Brain Sprout Clinic Assessments
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Assessments
Understand attention, activity, impulse regulation and executive functioning, and how these experiences may be affecting everyday life.
Whole person approach
Understanding attention and executive functioning
Consideration for your context and stage of life
Assessments for children aged 6+, adolescents, and adults.
Understanding Attention, Regulation and Executive Functioning.
Practical Reports and meaningful next steps.
Understanding the Assessment
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that can influence attention, activity levels, impulse regulation, organisation and executive functioning.
ADHD can look very different from person to person. Some people experience noticeable hyperactivity or impulsivity, while others primarily experience difficulties with attention, organisation, memory or getting started and completing tasks. Many experience a combination.
At Brain Sprout Clinic, an ADHD assessment looks beyond individual symptoms or questionnaire scores. We consider the person's development, lived experience, strengths, difficulties and everyday functioning across different environments to develop a meaningful understanding of their individual profile.
There are many reasons someone may consider an ADHD assessment.
For children and adolescents, questions may arise around attention, learning, organisation, activity levels, emotional regulation or managing expectations across home and school.
For adults, assessment may follow years of finding organisation, time management, attention or competing demands more effortful than they appear for others. Some adults begin exploring ADHD after their child or another family member is diagnosed.
An assessment may explore areas such as:
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attention and concentration
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organisation and planning
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working memory and forgetfulness
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starting and completing tasks
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time management
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activity levels and restlessness
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impulsivity
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emotional regulation
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executive functioning
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learning, work and everyday functioning
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individual strengths and support needs.
An ADHD assessment involves bringing together information from multiple sources to understand the person's development, experiences and current functioning. This may include:
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developmental and clinical interviews
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standardised ADHD questionnaires and assessment measures
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information about attention and executive functioning
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information from parents or caregivers
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teacher or educator information for school-aged children
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information from someone who knows the person well for adults, where appropriate
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review of previous reports or records
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consideration of other factors that may contribute to the person's presentation.
For children and adolescents, the assessment also includes a cognitive assessment to develop a broader understanding of their thinking and learning profile.
No individual questionnaire, cognitive score or observation determines whether someone has ADHD. Your psychologist considers the overall pattern of information alongside developmental history and current diagnostic criteria.
At Brain Sprout Clinic, we use evidence-based ADHD assessment tools purposefully as part of a broader assessment process. Depending on age and individual circumstances, these may include:
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Conners 4
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Behavior Assessment System for Children, Third Edition (BASC-3)
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Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults (DIVA-5)
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The ADHD Child Evaluation (ACE)
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Cognitive assessment for children and adolescents
The Conners 4 can gather perspectives from parents, teachers and young people, while the BASC-3 provides a broader understanding of behavioural, emotional and adaptive functioning.
For adults, the DIVA-5 provides a structured exploration of ADHD characteristics across childhood and adulthood and their impact on everyday life.
For some women, questions about ADHD arise later in life. ADHD may have been less noticeable during childhood, particularly where experiences involved inattention, internal restlessness, organisation or emotional regulation rather than more visible hyperactivity or impulsivity.
Changes associated with perimenopause and menopause may also coincide with changes in attention, memory, executive functioning and emotional regulation. For some women, this can make longstanding difficulties more noticeable or lead them to explore ADHD for the first time.
Assessment provides an opportunity to look across the lifespan, considering current experiences alongside earlier patterns of attention and functioning.
The Assessment Process
Space to Move, Talk and Be Yourself
An ADHD assessment does not have to feel like sitting still across a desk for several hours. We aim to create a comfortable and flexible experience where you or your child can move around, take breaks, ask questions and participate in ways that feel natural.
For children, the assessment may involve conversation alongside cognitive activities such as puzzles, working with pictures, remembering information and problem solving. For adults, it is often more conversational, exploring attention, organisation, routines, relationships, work or study and what everyday demands actually feel like.
We understand that remembering dates, completing questionnaires, sitting still or describing experiences in order may themselves be difficult for someone seeking an ADHD assessment. There is no expectation to behave or communicate in a particular way.
Most importantly, you do not need to prepare or feel like you need to perform for the assessment. We want to understand you or your child as authentically as possible.