ADHD Assessments for Children and Young People
Embracing a best-practice and neuro-affirmative approach to Attention Deficit Hyper-activity Disorder (ADHD)* assessments for children and young people
We follow best practice guidelines to assess ADHD whilst holding your child’s attentional differences and their associated experiences as being an authentic way to be in this world.
We recognise the amazing strengths (innovation, creativity, problem-solving, hyper-focus, outside the box thinking, spontaneity and so much more) that can come with being an ‘ADHDer’ as well as the challenges and obstacles your child may encounter as they navigate a world that may not fully support or understand their way of being.
*Attention Deficit Hyper-activity Disorder (ADHD) is the term is that is still being used by many in the neuro-divergent community. Whilst it is an inherently deficit-based term, we also see ADHD as being so much richer, multi-faceted and expansive that transcends any narrowly defined term.
ADHD and Autism - AuDHD
We also recognise that many Autistic people may also have ADHD, a neurotype that is often called ‘AuDHD’. We can explore this way of being with your child if you or we feel it is indicated, and assess for both Autism and ADHD. We will discuss this with you when we meet if it is something that requires further exploration. See below for more details on Combined Autism and ADHD Assessments.
ADHD Assessments
There are 5 parts to the assessment:
Parent Interview where we get a holistic sense of your child’s developmental pathway, their strengths, challenges and needs. Online or in person in our Sligo Clinic.
Cognitive assessment with your child, where we establish a cognitive profile of their strengths and challenges, and we spend time with them, getting to know them. In our Sligo Clinic.
Online Forms called the Conners-4 to be completed by Parents, Teacher and your child.
Online or phone discussion with your child’s teacher or relevant staff in their educational setting.
A final session to explore the outcome of the assessment with parents (and your child if they would like to come along). In person or online.
A PDF report describing your child’s profile of strengths and needs in terms of how they meet the DSM 5 criteria for ADHD (if this in indicated) and detailed recommendations is issued.
This report is accepted by HSE Services and the Department of Education.
Cost: € 1,250*
*For enquiries and bookings made on or after 30.04.2024. If your child’s name was placed on the confirmed waiting list before this date the previously quoted fee will still apply.
Step by Step Guide to the ADHD Assessment Process
Whilst there are five main stages to the ADHD assessment process, it can be really helpful for you and your child to know about all the steps from start to finish:
Step 1:
Book online – go to Book an Assessment and fill in the contact form. You will be asked to sign a GDPR form so that we can legally hold your family’s information.
Step 2:
We will contact you via email and you will be invited to fill out consent forms and a form about your child’s strengths, needs and development. Your name will go on a waiting list.
Step 3:
When your name is near the top of the waiting list, we will email you with dates for the assessment that suit you and you will be asked to pay a €355 deposit to secure the assessment dates.
Step 4: The assessment. 3 appointments:
We meet you for a parent interview, this takes 60-90 minutes
We meet with your child for a cognitive assessment, this takes up to 2 hours
We send you out online forms called the Conners 4 for you, your child and school staff to complete. These usually take 10-20 minutes to complete.
We speak to your child’s teacher online or via phone for about 20-30 minutes.
We invite you to an outcome exploration meeting (your child can attend if they feel comfortable). This takes about 60 minutes or so.
Step 5:
Following our outcome exploration meeting with you, we send you a draft PDF copy of the report (whether your child is confirmed as ADHD or not) and we invite revisions. We then send you a PDF of the final report which is accepted by HSE and Dept. of Education.
ADHD Assessment Payment
We spread the payment for the assessment over 4 time points that are paid via our secure online system:
€315 deposit to secure the assessment
€315 due on the day of your Parent Interview
€315 on the day of the Assessment Outcome Exploration session
€315 on the day of issuing of the Report (approximately 4-6 weeks following the Outcome Exploration session).
Combined ADHD and Autism Assessments
This assessment follows the same pathway as the Autism assessment, but also includes a cognitive assessment, online forms for parents, teachers and your child (if applicable) and a short interview with your child’s teacher/school staff.
Cost: €2,700*
For enquiries and bookings made on or after 30.04.2024. If your child’s name was on the confirmed waiting list prior to this date, the previously quoted fee will apply.
Payment for Combined ADHD and Autism Assessments
We realise that this assessment in particular can be difficult to meet for parents, so we have spread the payments out over 5 time points as follows:
€540 deposit to secure Assessment
€540 due on the day of your child’s play-based/conversation based assessment
€520 due on the day of your child’s cognitive assessment
€520 on the day of the Assessment Outcome Exploration session
€520 on the issuing of the MDT Report (approximately 4-6 weeks following the Outcome Exploration session).
Not sure whether your child needs a full ADHD Assessment?
No problem!
We offer a 90 minute Explore Together Parent Consultation Session where we can explore your child’s way of being in more detail and discuss whether a full assessment would be helpful. We can make other recommendations as to the next steps to take if we don’t think an ADHD assessment is indicated. Please note that this session does not constitute a diagnostic assessment session.
Fee: € 220
If you decide to go ahead with the full assessment, this amount is taken off the ADHD Assessment Fee.
Learn more about Consultations here.