Does Your Child Have Trouble Staying on Task or Following Instructions at Home and School?
There are many reasons a student may struggle with attention and focus. When assessing a child for ADHD, it’s not just about diagnosing the condition but also understanding how ADHD affects academic skills, social interactions, and emotional well-being. We focus on getting to the root of the issue and ensuring no other learning disabilities or processing difficulties are present.
Note: ADHD can influence numerous aspects of a student’s life, including mental health, relationships, quality of life, and academic performance.
Understanding the 3 Types of ADHD
It's important to note that Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) were once considered separate diagnoses. ADD focused primarily on inattentive behaviors like 'daydreaming', while ADHD was linked to hyperactivity. Today, ADHD is the recognized diagnosis, and it includes three distinct subtypes to reflect the variety of behaviors within the disorder. Here are the characteristics of each type:
ADHD:
Predominantly Inattentive Type
- Fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes.
- Struggles to sustain attention.
- Appears not to listen when spoken to.
- Has difficulty following through on instructions.
- Struggles with organization.
- Avoids or dislikes tasks requiring sustained mental effort.
- Frequently loses things.
- Is easily distracted.
- Forgets daily activities.
ADHD:
Predominantly Hyperactive/Impulsive Type
- Fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat.
- Has difficulty staying seated.
- Runs or climbs excessively.
- Struggles to engage in quiet activities.
- Acts as if driven by a motor.
- Talks excessively.
- Interrupts or blurts out answers before questions are finished.
- Difficulty waiting or taking turns.
- Interrupts or intrudes upon others.
ADHD:
Combined Type
Individual meets both inattention and hyperactive/impulsive criteria.
Understanding ADHD Testing
What Information is Needed to Test My Child for ADHD?
The following elements are crucial for an accurate diagnosis and to understand the full impact of ADHD on a child’s life:
- Child’s History: Collected through parent input, teacher input, and self-report (when age-appropriate).
- Learning and Processing Assessment: Evaluates how the student learns and processes information.
- Academic Skills Assessment: Identifying gaps that may cause or result from inattention.
- Behavior Rating Scales: Includes assessments of executive functioning, depression, anxiety, and social interactions with peers and parents. Surveys are often sent to parents and teachers.
- Objective Measure: Compares the child’s attention, activity levels, and impulsivity to peers of the same age.
- Observations: Includes input from parents, teachers, and professionals during the evaluation.
- Medical Conditions: Ensures there are no underlying medical causes for the symptoms.
Tip: In the past, ADHD evaluations were based solely on symptom surveys, often leading to misdiagnoses.
The Qb Check
As part of our comprehensive in-person ADHD evaluation, we administer the Qb Check, an FDA-approved objective measure that assesses attention, impulsivity, and activity levels. This objective test is used alongside additional subjective assessments to ensure an accurate diagnosis. Click here for information about the Qb Check.