ADHD Diagnosis
Understanding What Kind of Testing Your Child Really Needs
When you start wondering whether your child might meet criteria for an ADHD diagnosis, it can be surprisingly hard to figure out what kind of evaluation they actually need, or whether they need one at all.
There are so many options.
Do you start with the pediatrician? Can your child’s therapist diagnose ADHD? What does “ADHD testing” even mean?
The truth is that the right type of evaluation depends on what you want to understand about your child, not just whether they check a box for ADHD.
Should I start ADHD testing
with my pediatrician?
If you are confident your child has ADHD and are primarily seeking medication, starting with a pediatrician can be appropriate.
In these cases, pediatricians typically:
Send rating forms to parents and teachers
Review symptom checklists
Make a diagnosis if enough symptoms are endorsed
For some families, this is sufficient.
However, this type of diagnosis often does not provide the depth of information parents are actually looking for. It may tell you that your child meets criteria for ADHD, but not:
Why certain areas are harder than others
Whether something else could be contributing
What your child’s specific strengths and weaknesses are
How to build a clear, individualized treatment plan
When does my child need
comprehensive ADHD testing?
Comprehensive ADHD testing is most appropriate when parents want to understand why their child is struggling, not just whether they qualify for a diagnosis.
Families often choose comprehensive ADHD testing when:
They are unsure whether ADHD fully explains what they are seeing
They want to rule out learning differences, anxiety, depression, or other concerns
School performance does not match expectations
Their child has complex or overlapping challenges
They want clear guidance about next steps, not just a label
If you want to understand how your child’s brain works and how to best support them, comprehensive testing with a psychologist is often the right choice.
What does comprehensive
ADHD testing
include at Thriving Child Center?
ADHD evaluations at Thriving Child Center are conducted by licensed psychologists with specialized training in neurodevelopmental assessment. Our team evaluates ADHD across childhood, adolescence, and adulthood and considers overlapping conditions such as anxiety, learning differences, and autism. This depth of assessment helps families receive clear, accurate answers rather than quick screening results.
At Thriving Child Center, ADHD testing is designed to look at the whole child, not just symptoms on a checklist.
Our evaluations typically include:
Detailed clinical interviews to fully understand your concerns and your child’s history
Comprehensive questionnaires completed by parents, teachers, and caregivers
In-person testing to evaluate cognitive abilities and areas of functioning
Careful consideration of emotional, behavioral, and learning factors
By looking at the full picture, we can determine:
Whether your child meets true diagnostic criteria for ADHD
Whether another concern may be better explaining their struggles
How ADHD, if present, is affecting your child specifically
At the end of the process, families receive clear answers and a thoughtful treatment plan that helps guide decisions at home, at school, and medically if appropriate.
Why is an accurate ADHD
diagnosis important?
An accurate diagnosis helps everyone understand what your child needs.
Research shows that untreated ADHD can increase the risk for anxiety and depression, especially when children feel they are falling behind and blame themselves for challenges that are neurologically based.
With an accurate diagnosis, families can:
Understand how their child’s brain works
Help children understand themselves with compassion
Pursue appropriate school accommodations
Set expectations that are fair and developmentally appropriate
Make informed decisions about behavioral strategies and medication if desired
Many parents feel relief when they realize their child was not being “lazy” or “defiant,” and many children feel validated when expectations finally match what their brain can realistically manage.
What is the ADHD testing
process at Thriving Child Center?
Our ADHD testing process includes:
A detailed clinical interview
Secure, easy-to-complete questionnaires for parents, teachers, and caregivers
In-person testing at Thriving Child Center
A comprehensive feedback session where results and recommendations are explained clearly
We take time to walk through the findings with you so you leave understanding not just the diagnosis, but what to do next.
Why does comprehensive
ADHD testing cost more?
Comprehensive ADHD testing costs more because it involves significantly more time, expertise, and depth than brief screenings.
We:
Use gold-standard assessment tools
Go beyond symptom checklists
Evaluate strengths and weaknesses across multiple areas
Consider alternative explanations carefully
Provide detailed recommendations you can actually use
This level of testing allows us to give you meaningful answers and a treatment plan that fits your child, not just a diagnosis code.
Do you provide ADHD
testing for adults?
Yes. We have been providing ADHD testing for adults for many years.
Adult testing is often sought by:
College and graduate students
Professionals seeking clarity
Adults who have struggled for years without answers
When testing is completed for adults, we use the specific forms and documentation required by schools or programs to support accommodations when appropriate.
For many adults, receiving an accurate diagnosis is both clarifying and healing.
Can you guarantee
an ADHD diagnosis?
No.
If testing results do not support an ADHD diagnosis, we will not give one. This is not to be difficult, but to ensure that individuals receive care that actually fits their needs.
Our goal is always to provide accurate diagnoses so that treatment is effective and appropriate, not simply to confirm expectations.
Where is ADHD
testing offered?
ADHD testing at Thriving Child Center is currently offered in person at our Texas locations. We do not offer virtual ADHD testing at this time.
Our commitment
to families
At Thriving Child Center, our goal is to provide the highest level of assessment and care. Getting the diagnosis right is the foundation for helping children and families move forward with clarity and confidence.
Begin the Process Towards Diagnosis
Step 1
Schedule your FREE Matching Call
Just choose a time that works best for you. . Once you’re scheduled, complete the Matching Form so that we can understand what you’re looking for and begin the process.
Step 2
Pick the Perfect Match Therapist
Use your free 15-minute matching call to talk about your concerns and get matched with the perfect therapist for your family.
Step 3
Get Scheduled Right Away!
Once scheduled, you will receive a few forms on our client portal to complete before your intake session, where you will meet with your therapist and get started on a plan for a happier, healthier life.