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 here for more details on Combined Autism and ADHD Assessments.

ADHD Assessments

********** Please note that we are a Psychologist led service and so we do not prescribe medication for ADHD *************

There are 5 parts to the assessment:

  1. Online Forms called the Conners-4 and our own ADHD Intake Forms to be completed by Parents, Teacher and your child.

  2. ‘Qb Check’ Computerised Assessment of Attention with your child, where we garner an objective measure of your child’s attentional profile.  In our Sligo Clinic.

  3. One of our Clinical Psychologists meets with your child, spend time chatting or playing (as appropriate), asking some questions about their way of being in a relaxed session lasting 60 minutes or so. In our Sligo Clinic.

  4. The same Clinical Psychologist carries out a Parent/Guardian 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.

  5. 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, 500

Cognitive Assessment

If your child requires a cognitive assessment as part of their overall assessment, there is an additional fee of €500. We will discuss this with you during the initial stage of the assessment process. Please note that the cognitive assessment is not an essential part of the ADHD assessment process.

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.

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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 €375 deposit to secure the assessment dates.

Step 4: The assessment. 3 appointments: 

  1. We send you out online forms (The Conners 4 and our own ADHD intake forms) for you, your child and school staff to complete. These usually take 20- 50 minutes to complete for parents.

  2. Appointment 1: We meet you for a parent interview, this takes 60-90 minutes, Online or In Person.

  3. We meet with your child for a computerised assessment of attention, ‘Qb Check’, this takes 20 minutes; we will then spend about 50-60 minutes with your child, getting to know them, chatting, playing (as appropriate), exploring in a relaxed way, about their ways of being and how they may relate ADHD. In Person, 90 minutes in total.

  4. Appointment 3: 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:

  1. €375 deposit to secure the assessment

  2. €375 due on the day of your Parent Interview

  3. €375 on the day of the Assessment Outcome Exploration session

  4. €375 on the day of issuing of the 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.