Preparing for an ADHD Evaluation
So you’ve finally made the leap to get your child evaluated for potential ADHD.
And you might be wondering what you can expect and how to best prepare for your child’s evaluation. There are so many unknowns during this time adding to the stress.
If you’re looking to get your child evaluated for ADHD, here are some tips on how to best prepare for an evaluation.
Who Can Evaluate ADHD
Pediatricians, psychologists, and psychiatrists can perform evaluations to diagnose a child or teenager with ADHD. Depending on what type of professional you are seeing, the depth of an evaluation will likely look much different. While a pediatrician may perform only screening measures for ADHD, a psychologist may have a more extensive process for the evaluation.
What to Expect at the Evaluation
Regardless of who is doing the evaluation, there are several things that you can expect to occur at the evaluation for your child’s ADHD. Typically, the professional will meet with you, your family, and your child. Sometimes professionals meet with your child alone for some of the evaluation time.
During the evaluation you can expect the professional to discuss the following range of topics with you:
Medical history
History of development (e.g., milestones)
When concerns for ADHD started
Symptoms related to inattention and hyperactivity
How these symptoms impair your child’s day-to-day life
Daycare, preschool, and school behavior
Common co–occurring concerns (e.g., anxiety)
The evaluation will likely also involve a combination of an interview, observations, and completion of standardized assessments (e.g., Vanderbilt, Conners).
How to Prepare for the Evaluation
There are a few things that you and your family can do to best prepare for the evaluation. These steps will help the provider evaluating your child better understand you and your family.
Keep a detailed log of ADHD symptoms that your child may be experiencing. Inattention symptoms of ADHD include difficulty focusing, distractibility, forgetfulness, frequently losing things, and not listening when spoken to. Hyperactivity symptoms may present as low frustration tolerance, avoiding things that require work, difficulty staying seated, interrupting, difficulty playing quietly. Note how these symptoms affect your child at home, at school, and what others have said about your child.
Bring any relevant documents and records to the evaluation appointment. If your child has been evaluated in the past, it is helpful to bring a copy of the past evaluation so that the evaluator can review past results of the evaluation. Additionally, if your child has received any school records that discuss behavioral challenges (e.g., notes from teachers), that can be helpful to see as well. Additionally, if your child has an IEP or 504 plan, a copy of this can be an asset to the evaluator.
When preparing your child for the evaluation, I recommend that parents are honest with their children about the reason for their evaluation as well as what to expect during the evaluation. Helping kids prepare for the evaluation is something I often support parents through within my group parenting program.
After the Evaluation
Once the evaluation is complete, you will receive results of the evaluation as well as recommendations on what to expect and potential services that are helpful.
Your provider may refer you to a psychologist, occupational therapy, or therapist for further support. Then it may be time to share the results of the evaluation with your child. The conversation around your child having ADHD is typically an ongoing conversation.
For scripts on exactly what to say, I recommend checking out the self-study option of my group parenting program. This will give you clues on exactly what to say when and how to manage the challenges that come along with parenting a child with ADHD.
If you found this blog helpful, let me know by sending me a DM on Instagram. If you are in the San Diego or California area and are looking for an ADHD evaluation from a child psychologist, contact me to get started with an evaluation.
