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Getting A Proper ADHD Assessment
Getting A Proper ADHD Assessment By Mary Asomah...
Parents having any concerns about their child's development or behaviour should discuss the matter with their doctor.
And it is up to the parent to assure that before any diagnosis is given in regards to their child's health, that their
child has received proper professional assessment.
It is important to note that teachers, school administrators, child care providers... or 'helpful' neighbours... are not
capable of giving a fair or accurate ADHD assessment on any child.
An accurate assessment must be performed by an experienced health care professional. The assessment goes beyond
ticking off a checklist, and must
not only include interviews with the child, the parents, and teachers, but also must include a full medical examination.
Medical Examination as Part of Accessing ADHD
It is imperative that an assessment include a medical examination. Symptoms that may seem to be caused by ADHD may
actually be caused by other medical conditions.
An assessment should include hearing and vision testing, because hearing and vision loss can affect a child's attention
and success in school.
The assessment should also include testing for lead exposure, thyroid problems, dyslexia, and blood testing. Any of
these conditions can produce symptoms which may be misdiagnosed as ADHD symptoms.
ADHD symptoms often mimic the symptoms of other disorders. These disorders include depression, anxiety, autism and
bipolar disorder.
In some cases a child may have co-existing disorders. It is important to get a full assessment of your child so that
you can have a complete outline of your child's potential challenges.
ADHD assessment should also include testing for learning disabilities. A high percentage of ADHD children have one or
more learning disabilities.
Understanding the extent of your child's learning disabilities can ensure that the best education plan is established
for your child.
Procedure for Accessing ADHD
In addition to the medical testing of a child, the health care professional should study the child's medical history
in relation to their mental, physical and emotional health, including prenatal care and any complications that may have
been present at birth.
When conducting interviews for an ADHD assessment the health care professional should gather information form a
Behaviour Rating Scale which is filled out by the parents and teachers. The child should have both a written test and a
personal interview.
When the health care professional considers the behaviour of a child, they are looking for behaviours that are beyond
age appropriate.
Extreme behaviours, and behaviours that affect a child in more than one setting... home and school... may be deemed ADHD
behaviours.
The major behaviours the health care professional will be looking for in the assessment are categorized into
three ADHD subtypes...
Hyperactive Behaviours; affecting how the child moves.
Impulsive Behaviours; affecting how a child behaves.
Inattentive Behaviours; affecting how a child concentrates.
