ADHD
ADHD/ADD
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common mental disorders affecting children. Symptoms of ADHD include inattention (not being able to keep focus), hyperactivity (excess movement that is not fitting to the setting) and impulsivity (hasty acts that occur in the moment without thought). ADHD is considered a chronic and debilitating disorder and is known to impact the individual in many aspects of their life including academic and professional achievements, interpersonal relationships, and daily functioning (Harpin, 2005). ADHD can lead to poor self-esteem and social function in children when not appropriately treated (Harpin et al., 2016). Adults with ADHD may experience poor self-worth, sensitivity towards criticism, and increased self-criticism possibly stemming from higher levels of criticism throughout life (Beaton, et al., 2022). Of note, ADHD presentation and assessment in adults differs; this page focuses on children.
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ADHD/ADD Evaluations
ADHD Evaluations at Placid Health involves multiple assessments of how well certain areas of your brain are functioning, which areas may have impairments, and can be utilized to track treatment progress over time. We utilize a computerized testing system combined with a standardized battery of screeners or tests during the ADHD Evaluation to determine presence and likelihood of an ADHD diagnosis, as well as its potential impact in your life across different settings. Along with other evaluation materials, we utilize QBTest In-Office Testing for ADHD evaluations, which is the only FDA-cleared objective test for both diagnosis and treatment management of ADHD for ages 6-60. The QBTest is a computerized continuous performance test (CPT) that takes about 20 minutes to complete, and measures cores symptoms associated with ADHD, including hyperactivity, impulsivity, and distractibility.
The results are normed based on patient age and gender to give a visual representation of patient symptoms and abnormalities. These results are then combined with a clinical interview and other age-based testing batteries to determine whether an ADHD diagnosis is appropriate.
An estimated 8.4% of children and 2.5% of adults have ADHD (Danielson, 2018; Simon, et al., 2009). ADHD is often first identified in school-aged children when it leads to disruption in the classroom or problems with schoolwork. It is more commonly diagnosed among boys than girls given differences in how the symptoms present. However, this does not mean that boys are more likely to have ADHD. Boys tend to present with hyperactivity and other externalizing symptoms whereas girls tend to have inactivity.