Top Tips for ADHD Assessment & Diagnosis

Be an informed parent

Learn everything you need to know about ADHD, how it can impact your child’s development, education and mental health. Advice and support for you as parents and for your child’s school can be found on our Resources page and The ADHD Foundation.

Recognise the ADHD characteristics: inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity

ADHD has three main characteristics. Your child must have two of these three characteristics to have ADHD. All children can display these characteristics but in children with ADHD, these characteristics appear more pronounced.

Learn what your child may find challenging

Key challenges can include difficulty with sustaining concentration, remembering what your child has learned, planning and problem-solving. This can be frustrating and a cause of learner anxiety in school. The impulsivity of thoughts, emotions, actions and words can also be a source of distress because your child feels unable to respond to others appropriately.

Recognising hyperactivity

Hyperactivity can also be a factor in ADHD. Hyperactivity is the most noticeable characteristic. Moving and fidgeting can actually help your child to concentrate.

ADHD is not a behavioural disorder

It is a neurodevelopmental condition that results in a delay in the development of certain parts of the brain. This delay can impact your child’s ability to self-regulate their emotions and impulsivity. This may make them seem less mature than other children the same age, but that isn't always the case.

Maintain regular contact with your child’s school

Work closely with teachers and your special education leader so that you can work together to ensure that your child’s needs and abilities are identified, understood and appropriate learner support is put in place.

The Special Educational Needs Code of Practice requires schools to be trained to understand how to teach children with different abilities. Collaborate with your child’s school to support their education so they can achieve their potential and experience success in those school subjects they display a natural talent for.

Working with the school on your child's assessment process

When your child is assessed the clinician will request both the school and parents to complete an ‘ADHD Rating Scale Observational Questionnaire’. (There are several different types of these questionnaires such as Connors, Swan, SNAP and Vanderbilt). Ensure that the teacher who knows your child best is the teacher who completes the school questionnaire.

Some schools may also use computer based ‘cognitive profiling’ tools such as ‘Do-It Profiler’ or ‘QB Check’ screen as part of their learning needs assessment for your child. Some schools may request an assessment from an Educational Psychologist who will assess how your child’s learning is impaired. The Educational Psychologist can not diagnose ADHD, but they can advise the school and recommend what support is needed in school. You do not need an educational psychology assessment to obtain a formal diagnosis from a specialist clinician.

Understanding the ADHD assessment process

The clinician who assesses your child will ask to meet with you and your child to discuss the difficulties your child may be experiencing. They will consider the information they receive from the school and may also ask for a cognitive functioning screen to be undertaken called a QB Test. They will then decide whether a diagnosis of ADHD is appropriate. They will also recommend what support your child will need.

This can include:

• Training support for parents to help them understand ADHD

• Medication for your child

• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

• Stress management

• Daily exercise

• Good sleep routines

• Daily planners and organisers

Understanding ADHD Support Pack

For more ADHD advice and support, download our ADHD Support Pack.