ADHD/Behavioral Health Assessments

ADHD Assessments

Evaluation and Diagnosis of Symptoms

If you’re concerned that your child might be struggling with focus and attention, our team of trained professionals is here to help. Once the initial evaluation has been completed, we’ll continue to support your child throughout their journey.


Our main goal? We want to help your child thrive in every area of their life!

ADHD FAQs

Find answers to commonly asked questions on ADHD.

  • What is ADHD?

    Children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD have differences in their brains than those who don’t have ADHD. Certain areas of their brain may mature more slowly. Additionally, children with ADHD have imbalances in neural networks and neurotransmitters, the chemicals that nerves use to communicate.


    Knowing that ADHD has a neurological basis is important because it helps parents understand that their child isn’t disobedient or oppositional on purpose. Instead, children with ADHD need help to learn to control their behavior.


    The brain differences are also important because they occur in specific areas responsible for skills such as self-regulation, organization, working memory, problem-solving, reasoning, and time perception. The brain areas affected determine your child’s ADHD symptoms.

  • What symptoms develop due to ADHD?

    ADHD symptoms fall into three categories: inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Some children may only struggle with one category, while others have trouble with two or three categories.


    Each child has a different range and severity of symptoms. However, their symptoms may be severe enough to affect their performance at school, at home, and when socializing.


    When children struggle with inattention, they:


    • Can’t pay attention at school or while playing
    • Have difficulty organizing tasks
    • Avoid tasks requiring mental effort
    • Lose important items
    • Forget to do homework and chores

    When children struggle with hyperactivity and impulsivity, they:


    • Fidget, squirm, or get out of their seat during class
    • Run or climb when it’s inappropriate
    • Talk excessively and interrupt conversations
    • Have a hard time waiting for their turn
    • Act or speak without thinking

    Children and adolescents with ADHD also have problems with working memory. Working memory allows them to hold several pieces of information in their head long enough to use them to plan, do calculations, or to coordinate one activity with another.

  • How do you diagnose and treat ADHD?

    To evaluate and diagnose ADHD, our professional team use tools such as a checklist of symptoms, talking with parents and children about their challenges, and questionnaires completed by parents and teachers. Your child also has a thorough physical exam to be sure another problem is not the cause of their symptoms.


    Once your child has an ADHD diagnosis, their pediatrician may prescribe treatment and schedule regular follow-up appointments to monitor progress.


    Your pediatrician may recommend conventional and/or holistic treatments, depending on each child’s needs. For example, your child may improve with a combination of medication, dietary changes, and behavioral support.


    If you or your child’s teacher are concerned about your child’s inattentive, hyperactive, or impulsive behaviors, call our office to schedule an ADHD evaluation.

Behavioral Health Assessments

Does Your Child Need a Behavioral Health Evaluation?

In cooperation with community based mental health providers, we evaluate and treat children for behavior concerns and school problems including:


  • Inattention and lack of focus
  • Anxiety
  • Depression


If you have concerns about your child's behavioral health, please call our office. We will discuss your concerns and gather information that will be used to determine how we can best help your child. If a behavioral evaluation with a physician is needed, we will schedule this visit for you and provide you with assessment tools that you can complete prior to your visit.

What We Do

What to Expect

We prefer that the assessments be completed before your appointment.  On the day of your child's behavioral evaluation, please arrive 10 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment time. Ideally, your child should eat a nutritious meal prior to the appointment and be well-rested.


You and your child will meet with your pediatrician who will perform a thorough assessment and develop a behavioral health management plan for your child if needed.


If the doctor prescribes medication, he/she will want to follow up with your child within 28 days to assess your child's progress and to determine if the medication can be refilled. This appointment can be scheduled before you leave the office.

  • Assessment tools to complete for children ages 5-12:
    • Vanderbilt Assessment - Parent Initial
    • Vanderbilt Assessment - Teacher Initial
    • Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED) - Parent
    • Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED) – Child
    • Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC)
  • Assessment tools to complete for children ages 13-18:
    • Vanderbilt Assessment - Parent Initial
    • Vanderbilt Assessment - Teacher Initial
    • Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED) - Parent
    • Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED) – Child
    • Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC)
    • Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ9)

Ongoing Medication Management

If your child is prescribed a medication, you will need to follow up within 28 days of the initial evaluation.


If your child is doing well with his/her medication, subsequent appointments will be scheduled every 3 -6 months. If a medication or dosage change is needed, your child must be seen again within 1 month to assess progress and to determine if the medication can be refilled.