Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurobehavioral disorders found in children. Different subtypes exist, including ADHD-hyperactive/impulsive type, ADHD-inattentive type (previously better known as Attention Deficit Disorder or ADD), and ADHD-combined type. These subtypes encompass many different types of symptoms and occur on a spectrum of severity. Some of the most common symptoms are listed below.

ADHD-Hyperactive/Impulsive

  • High activity level
  • Lack of patience
  • Acting without thinking
  • Excessive talking, fidgeting, or interruptions

ADHD-Inattentive

  • Distractibility
  • Poor memory
  • Problems with organization or preparation
  • Trouble following multi-step directions
  • Lack of persistence for difficult tasks

Confounding the issue, many other disorders such as hearing problems, learning disabilities, depression, or anxiety may include symptoms that mimic ADHD. Other common causes include sleep problems or difficulties in home environment. This being the case, an accurate and comprehensive evaluation is even more important in order to correctly diagnose ADHD. Though psychologists may not prescribe medications, evaluation reports may be useful to the individual’s physician to determine whether medication is appropriate. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) behavioral management training for parents as a primary treatment, and this should be attempted before medication is tried. For older children, research indicates the most effective treatment is a combination of medication and behavior therapy for the student, as well as parent training.

An ADHD assessment is conducted in order to diagnose Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) of any type in addition to other executive functioning deficits. Evaluation for all ages will include a brief cognitive and academic assessment, behavioral rating scales, consultation with teachers and physician (if desired), and behavioral observations. Evaluations for ages 8 and up will include computerized assessment of visual and auditory attention and impulsivity.