Assessment is often completed by a number of professionals with training and experience in ADHD, with their findings put together to make a diagnosis. In the assessment of ADHD in children, this team of professionals often includes:
- A paediatrician: a medical doctor with specialist training in the assessment and treatment of childhood health issues.
- A psychologist: a mental health professional with training in the assessment and treatment of developmental, learning and behavioural difficulties.
- A psychiatrist: a qualified medical doctor who has done extra training to specialise in mental health.
- Another allied health professional: this might include a speech pathologist, who assesses and treats a range of speech and language issues in children, or an occupational therapist, who works with children’s fine and gross motor skills and other aspects of daily living. This all depends on whether the child might have other learning problems additional to ADHD which need evaluating.
This team of professionals assess for the following:
- Does the child or young person present with ongoing signs of inattention, hyperactivity or impulsivity?
- Do these symptoms significantly and negatively impact on the child’s day-to-day learning and functioning?
- Do these symptoms occur in different settings (e.g. home and school)?
- Were these symptoms present before age 12?
- Could another reason better explain the symptoms?
Answering these questions involves talking to the parents and the child, taking a detailed history of the child’s development, physical health, mental health, and behaviour, and careful consideration of other information such as teacher and school reports.
During an assessment, parents as well as educators are often asked to complete questionnaires and checklists.
A psychologist might also assess the child’s memory, attention, and other aspects of their learning. The psychologist might also observe the child in different settings, such as at school, to see how they behave with different demands on their behaviour.