ADHD in Children
ADHD in children is described as a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that gets in the way of daily life or typical development. Children with ADHD may also have difficulties with maintaining attention, executive function (or the brain's ability to begin an activity, organise itself and manage tasks), and working memory.
ADHD symptoms in children often overlap with symptoms of other conditions. When a parent reports, "He can't focus," or "She can't finish her homework," is the underlying cause ADHD, anxiety, a reading problem, or within developmental norms?
To assess ADHD and develop treatment plans, clinicians evaluate specific symptom areas and try to determine how long the symptoms have been present and how much impairment they cause.
Inattentive presentation
- Fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes
- Has difficulty sustaining attention
- Does not appear to listen
- Struggles to follow through on instructions
- Has difficulty with organisation
- Avoids or dislikes tasks requiring a lot of thinking
- Loses things
- Is easily distracted
- Is forgetful in daily activities
Hyperactive-impulsive presentation
- Fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in chair
- Has difficulty remaining seated
- Runs about or climbs excessively in children; extreme restlessness in adults
- Difficulty engaging in activities quietly
- Acts as if driven by a motor; adults will often feel inside like they were driven by a motor
- Talks excessively
- Blurts out answers before questions have been completed
- Difficulty waiting or taking turns
- Interrupts or intrudes upon others
Combined inattentive & hyperactive-impulsive presentation
- Has symptoms from both presentations
Conners 4th Edition
Conners 4™
Provides a comprehensive assessment of symptoms and impairments associated with ADHD and common co-occurring problems and disorders in children and youth aged 6 to 18 years.
Brown Executive Function/Attention Scales
Brown EF/A Scales™
Helps screen and assess a wider range of impairments of executive functioning. Brown EF/A Scales™ measures DSM-5 symptoms of ADHD along with less apparent impairments of executive functioning.
Brown Attention-Deficit Disorder Scales®
BrownADDScales
Provides a consistent measure of ADD across the lifespan. Based on Thomas Brown’s model of cognitive impairment in ADD, they reliably screen for and explore the executive cognitive functioning associated with ADHD.
BASC-4 Behavioural and Emotional Screening System
BASC-4 BESS
Used by school districts and behavioural health professionals to efficiently assess the behavioural health of young people each year. The BESS screening forms are quick to administer and well tolerated by students, teachers and parents.
The Behaviour Assessment System for Children, Fourth Edition
BASC-4
Helps clinicians understand the behavioural and emotional strengths and concerns of young people from preschool through to university age. Supports screening and prevention programs, intervention planning, mental health diagnosis and special education decision-making.
Test of Everyday Attention for Children, Second Edition
TEA-Ch2
The gold-standard test of attention for children, which uniquely measures separable aspects of attention.