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.

Explore ADHD assessments for children 

Explore all of our ADHD assessments

ADHD

Get quick access now

Download our ADHD Brochure

Explore our ADHD Assessments

Symptoms a child must have for an ADHD diagnosis

In making the ADHD diagnosis, children should have six or more symptoms of the disorder. The criteria of symptoms for a diagnosis of ADHD:

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

Assessments for ADHD in Children

While there is no set-in-stone process for the assessing and treating ADHD symptoms, there is a research-based path that is typically followed. Take some time to explore the products that are most often used for ADHD in children 

Conners 4th Edition (Conners 4)

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)

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)

Brown Attention-Deficit Disorder Scales® (BrownADDScales) are a consistent measure of ADD across the life span. Based on Thomas Brown's cutting-edge model of cognitive impairment in ADD, BrownADDScales reliably screen for and explore the executive cognitive functioning associated with ADHD

BASC-3 Family of Assessments

BASC-3 Family of Assessments starts with universally screening groups of children. Each additional component allows you to conduct individual comprehensive evaluations, plan and deliver effective interventions, and monitor progress all within one flexible, integrated system.

 

Test of Everyday Attention for Children, Second Edition (TEA-Ch2)

Test of Everyday Attention for Children, Second Edition (TEA-Ch2) is the gold-standard test of attention for children, which uniquely measures separable aspects of attention

 

Stay in the know!

Receive the latest resources and tools on ADHD

Sign up today