are happening around them.
2) Hyperactivity - Many (but not all) children with ADHD demonstrate excessive motor movement (i.e., they have difficulty sitting still). Typically, children who are hyperactive have problems adjusting their activity level to meet the demands of their environment. This is an important distinction. Children without ADHD can also be very active, excitable, and can get "wound up". This is part of being a child and is very normal and healthy. The real problem for ADHD kids is that it can be a great challenge to slow down and focus when the situation requires it (e.g., school)...not that their highest activity level looks much different from a typical child in a free, non-structured environment (e.g., playing with friends).
3) Impulsivity - This is the final core feature of child or teen ADHD, but there are certainly many more associated features that our psychologists look for during a child assessment. Despite not getting equal billing as inattention and hyperactivity by being part of the name, impulsivity is now considered to be a defining characteristic of ADHD. In fact, some experts argue that the impulsivity factor is even more important than inattention when it comes to diagnosing ADHD. Teens and children with ADHD may appear to act on whatever comes to their mind without considering the consequences for themselves or others. Poor impulse control can affect their behaviours, their speech, their decision making, their relationships with others, and their schoolwork - just to name a few.
Diagnosing ADHD in Children
Adolescent and child ADHD assessment for the Halifax region is one of our specialty areas. It is important to note that misdiagnosis (either failing to identify it when it is present...or making a diagnosis when it is absent) can have very serious consequences for a child. As such, it is our responsibility to make certain that we get any diagnosis for your child correct...and we take this very seriously.
Misdiagnosing Child ADHD
Although there are official DSM diagnostic criteria for child ADHD, it is very dangerous to make conclusions based on first impressions, inadequate testing, incomplete data, or a simple interview...which is why ADHD is too often misdiagnosed. Accurately diagnosing adolescent and child ADHD absolutely requires a very careful and comprehensive evaluation by a mental health professional who has extensive experience testing children for attentional problems.
Even if you decide not to use Green Leaf Psychological to have your child assessed for ADHD, please make sure that the service you choose has is experienced evaluating problems related to attention and hyperactivity and bases all conclusions on a comprehensive psycho-diagnostic assessment. This should include:
Yes, assessing ADHD in children takes some work, but we firmly believe that arriving at the right diagnosis is worth the effort.
Adolescent and child ADHD assessment for the Halifax region is one of our specialty areas. It is important to note that misdiagnosis (either failing to identify it when it is present...or making a diagnosis when it is absent) can have very serious consequences for a child. As such, it is our responsibility to make certain that we get any diagnosis for your child correct...and we take this very seriously.
Misdiagnosing Child ADHD
Although there are official DSM diagnostic criteria for child ADHD, it is very dangerous to make conclusions based on first impressions, inadequate testing, incomplete data, or a simple interview...which is why ADHD is too often misdiagnosed. Accurately diagnosing adolescent and child ADHD absolutely requires a very careful and comprehensive evaluation by a mental health professional who has extensive experience testing children for attentional problems.
Even if you decide not to use Green Leaf Psychological to have your child assessed for ADHD, please make sure that the service you choose has is experienced evaluating problems related to attention and hyperactivity and bases all conclusions on a comprehensive psycho-diagnostic assessment. This should include:
- Interview with parents
- Interview with the child
- Interview with teachers
- Standardized self-report and other-report questionnaires
- A review of report cards
- Specialized measures for evaluating the symptoms of ADHD
- Tests of executive functioning
- Formal psycho-educational testing (when necessary)
Yes, assessing ADHD in children takes some work, but we firmly believe that arriving at the right diagnosis is worth the effort.
Ready to find answers for your child or teen?
Is your child or adolescent having problems related to attention, concentration, focus, hyperactivity, and/or impulsivity? Do you live in or near Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford, or Clayton Park?
If so, we can help. If you have any questions about our ADHD assessments for children please let us know. We will answer any questions you have about testing (no obligations or commitments whatsoever) and would be happy to set up an appointment if you ultimately decide to use our service.
If so, we can help. If you have any questions about our ADHD assessments for children please let us know. We will answer any questions you have about testing (no obligations or commitments whatsoever) and would be happy to set up an appointment if you ultimately decide to use our service.
IMPORTANT
After you submit the form, we will definitely get back to you. However, email is sometimes filtered into junk mail folders by mistake. To prevent this from happening, please add GreenLeafPsyc@outlook.com to your list of safe contacts...or make sure to check your spam folder if you don't see a reply in your inbox within 24 hours. Thanks!
After you submit the form, we will definitely get back to you. However, email is sometimes filtered into junk mail folders by mistake. To prevent this from happening, please add GreenLeafPsyc@outlook.com to your list of safe contacts...or make sure to check your spam folder if you don't see a reply in your inbox within 24 hours. Thanks!