ADHD screening

ADHD screening is also called ADHD testing. It helps find out if a child, teen, or adult has ADHD. ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.  It used to be called ADD (attention-deficit disorder).

A person who has ADHD has a hard time paying attention and focusing on tasks. ADHD is a common developmental disorder that begins in childhood and often lasts into adulthood. Although it's usually diagnosed in childhood, some people with ADHD don't get diagnosed with ADHD until they are adults.

There are three types of ADHD:

• Mostly Inattentive ADHD. People with this type of ADHD have trouble paying attention and are easily distracted. It's hard for them to organize or finish tasks. They may have trouble following instructions or conversations.

• Mostly Hyperactive-Impulsive ADHD. People with this type of ADHD have symptoms of both hyperactivity and impulsivity:

  • With hyperactivity, people feel a need to always be moving. They have trouble sitting still and may fidget and/or talk too much.

  • With impulsivity, people have trouble controlling their actions and words. They tend to act on sudden ideas or feelings without thinking about the possible results. They may interrupt others a lot or have trouble waiting their turn.

• Combined ADHD. People with this type of ADHD have a mix of inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms. Combined ADHD is the most common type.

It's normal to sometimes have trouble paying attention or sitting still, especially for children. But people with ADHD have more severe symptoms that cause serious problems, for example, failing grades for a child or a job loss for an adult. The symptoms are ongoing and may affect family and social life, too.

There's no single test to show whether a person has ADHD. Instead, we will follow a set of professional guidelines for gathering information (DSM-5), doing tests, and diagnosing the cause of a person's symptoms and observing them in different situations (home, work, play etc.). Treatment is available to help people of all ages who have been diagnosed with ADHD.

ADHD Coaching

As well as screening for ADHD, we are licensed to offer ADHD coaching.  Coaching focuses on practical ways to deal with everyday tasks that might be tougher because of your disorder. The process is a lot like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a type of psychotherapy that works to change the way you react to situations.

Both use methods like:

• Goal setting

• Prioritization

• Motivation

• Organizational skills

• Planning and scheduling

• Problem solving

• Stress Management

• Impulse control

• Confidence and self-esteem building

• Relationship and communication skills

• Memory improvement

• Homework activities

But while CBT focuses on your thoughts and emotions, ADHD coaching teaches you how to adopt positive behaviors. An ADHD coach will work with you to pinpoint how ADHD affects you. Then, they'll help you learn how to problem-solve issues as they happen.

Your coach can also be a regular accountability partner who can encourage you as you work to change your habits.

ADHD coaching can help you learn to:

• Keep your focus long enough to carry out a plan

• Figure out the specific actions you need to take to reach a goal

• Find the motivation to help you work toward a goal

It also deals with your everyday habits and teaches you to form healthier routines.

For example, you may focus on:

• Finances

• Home maintenance

• Nutrition

• Exercise

• Sleep

Like other types of mental health counseling sessions, ADHD coaching can happen in a one-on-one setting (in person, on the phone, or online) or in a group setting on a regular basis. Typically, sessions are 30 to 60 minutes. You and your coach will decide how long your coaching periods need to be, based on your progress.

Who Can Benefit From Coaching?

It works best for people who are aware that they need help and feel ready to make a change. It can be especially helpful if you are a student, because your coaching can focus on time management and staying on task with assignments.

A child with ADHD can also see a coach with their parents, or parents of a child with ADHD may see a coach separately. The teacher can help both the child and their parents learn more about the disorder, and find new ways to approach life with its symptoms.

Contact us to explore ways to assess and manage your ADHD.