ADHD & Executive Functioning

ADHD evaluations are one of the most common requests at Brain Spectrum Neuropsychology.

Some parents express that their child has “difficulty paying attention,” is “impulsive,” or is “always in motion.” Others report that their child is “spacey,” “disorganized,” or “unfocused.” Adult clients sometimes report a pattern of difficulties paying attention, making impulsive decisions and completing tasks, or they may complain of feeling restless and bored.

At Brain Spectrum, we understand that ADHD is a diagnosis that can cause significant difficulties. We also understand that symptoms of ADHD are commonly associated with other diagnoses. Completing a questionnaire or a checklist of symptoms is usually inadequate to correctly diagnose ADHD, so we implement a more strategic and thorough approach to this type of assessment.

One of the most common concerns that brings parents to Brain Spectrum is whether their child has ADHD.

Parents are worried that their child has trouble focusing on anything that’s not interesting to them, especially homework; that their child is always “on the go;” that their child acts without thinking; or that their child is “smart but scattered”. Parents frequently express that their child is bright but that they underachieve in school. They often wonder whether their child is “just bored,” and they are confused because their child can play video games endlessly, but can’t sit still for five minutes to do their math homework.

Adults sometimes even reflect on their own lives – their work history, their relationships, their difficulties – and they wonder whether they themselves might have ADHD. At Brain Spectrum Neuropsychology, we offer comprehensive ADHD evaluations for all ages.

• Fidgetiness, squirminess, a feeling of restlessness, or being constantly in motion
• Blurting, interrupting
• Spacey, daydreamy
• Scattered
• Easily bored
• Easily distracted
• Talking excessively
• Disorganized
• Poor planning
• Underachievement

It is easy to fill out a checklist at a doctor’s office or go online and self-diagnose with ADHD. The problem with that strategy is that many other conditions can mimic the symptoms of ADHD. A person might be restless and struggle to pay attention when they have anxiety or depression, or a learning disorder or processing deficit.

Imagine trying to pay attention to the teacher’s lesson when you are processing information at a slower rate than the other children. Imagine trying to focus on reading when you have undiagnosed dyslexia and it takes more time and effort to read and comprehend.

At Brain Spectrum, we offer a broader, more comprehensive evaluation to not only accurately diagnose ADHD, but to examine and better understand the underlying cause of the symptoms.

Obtaining an accurate diagnosis of ADHD can be very informative and potentially life-altering.
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that can impact a person’s self-worth, relationships, academic achievement, and job performance. This can lead to difficulties with depression, anxiety, and sometimes even substance abuse.

Because we assess ADHD comprehensively, it provides us with a more nuanced understanding of your specific profile, which we then share with you. Further, the information collected from this type of evaluation can aid in developing evidence-based recommendations, effective treatment plans, and tailored accommodations for various settings (classroom, academic, work, tutoring, test-taking, etc).

At the conclusion of testing, you will be provided with a detailed evaluation report of the results, along with evidence-based recommendations tailored to you or your child’s specific areas of strength and weakness. Recommendations may include a consultation for medication management.

If indicated, recommendations may also include school recommendations for accommodations through a 504 plan.