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 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 Assessments/Discoveries
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:
You, your child’s teachers (and your child if they wish to) complete Online Forms called the Conners-4 and our own ADHD Intake Forms.
‘Qb Check’ Computerised Assessment of Attention with your child, where we garner an objective measure of your child’s attentional profile.
This lasts 30 minutes or so.
In our Sligo Clinic.
One of our Psychologists meets with your child, spendig time chatting or playing (as appropriate), asking some questions about their way of being in a relaxed session lasting 60 minutes or so.
This session is usually combined with the Qb Check session.
In our Sligo Clinic.
The same Psychologist carries out a Parent/Guardian Interview where we get a holistic sense of your child’s developmental pathway, their strengths, challenges and needs.
This session usually happens at the same time as your child’s Qb Check session.
Online or in person in our Sligo Clinic.
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.
We will issue 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.
This report is accepted by HSE Services* and the Department of Education.
Cost: € 1,600
*Please note that HSE CAMHS teams may wish to carry out their own ADHD review with your child, should your child be referred to this particular HSE service. Our ADHD assessments follow best-practice guidelines and our reports provide a rich and detailed information about your child’s ADHD profile, including the mulit-contextual impact of ADHD functioning in their lives .
Cognitive Assessment
If you would like your child to have a cognitive assessment as part of their overall assessment, there is an additional fee of €600. 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.
“My daughters were made to feel at ease every step of the way”
— ParentStep 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 €400 deposit to secure the assessment dates.
Step 4: The assessment includes 3 appointments:
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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.
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We meet you for a parent interview, this takes 60-90 minutes, Online or In Person.
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We meet with your child for a computerised assessment of attention, ‘Qb Check’, this takes 30 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.
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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.
*Please note that some HSE CAMHS teams may carry out their own ADHD Review if you wish for your child to be referred to this particular HSE service.
ADHD Assessment/Discovery Payment
We spread the payment for the assessment over 4 time points that are paid via our secure online system:
€400 deposit to secure the assessment
€400 due on the day of your Parent Interview
€400 on the day of the Assessment Outcome Exploration session
€400 four weeks after the Outcome Exploration session (or on issue of the report, whichever comes first).
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.
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.