Understanding your child’s unique challenges, particularly when you suspect they may be struggling with ADHD, can feel overwhelming and confusing.
More than anything, you want clear, effective solutions that will support your child’s specific needs and set them up for success.
ADHD assessments gather a comprehensive understanding of a child’s behaviour, academic performance, and social and emotional well-being. In general, the process of your child’s ADHD assessment will include:
The therapist may review your child’s school records for any patterns of behaviour, academic issues, or other concerns raised by teachers. Medical records can also provide valuable information about a child’s developmental and health history.
We observe your child directly via a child or parent/child session, as well as gather information from adults who observe your child on a frequent basis. This allows us to see how different settings affect their behaviour and helps determine if symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, or impulsivity are present and to what degree.
These tools are typically completed by parents and teachers, and sometimes by a child themselves. These standardized measures ask about the frequency and severity of a wide range of behaviours associated with ADHD. They are helpful in providing a structured way to collect information about behaviours from different settings and compare your child’s behaviour to that of their same-aged peers.
These tests evaluate your child’s cognitive abilities, memory, attention, and executive functioning. They can help identify whether your child has any specific learning difficulties or cognitive impairments that may be contributing to their struggles, or if their cognitive profile aligns with what is often seen in individuals with ADHD.
Sometimes, we will recommend a physical examination or further medical testing to rule out any physical conditions that could be causing or contributing to your child’s symptoms. For instance, sleep disorders, hearing or vision problems, and certain neurological conditions can sometimes mimic ADHD symptoms. In these cases, we refer you to your family doctor to conduct the examination.
We believe therapy is part of living a healthy life; you don’t have to be in crisis or facing an emergency to seek support. Our practice is built on long-term connections and we walk with you as you navigate the different phases and challenges in your life.
While working with children and adolescents is what we’re best known for, we extend our specialized assessment and therapeutic support services to parents, adults and couples who are on their own path to healing and living a life they love.
We take the time to get to know all relevant background information about your child, including your concerns and observations.
Our in-depth assessment uses a variety of methods and environments to gather the information needed to confirm or rule out a diagnosis.
We meet with you to go over the results of the assessment, discuss resources, recommendations, and strategies, and answer your questions.
ADHD is one of the most common neurobehavioural difficulties in childhood and involves deficits in areas of executive functioning (planning, attention, and control centers of the brain).
ADHD is typically observed in early childhood and persists into adulthood. It can lead to various difficulties in life, including problems maintaining relationships, performing at work or school, and overall self-esteem.
With the right management strategies, medication, behavioural strategies, and lifestyle changes, individuals with ADHD can lead successful and fulfilling lives.
Yes, there are three different subtypes of ADHD:
ADHD symptoms can change over time. Thus, how it presents itself may also change. The majority of children with ADHD continue to have some symptoms into adulthood, though with support, many learn strategies to help accommodate their struggles.
We complete screening assessments for preschoolers and offer recommendations to support reported areas of concern. For a confirmed diagnosis of ADHD, we tend to wait until age 6 unless symptoms are severe, in which case we may diagnose earlier. By age 6, ADHD behaviours become less developmentally appropriate, and difficulties tend to become more evident relative to same-age peers.
Treatment for ADHD typically involves a combination of behavioural strategies, medication, and lifestyle changes. The most effective approach often involves a combination of these elements, tailored to the specific needs of your child.
With close collaboration among therapists, doctors, teachers, and parents, the goal is to create a treatment plan that helps manage symptoms, improve functioning, and enhance your child’s ability to succeed in various aspects of life.
Assessments are debriefed, and results and recommendations are discussed with parents 2-4 weeks later. Once assessed, we can help provide strategies to support a plan moving forward.
Getting the answers you need can bring peace of mind, along with other benefits such as:
If you’re looking to get started with J. Gordon Psychology Group, get in touch! You can email, call or submit a message using our contact form.
780-938-4473
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4710 99th st. NW Edmonton,
Alberta T6E 5H5
