An ADHD assessment for children brings together interviews, parent and teacher rating scales, developmental and school history, and observations. The clinician looks at how attention, activity levels and impulse control affect everyday life. There is no single test that gives the answer. When learning is also a concern, a psychoeducational assessment can add cognitive and academic testing.
If you are wondering how to get a child assessed for ADHD in Calgary, start by discussing your concerns with your family doctor or a psychologist with relevant assessment competence. Your doctor can check health concerns and consider whether a paediatrician or another specialist should be involved. You do not need to arrive certain about ADHD. Bring examples of what is difficult and what your child wants help with.
What does an ADHD assessment look for?
In general terms, ADHD involves a persistent pattern of inattention, hyperactivity-impulsivity, or both, that goes beyond what is expected for the child's developmental level. Symptoms must last at least six months, with several present before age 12 and in at least two settings. They must interfere with functioning, and another condition must not better explain them. The Canadian Paediatric Society's diagnostic guidance explains these requirements and why information from different settings matters. This is a broad summary, not a checklist for diagnosing your child.
A child can have significant attention difficulties without being visibly disruptive. Equally, being active or forgetting homework does not establish ADHD.
I would write down what actually happens. "Needs an adult beside them to finish a short homework task most evenings" gives the clinician more to explore than "never concentrates." Include when things go well, too. Those differences help frame questions about the demands and support in each setting.
Who can assess and diagnose ADHD in Alberta?
Physicians and Registered Psychologists with relevant competence can diagnose ADHD in Alberta. A Provisional Psychologist's assessment and diagnostic work must stay within their competence and supervision plan, under the supervision of a Registered Psychologist. The College of Alberta Psychologists explains its registration and supervision requirements. Ask who will assess your child, what experience they have with children your child's age and how supervision applies to the assessment.
- Your family doctor can review development, sleep and physical health, assess ADHD within their competence, and coordinate medical follow-up or a specialist referral.
- A paediatrician is a physician who specializes in children and youth. They may assess ADHD, explore other developmental or health concerns and discuss treatment. Ask your family doctor whether a referral fits your child's needs.
- A psychologist can assess attention and behaviour alongside learning and emotional concerns. A broader psychoeducational assessment may help when reading, writing or math is also difficult.
Medication decisions sit with physicians. Psychologists in Alberta do not prescribe medication. If you want to discuss medication, take the findings to your child's physician, who considers their own medical assessment and monitors any prescription. A report does not commit your family to medication.
What happens during ADHD testing for kids?
Ask what the proposed assessment includes before you agree to it. "ADHD testing for kids" can mean different assessment plans. The questions about your child should guide the plan.
Interviews and background information
The clinician asks about early development, health, family history, school experiences and when difficulties began. They also ask your child about their experience in a way that fits their age. Previous assessments, report cards, schoolwork and records of support already tried can help. Share relevant language and cultural background so the clinician can consider it when interpreting information.
Bring what you have, rather than delaying the first conversation while you search for every document. Ask which records matter most. A note about what changed after a new classroom routine may be useful alongside a report-card comment.
Parent and teacher rating scales
Standardized questionnaires ask adults about behaviours they see and their frequency. With consent, teacher input adds information from school to the parent's account of home life. Depending on age and the measures selected, your child may complete a questionnaire too.
Answer about what you observe, including the help your child needs. If home and school ratings differ, describe the routines in each place. Ask the clinician what further information would explain that difference. A high questionnaire score alone does not diagnose ADHD.
Observation and assessment activities
The clinician observes how your child approaches activities and responds to instructions. A quiet appointment with one adult differs from a busy classroom. Managing well in the appointment does not settle the diagnostic question. Ask how observations fit with the information from everyday life.
Cognitive and academic testing
A psychoeducational assessment can examine reasoning, working memory and other cognitive skills alongside reading, writing and math. These measures help explore learning questions. One low working-memory score, an attention task or an IQ result cannot diagnose ADHD.
A full psychoeducational assessment is not required for every ADHD evaluation. The Canadian Paediatric Society advises against routinely ordering cognitive and academic testing unless the history and examination indicate a need. Ask: "What would academic testing help explain for my child?" If school learning is part of your concern, our guide to signs your child may need a psychoeducational assessment can help you prepare that conversation.
What else can look like ADHD or occur alongside it?
The assessment needs to consider other explanations. Anxiety can make it hard to concentrate. Poor sleep can affect attention and activity levels. A child who struggles to read may avoid reading tasks, and hearing or vision difficulties can make classroom instructions hard to follow. These concerns can also occur alongside ADHD.
A psychological assessment does not replace appropriate medical care. Tell the clinician about sleep problems, recent health changes and any hearing or vision concerns, then ask what needs follow-up with your doctor.
I would also ask the teacher whether the difficulty appears across lessons or mainly during one kind of work. Bring that answer without trying to decide the diagnosis yourself. It helps the clinician choose what to investigate.
How does assessment differ by age?
Children ages 6 to 8
Bring examples of short instructions, classroom routines and early learning tasks. Ask the teacher what support your child needs compared with classroom expectations for their developmental stage. For the appointment, keep your explanation brief. Your child needs to know who they will meet and what they can do if they need help or a break.
Children ages 9 to 12
Include work that shows where things get difficult. Does your child lose the instruction, struggle to read the question or understand it but leave the answer unfinished? Ask your child which part feels hardest. Let the clinician hear their words, including anything they think adults have misunderstood.
Teens ages 13 to 18
Ask your teen what they want answered before you share your own list. Bring examples of assignment planning and keeping track of several classes, plus earlier records because childhood history still matters. Ask the clinician how consent, privacy and information sharing will work. Agree on how your teen can raise concerns privately, within the clinician's explanation of confidentiality and its limits.
How can you talk to your child about assessment?
I would say: "We've noticed that some schoolwork takes a lot of effort. We're meeting someone who can help us understand what makes it hard and what help might fit. You can tell them what you think, too." Avoid promising a diagnosis or telling your child they must perform a certain way.
Ask the clinician what activities to describe beforehand. Follow their preparation instructions, mention worries or sensory needs, and avoid practising actual test items. If your child takes medication, speak with the prescriber before making any change for testing.
What does the assessment report give you?
A psychological report generally brings together the referral questions, relevant history, methods, results and interpretation. It should explain strengths and difficulties, diagnostic conclusions when supported, any uncertainty and recommendations. Ask what the report includes before booking, since assessment scope varies.
At feedback, ask: "Which recommendation should we start with, and what would tell us it is helping?" Depending on the findings, recommendations might address written instructions, homework routines, learning support or medical follow-up. You can discuss relevant findings with school and your child's physician through the agreed information-sharing process.
A report can inform school planning, including an Individualized Program Plan, or IPP. Schools and boards decide how they use the findings and which supports or placements they provide. A diagnosis does not guarantee accommodations. Ask the school what documentation it needs and arrange a conversation about the recommendations.
What should you ask before booking?
Ask which questions the assessment will address, who completes it, what school information is needed and what the report will contain. Confirm appointment availability and the estimated report date. If you have a school meeting coming up, mention it before making plans around a report.
At Invincible Kids, our psychoeducational assessments include assessment of ADHD and learning concerns. Assessments are completed by Lacy Hunter, Provisional Psychologist, under the supervision of a Registered Psychologist. Findings, interpretation, diagnostic considerations and recommendations are reviewed in supervision before the report is finalized. For service details and booking information, see our ADHD assessment service for children from age 6 and teens.
For severe anxiety, school refusal lasting weeks or concerns about self-harm, contact your family doctor or a mental health professional promptly. Do not wait for an assessment report. If there is immediate danger, call 911. This article is general information, not medical advice.
You can start by telling us what you have noticed and asking whether our assessment fits your questions. Book a Discovery Call.
Common questions
How long does an ADHD assessment for a child take?
Timing depends on the assessment questions, measures selected, appointment availability and when background information arrives. Ask for an estimate that includes questionnaires, interpretation, any supervision review, feedback and report preparation. Confirm the expected report date before planning around a school meeting. There is no single appointment count that describes every child's assessment.
Can a child have ADHD without being hyperactive?
Yes. ADHD can have a predominantly inattentive presentation, so a child does not have to be visibly restless or disruptive. The clinician considers the duration, developmental fit and impact of symptoms across settings, along with other explanations. Quiet behaviour alone does not rule ADHD in or out. Describe the difficulties your child has and the support they need.
What if my child's teacher does not see the same difficulties I do?
Tell the clinician and share concrete examples from each setting. Explain what help your child receives at home and ask the teacher about classroom routines and expectations. Different accounts need exploration. ADHD requires symptoms in more than one setting, so the clinician may need further information before reaching a conclusion. Ask what evidence would help clarify the difference.
Can I use insurance for my child's ADHD assessment?
Invincible Kids issues insurance receipts, but coverage varies by plan. Before booking, ask your insurer whether it covers assessment by a Provisional Psychologist under the supervision of a Registered Psychologist. Confirm benefit limits, any referral requirements and whether testing and report preparation are included. A receipt does not guarantee reimbursement, so check your child's policy directly.