ADHD Evaluation: What To Expect

It can be daunting and scary when you notice that your child is behaving differently or struggling and don't know why. All you want is to take their pain away, we know. One possible reason for abnormal behavior is that your child is suffering from ADHD. Our team of skilled pediatricians from Decatur Pediatric Group are experienced at administering ADHD evaluations and diagnosing if this is the reason your child is struggling. Making the evaluation process less intimidating for both you and your child begins with knowledge and an understanding of what to expect going into an ADHD evaluation in Clarkston, Smyrna, Lithonia, GA.

How Is ADHD Diagnosed?

Our ADHD evaluation in Clarkston, Smyrna, Lithonia, GA consists of a variety of different tests and questionnaires. It will also involve speaking with different people in your child's life, such as teachers, coaches, nurses, and doctors. Generally, an ADHD evaluation lasts several hours. But please try not to let that frighten you as we will do whatever possible to make you and your child comfortable during the evaluation. Doing so is an advantage for us as well. When a child is more relaxed, we can gain a clearer insight into their genuine behavior.

The evaluation consists of several different forms of examination. These include:

• Questionnaires: The core of an ADHD evaluation consists of gathering as much information as possible about your child's behavior from as many people as possible. This involves the evaluation of information given to us by teachers, psychologists, etc.
• Initial interview: This step is critical for both provider and child. It enables the child to feel comfortable with us and get to know each other. As a parent or guardian, you will be involved in this as well to gain a thorough medical and social history of your child. It is crucial to tell us of any physical and mental diagnoses your child has.
• Specific ADHD tests: This portion of the evaluation varies widely from child to child based on what tests the examiner thinks will reveal the most. These tests may involve intelligence tests, questionnaires, or computer tests. Also, the pediatrician may administer testing of specific abilities, such as hearing and visual tests, memory recall, motor skills, language development, learning disabilities, and more.

More than one visit may be required to complete the evaluation. The examiner may administer all of the tests mentioned above or a combination of some of them. Once a determination is made, you and your child's pediatrician will discuss the best and most appropriate treatment plan for your child.

Contact Us

We understand that dealing with unknown behavioral issues in your child can be frightening and exhausting. Schedule a consultation with one of our pediatricians from Decatur Pediatric Group for an ADHD evaluation in Clarkston, Smyrna, Lithonia, GA. Take the first step in helping your child's suffering. You can reach all 3 of our locations by calling (404) 296-7133.