ADHD Assessment

If your child is bright and capable but struggles to sit still, focus, or follow through on tasks, you may be wondering if ADHD could be part of the picture. At Chickadee Psychology, we help families untangle whether attention challenges are related to ADHD, learning differences, or simply how your child’s brain is wired.

Assessments That Tell The Whole Story

At Chickadee Psychology, an ADHD assessment is always part of a comprehensive psychoeducational assessment. We go deeper than interviews and questionnaires, because attention concerns can look different depending on the child. Sometimes they’re linked to a learning disability, anxiety, or even giftedness. Our process helps untangle these pieces so you walk away with clear answers and practical next steps that reflect your child’s full story.

Common Questions

  • No. Some children’s attention challenges are linked to learning disabilities, anxiety, or even simple boredom. It’s also important to remember that short attention spans can be perfectly age-appropriate - what’s expected of a 6-year-old is very different from a 12-year-old. Environment matters too; a child may focus beautifully when building Lego but drift off during worksheets. That’s why a comprehensive assessment is so valuable. It helps us sort out whether your child’s inattention is a sign of ADHD or part of typical development, learning differences, or other factors.

  • We hear this concern often. The purpose of an assessment is not to “label” your child, but to provide clarity and open doors to support. Without answers, children may internalize the idea that they are “not smart enough” or “just bad at school,” which can lead to shame, anxiety, or low self-esteem. A correct diagnosis, when appropriate, can be empowering. It gives meaning to the struggles and helps your child feel understood while guiding strategies that reduce stress at school and home.

    With a private psychoeducational assessment, you remain in control. Parents choose how, when, and whether to share results with the school. The focus is always on helping your child thrive, not on placing limits.

  • This is more common than many people realize. Some children are “twice-exceptional” (2e), meaning they’re gifted and also have ADHD or a learning difference. Our assessments are designed to capture the full picture, both strengths and challenges, so your child isn’t overlooked or misunderstood.

  • We don’t prescribe medication, but our assessments can provide the information your physician or pediatrician needs if your family is considering that option.

    Choosing whether to use medication is a personal decision that families make together, and you’ll never feel pressured one way or the other. Many children benefit from a combination of strategies, and we’ll make sure you leave with a range of practical, non-medication supports as well.

    Our goal is to give you clear information, explore all options, and support your child no matter which path you choose.

Comprehensive ADHD Assessment

An ADHD assessment is included in a full psychoeducational assessment. A comprehensive psychoeducational assessment shows how your child thinks, learns, and navigates school and daily life. Most importantly, it answers the questions parents often have:

  • Does my child have a learning difference, ADHD, or another challenge?

  • What are their strengths, and how can we build on them?

By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of your child’s profile, with practical strategies and guidance to help them thrive at home and at school.

    • Step 1: Parent Intake Meeting (1 hour, online)

      A convenient and secure online video call where we learn more about your child’s strengths, challenges, and experiences.

    • Step 2: Cognitive Assessment (child, in-person, ~2 hours)

      A one-on-one session using the WISC-V to explore how your child learns and solves problems.

    • Step 3: Academic & Functional Assessment (~2.5 hours, in-person)

      During this session, we assess your child’s academic skills and conduct a child-friendly interview to gather information about social-emotional functioning, attention, and executive skills. The focus of this session can be tailored to your specific assessment questions.

    • Step 4: Teacher Interview

      We gather insights from your child’s teacher(s) to understand how they are performing and functioning at school.

    • Step 5: Report

      You’ll receive a detailed, plain-language report outlining your child’s results, strengths, and recommendations for school supports.

    • Step 4: Parent Feedback Meeting (1 hour, online)

      We’ll walk through the results together, answer your questions, and discuss practical next steps.

  • Children with school struggles, suspected learning disabilities (dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia), ADHD, anxiety, or when parents just want the full picture.

  • $3055

    Billed at the Alberta College of Psychologists recommended rate of $235/hour. Sessions are billed as we go, not all at once, and we work with you to optimize insurance coverage whenever possible.