How to Get Your Child Diagnosed with ADHD
7 min read
Pursuing an ADHD diagnosis for your child can feel overwhelming. Knowing what to expect at each stage — and how to advocate effectively — makes the process far less daunting and significantly faster.
Start with a screening
Before seeing a specialist, complete the free Vanderbilt Parent Rating Scale available on this site. The results give you a concrete structured starting point for conversations with your GP and paediatrician, and show that you have already done careful observation of your child's behaviour.
Speak to your GP or paediatrician
Bring your screening results and specific examples of how your child's behaviour affects their daily life, friendships, and school performance. Ask for a referral to a developmental paediatrician, child psychiatrist, or specialist ADHD clinic. In many countries, your GP can begin an initial assessment and rule out other causes.
The diagnostic evaluation
A full paediatric ADHD evaluation typically includes parent interviews, standardised rating scales completed by parents and teachers, a developmental history, and direct assessment of the child. The process may take 1–3 appointments. Some clinicians also request psychological testing to rule out learning disabilities, which frequently co-occur with ADHD.