The Centers for Family Change has specialized in the assessment and treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) for over 30 years. We provide assessment and treatment of ADHD for Children, Adolescents and Adults.
The Assessment Process
The Centers for Family Change utilizes an in-depth interview based assessment which includes:
Feedback Session
When the assessment is complete a feedback session is held to review findings, clarify whether a diagnosis of ADHD is appropriate, and provide treatment recommendations. If additional assessment is needed to evaluate other concerns, such as learning disabilities, we will provide referrals.
Fees for Assessment
The ADHD assessment takes 3-5 office visits (which are billed to and typically covered by insurance). There is an additional fee of $275.00 (not billable to insurance) to cover the cost of rating scales, record review, consultation with other professionals, and preparation of a written summary of the assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions About the ADHD Assessment
If you are unsure about whether to pursue an evaluation for ADHD we recommend that you come in for an initial session to discuss your concerns. This will allow us to help you determine if pursuing an ADHD evaluation is something we would recommend. about whether pursuing an assessment makes sense. You can also do some research and reading on ADHD (in our resource section we offer multiple recommendations on resources (websites and books) that are reliable sources of information on ADHD).
ADHD is best assessed by obtaining as thorough as possible understanding of how a person functions in their daily life. The most efficient and effective way to obtain this understanding is to interview those who know you, or your child or teen well. These clinical interviews help us get a picture of how you or your child or teenager behaves, manages responsibilities and copes with life challenges. Children and teenagers may act very differently in an interview setting with a professional than they do at home and in school. Therefore, it is essential that we interview parents (and other involved adults, such as teachers) to obtain the information we need.
No. There are no tests that allow mental health professionals to determine whether someone has or does not have ADHD. While there are several tests of sustained attention, that some professionals use, the value of these tests has been questioned and debated. The leading experts (Russell Barkley, PhD and Thomas Brown, PhD) continue to recommend an interview based assessment approach (which is the approach we utilize). Both Barkley and Brown have theorized that ADHD reflects weaknesses in self-regulation/self-control as well as weaknesses in executive functioning. Both experts stress that people with ADHD are often quite variable in how they function and behave, depending on the setting they are in. Thus, snapshot type assessments, such as a psychological tests or tests of sustained attention, often fail to accurately assess whether an individual has ADHD. In addition, some of the symptoms of ADHD can overlap or be similar to symptoms associated with other disorders (e.g., anxiety or depression). Therefore, a thorough assessment is needed to insure an accurate diagnosis. Finally, ADHD is associated with a childhood onset. Thus, a detailed history is needed to help make an accurate diagnosis.
Because such testing is not necessary for diagnosing ADHD. While some psychologists argue for comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations the leading experts in the field, e.g., Barkley and Brown, both argue that such testing is not necessary or valid in diagnosing ADHD. People with ADHD are typically variable in their behavior. Therefore, performance on specific tests (which is a one-time measurement) is not a sound way to determine if a person has or does not have ADHD. Neuropsychological testing is a useful tool for determining specific deficits or weakness in cognitive functioning, but neuropsychological testing is not a particularly effective means for assessing ADHD. In addition, neuropsychological testing is very expensive.