ADHD Testing for Kids & Teens
Diagnostic Assessments for
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
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ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders, with an estimated 1 in 10 school-aged children affected. Common characteristics of ADHD include:
ADHD presents in a few variations:
Kids and teens with ADHD can struggle with daily life skills (organizing, planning, working memory, attention), which can negatively impact their academics and family life. Their symptoms may also affect their friendships and social success. Without proper diagnosis, kids and teens with ADHD have a greater risk of developing anxiety, depression, or substance abuse.
ADHD does not look the same for everyone. Our psychologists are experts in diagnosing ADHD of all types. An evaluation is a key first step to understanding and managing your child or teen’s symptoms.
The tricky part about ADHD is the symptoms that makeup ADHD can be extreme examples of what we all experience as humans. Inattentive type symptoms might include:
► Forgetfulness
► Difficulty listening
► Challenges with organization
Hyperactivity / Impulsive or Combined type symptoms might also include:
► Impulse control problems like frequent interrupting
► Frequent, rarely-stopping physical motion and activity
Insomnia, depression, and anxiety are all more likely to co-occur for individuals with ADHD as a result of these symptoms.
What’s important to know is that we have real ways to diagnose ADHD and treatments that can work, including cognitive behaviorial therapy and medication options.
With our assessment service, we provide Therapy Lab's targeted, science-backed approach in order to offer your family diagnostic clarity, recommendations for next steps, and documentation necessary to move forward.
Understanding attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and how the symptoms uniquely affect your child can provide clarity about how to secure proper accommodations and how to tap into their own personal strengths to overcome their specific ADHD-related challenges.
Why does your child do ____ ? Why is ____ extra challenging for them? ADHD and its accompanying unique symptoms may be the answer.
Undiagnosed and untreated ADHD has been linked to later risk for anxiety and mood disorders, as well as behavioral, social, academic, and vocational problems.
Evidence-based interventions for mental health and behavioral issues differ somewhat based on diagnosis. For example, a child with ADHD may need more individualized Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for treatment of co-occurring anxiety than a typical child. People with ADHD may benefit from a variety of treatments including behavior therapy, social skills group, adaptive skills training, executive function coaching, medication, etc.
Having a medical diagnosis indicates to school personnel that a professional has diagnosed your child. This may mean your child is more likely to get accommodations through an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or at your child’s private school
ADHD evaluation has a few costs along with the benefits, and it’s good to know about these upfront. Costs to consider include the financial expense, time and energy, and possible emotional burden for you as a parent or caregiver. Fortunately, the evaluation should not be too much work for you; you’ll need to complete some questionnaires online and answer questions during an interview with your evaluator. And for children, the assessment will seem like puzzles and computer games.
The first step is meeting with one of our psychologists who is an expert in neurodivergence.
This appointment includes:
► Review the results of a few questionnaires you'll complete before your appointment
► Talk about your current concerns
► Confirm your goals can be achieved with our assessment options
► Plan your (or your child's) individualized evaluation
We are able to accommodate remote assessments in California and Washington or in-office at our Los Angeles location.
Once testing and information gathering is done, we'll schedule a meeting to discuss what we have learned and any diagnoses.
This appointment includes:
► Review testing results
► Discuss any diagnoses given
► Learn more about next steps
► Ask questions
We've tailored this appointment with different learning styles in mind. We'll go through your testing results, any diagnoses, and your next steps with visuals.
Don't need a comprehensive report? No problem. We’ve condensed your results to just the most valuable information: summaries of testing completed, any diagnoses*, and our recommendations.
*We provide DSM-5/ICD-11 medical diagnoses that you can share with other health providers, your insurance company, state programs, etc.
Most adults complete about 5 hours of testing across 2 to 3 appointments.
Most children and their families complete about 6 hours of testing across 2 to 3 appointments.
The third-party questionnaire process can take up to six weeks.
Assessments are available for individuals in California (in person and remote) and Washington (remote).
The cost of the assessment is determined by your child's specific needs. The average assessment costs $3,000.
For more information on pricing, contact us.
Regardless of whether your child or teen is given a diagnosis of ADHD, we are here to offer support and guidance. Should there be other mental health concerns (e.g., anxiety, depression), we are likely to assess and diagnose these through our Comprehensive Assessment for ADHD. If we believe Autism Spectrum Disorder might be a more appropriate (or additional) diagnosis for your child, we can test for it for an additional fee. And if we think further neuropsychological testing is needed (e.g., for a suspected learning or intellectual disability), we can provide referrals for supplemental testing and collaborate with other providers.
Should you seek treatment related to other mental health concerns for your child or teen, we offer evidence-based therapy in person and via telehealth. Even if your child or teen does not meet full criteria for ADHD, they may still benefit from our ADHD plan to improve their executive functioning abilities. You can learn more about our therapy plans here.
There are a number of benefits of choosing ADHD-specific evaluation over other types of testing:
► More cost-effective
► Fewer appointments or hours of testing
► Greater focus on ADHD-specific symptoms
► Resources and recommendations specific to ADHD
Our evaluators have extensive experience working with neurodiverse people of all ages and presentations. We have expertise in identifying ADHD and co-occurring conditions, such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Because there is significant symptom overlap in ADHD and other disorders, this expertise is critical for accurate diagnosis and subsequent treatment recommendations.
Additionally, neurodiversity among girls, women, and people of color has frequently been overlooked or misdiagnosed. We feel confident in our ability to identify ADHD symptoms in these populations, enabling proper diagnosis and appropriate subsequent intervention.
There is no lab test or medical diagnostic that can identify ADHD. Instead, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that an ADHD evaluation include information-gathering from caregivers and standardized questionnaires measuring ADHD symptoms. Our evaluations follow this recommendation and provide a picture of strengths and weaknesses associated with ADHD and their real-world implications.
► Ask your pediatrician if they have concerns. Do they notice any early signs or “red flags”?
► Talk to your child’s teachers. They spend many hours a day with kids and may notice inattentiveness, impulsivity or social, communication, or behavioral differences that are noteworthy.
► Observe your child and compare them with peers (at the park, birthday parties, daycare). Is your child keeping up socially and academically? Do you notice any unusual behaviors?
► Trust your gut. Caregiver intuition is real, and you know your child best. We know that early treatment works best, so if you have any questions, it’s worth getting an expert opinion as soon as you can.
Have a question?
Call or text: (213) 712 - 9595
Email: info@therapylab.com
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