ADHD Testing
At Mindspring Development Services, we conduct ADHD testing most commonly as part of a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation, in order to rule out other potential causes for ADHD symptoms.
Many factors besides ADHD can affect focus, activity level, and executive functions.
Why Choose a Neuropsychologist for ADHD Testing
Academic Struggles
It is unknown if academic difficulties are due to ADHD symptoms, or because the person has a learning disorder. Additionally, both can also be present (ADHD and learning disorders).
Need for Objective Data
Some parents want objective data and feel uncertain basing a diagnosis only on subjective input via rating scales and observational data.
Social Concerns
It is unclear if a child is struggling to build friendships due to behaviors associated with ADHD or other emotional, behavioral, or language-based difficulties.
Our Approach to ADHD Testing
Testing for ADHD involves assessing various forms of attention, impulsivity and inhibition, activity level regulation, and other behaviors that may impact school performance, relationships, and daily functioning. Children may exhibit difficulty with only attention, or only impulsivity/activity regulation. Some children experience combined symptoms.
ADHD testing includes rating scales completed by parents & teachers, direct measures of visual and auditory attention, and executive functions, interviews, behavior observations, and records review. The direct testing measures compare the person’s performance to what is expected for their age, providing objective data. We aim to synthesize how the child functions on a day-to-day basis and what their potential functioning is in an ideal, one-to-one testing setting, in order to determine if a disability is present.
What To Expect
Initial Consultation Call
This 15-minute call is designed to answer any questions and determine if neuropsychological testing is the right fit for your needs.
Intake Call
This call is up to one-hour in length, when we aim to understand all concerns and capture a complete history of the child.
Evaluation Sessions
Three appointments will take place, each of approximately two to three hours in length. The sessions take place in-person, during the day, at our office in Waldwick, New Jersey in Bergen County.
Report
After the last evaluation session, we deliver a comprehensive report that outlines all our testing and provides a series of recommendations for how to best support the youth’s unique strengths and weaknesses.
Follow-Up Meeting
-For parent scheduled comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations, a virtual parent conference is held approximately two to three weeks after the last testing session to provide additional context and answer any questions about the report.
-For targeted evaluations, follow-up meetings are optional and can be added on if the family wants additional information beyond what is described in the report.
-Schools contracting the evaluation have an option to have the report reviewed with the parents and school team.
FAQs
ADHD Testing Frequently Asked Questions
Many children experience normative, variable attention and energy levels. Testing is usually needed if the child’s functioning in multiple settings is significantly impacted by these symptoms.
When ADHD testing is completed as part of comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation, the testing takes place over three sessions, each of approximately two to three hours in length.
Occasionally, targeted testing is appropriate, focusing only on attention & executive functioning, which usually takes place over one extended session of two to three hours.
Mindspring Development Services conducts all testing in person. It is very challenging to sustain a standardized environment and procedures via a virtual platform, particularly with children and adolescents who may be distracted in their home environment.
We provide families with information regarding evidence-based ADHD treatments, including behavior modification and medication management, while respecting their decisions. Although we do not prescribe medication or provide direct interventions, we offer referrals and guidance on navigating ADHD in school and day-to-day life.
