Every routine needs reminders
In the early school years, getting dressed, following a short instruction or moving on from play may need repeated adult help. We look at whether the difficulty goes beyond what is usual at that stage of development.
ADHD Assessments for Kids and Teens in Calgary
We offer ADHD assessments for children, teens and adults, from age 6, in SW Calgary. We look at whether ongoing difficulties with attention, activity levels or impulse control fit ADHD and how they affect everyday life. Your child's history and information from home and school help us understand what is making things difficult and what support may help.
You can start with what you have noticed. Perhaps mornings need constant reminders, homework takes the whole evening or your teen feels overwhelmed by deadlines. Ask whether any parts of the assessment can take place virtually.
Assessments are completed by Lacy Hunter, Provisional Psychologist, under the supervision of a Registered Psychologist. Results, interpretation, diagnostic considerations and recommendations are reviewed in supervision before the report is finalized. The findings may or may not support an ADHD diagnosis. You do not need to arrive certain that your child has ADHD.
What families notice
These are reasons to ask questions, not a checklist that diagnoses ADHD. We consider what is expected at your child's age, how long difficulties have been present and how they affect life in different settings.
Staying still or waiting is hard
Your child may leave their seat, interrupt or act before thinking, even when they know the rule. With teens, restlessness may be less visible. They might describe feeling unsettled inside or needing to move to stay engaged.
Homework keeps stretching into the evening
At ages 8 to 12, a child may lose the instruction, drift away from a task or need someone beside them to finish. We ask whether attention, the academic skill itself or both are making schoolwork hard.
Quiet struggles are easy to miss
Losing track of instructions, forgetting tasks or struggling to organize work can happen without disrupting class. Less visible difficulties may be missed in girls. Children of any gender can have inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive or combined presentations. We look at each child's experience rather than assuming what ADHD should look like.
Deadlines and materials keep getting lost
At ages 13 to 18, managing several teachers and longer assignments can expose difficulties with planning and time. Your teen may understand the work but struggle to begin, estimate how long it takes or remember to hand it in.
Frustration is affecting everyday life
Repeated tears over homework or arguments about forgotten tasks can have several causes. For severe anxiety, self-harm or school refusal lasting weeks, contact your family doctor or a mental health professional promptly rather than waiting for an assessment. Call 911 if there is immediate danger.
What we look at
There is no single test that diagnoses ADHD. We choose measures around your child's age and your questions, then consider how the results fit with everyday experiences. For more background, read what a psychoeducational assessment includes.
Attention and executive functioning
We explore attention, impulse control and skills such as getting started, planning, working memory and switching tasks. A quiet appointment may place different demands on your child than a busy classroom, so testing is interpreted alongside everyday information.
Learning and academic skills
ADHD can occur alongside specific learning disorders, including dyslexia. We consider reading, writing and math concerns when planning the assessment. Academic and cognitive measures may help explain why schoolwork is difficult; the measures included depend on your child's needs.
Emotional and behavioural functioning
We ask about feelings, behaviour, development and health history. Anxiety, poor sleep and other difficulties can resemble ADHD or occur alongside it. Where a medical question needs follow-up, we recommend discussing it with your child's physician.
Information from home and school
With your consent, we gather parent and teacher rating scales, school information and your child's perspective when appropriate. ADHD diagnosis requires symptoms in at least two settings, lasting at least six months, with some present before age 12. We consider their impact on daily functioning and whether another condition better explains them.
Six steps · Clinically supervised
How the Assessment Works
Every assessment follows the same clear process, with each step explained before it happens.
Step 1
A free discovery call
Tell us what you are noticing and what you hope to understand, and we’ll talk through whether an assessment is the right next step.
More about step 1
There is no obligation. If an assessment is not the best fit right now, we’ll say so and point you toward what might help instead.
Step 2
Getting to know your child
We gather background on your child’s development, learning and school experience from you and, where helpful, from their teachers.
More about step 2
This history shapes the assessment plan, so the testing answers your family’s questions instead of running through a standard checklist.
Step 3
A plan built around your questions
Tests are chosen for your child, not pulled from a one-size-fits-all battery.
More about step 3
Depending on your questions, the plan may include cognitive, academic, attention and executive functioning, emotional, behavioural and adaptive measures.
Step 4
Assessment sessions
Warm, paced sessions with breaks, where your child feels comfortable and involved, not just tested.
More about step 4
We explain what each activity is for and follow your child’s pace. Children do their best work when they feel understood, and the results are more accurate for it.
Step 5
Scoring, interpretation and review
Results are scored and interpreted carefully, then reviewed with the supervising Registered Psychologist.
More about step 5
Interpretation, any diagnostic considerations and the recommendations are all discussed in supervision before the report is finalized.
Step 6
Results, report and next steps
We walk you through the findings and give you a detailed written report with practical recommendations for home and school.
More about step 6
The report explains your child’s strengths as clearly as their challenges, and every recommendation is written to be usable in real life, not just filed away.
What you leave with
Whether or not the findings support an ADHD diagnosis, we explain what the assessment shows, its limits and which recommendations fit your child's needs.
A written report you can return to
Your report brings together the history, assessment findings, strengths and areas of difficulty. Any diagnosis is made only when the evidence supports it and is reviewed in supervision before the report is finalized. We explain the findings and make room for your questions.
Recommendations for home
Recommendations may include shorter instructions, visual routines, a plan for starting homework or ways to keep track of belongings. We help you choose where to begin, with suggestions that fit your child's age and the difficulties the assessment identifies.
Support for school conversations
The report can inform school accommodations and an Individualized Program Plan, or IPP, in Alberta. Recommendations might include written instructions, planned breaks or support with longer assignments. Your school team decides how to put supports in place with you; an assessment does not guarantee a particular accommodation.
Information to share with a physician
With your consent, the report can help your child's physician understand the attention and learning concerns we assessed. Sleep, health history or other concerns may need medical follow-up. Your physician considers the findings alongside their own assessment; a psychological report does not replace medical care.
Support after the report
We stay available to explain findings, discuss next steps and help you decide which recommendations to start with. When appropriate, we can help you communicate your child's needs to school. You decide who receives the report.
Common Questions About ADHD Assessments
At what age can a child be assessed for ADHD?
We assess children from age 6, as well as teens and adults. Clinical guidelines allow ADHD to be assessed earlier, but diagnosis is harder in younger children because behaviour changes quickly with development, and by age 6 school gives a second setting to learn from. If your child is younger and you are concerned, talk to your family doctor or paediatrician, and ask us what support may help in the meantime.
How much does an ADHD assessment cost in Calgary?
Book a Discovery Call and we will share the current fee and what is included. Ask which questions the assessment will cover, whether academic testing is part of the plan and what the report includes. You can also ask about payment terms before deciding. We do not assume that every child needs the same assessment plan.
Can a psychologist diagnose ADHD in Alberta?
Yes. A Registered Psychologist with relevant assessment competence can diagnose ADHD. A Provisional Psychologist can assess ADHD within their competence and supervised practice. At Invincible Kids, assessments are completed by Lacy Hunter, Provisional Psychologist, under the supervision of a Registered Psychologist. Results, interpretation, diagnostic considerations and recommendations are reviewed with the supervising Registered Psychologist before the report is finalized. A diagnosis is included when the evidence supports it.
How long does an ADHD assessment take?
Timing depends on your child's assessment plan, appointment availability and how soon information from home and school arrives. The process includes time beyond the appointments for interpretation, supervision, feedback and the written report. Ask us about the estimated timeline and expected report date before booking, especially if you have an upcoming school meeting.
Does Alberta Health or insurance cover ADHD assessment?
The Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan does not cover private psychologist services. Your family doctor can discuss publicly funded assessment options and whether a referral is appropriate. We issue insurance receipts, but extended health coverage varies by plan. Ask your insurer about assessment by a Provisional Psychologist under the supervision of a Registered Psychologist, benefit limits and required documentation. A receipt does not guarantee reimbursement.
Can you prescribe medication after an ADHD assessment?
No. Psychologists in Alberta do not prescribe medication. You can share the assessment report with your child's physician or psychiatrist to discuss whether medication is appropriate and what other care may help. They make prescribing decisions and monitor medication. If your child already takes medication, discuss any questions with the prescriber and do not change it for testing without their guidance.
What is different about ADHD testing for teens?
Your teen's own account matters, including concerns that adults may not see. Ask them what they want help understanding and bring that question to the discovery call. Earlier report cards and examples from childhood can help, because some ADHD symptoms must have been present before age 12 even if assessment happens later. Ask us how your teen will take part and how consent, privacy and information sharing work for their assessment.
Tell us what you are noticing
We can talk through your child's attention and learning concerns and whether an assessment is the right next step for your family.
Book a Discovery Call