ADHD Testing for Children and Teens
If you have been wondering whether your child or teenager has ADHD, you are not imagining the patterns you see. Difficulty staying focused, trouble with follow-through, impulsivity, or simply feeling like your child is working harder than their peers for the same results: these are real.
An ADHD evaluation puts names and context to what you are observing, and it opens the door to strategies and accommodations that can make a genuine difference. Encore Psychology offers comprehensive ADHD evaluations for children and teens from age two through seventeen, conducted by Dr. Brooke Colman, a licensed Clinical Psychologist with extensive training in pediatric evaluation.
What an ADHD evaluation involves
An ADHD evaluation at Encore Psychology is not a checklist. It is a structured, multi-method assessment designed to produce an accurate picture of how your child thinks, attends, organizes, and functions across different settings.
The evaluation typically includes:
- An intake session with Dr. Colman and caregivers (and the teen, as appropriate) to gather full history and clarify the questions you need answered
- Standardized rating scales completed by caregivers and, where applicable, teachers and the young person themselves
- Cognitive and attentional testing using normed, validated instruments chosen specifically for your child
- Behavioral observations during testing sessions
- A feedback session after testing to walk through results in plain language
The final deliverable is a multi-page written report with diagnostic findings, interpretation of results, individualized strategies, therapy recommendations if appropriate, and documentation for school accommodations where indicated.
Our evaluation process
ADHD presents differently across ages, genders, and individual profiles. Inattentive presentations can be missed for years, particularly in girls and teens who have developed coping strategies that mask the underlying pattern. Comprehensive testing does not rely on a single source of information. It cross-references observations from multiple settings and raters, which makes the findings more reliable and the recommendations more specific to your child. A diagnosis is not a ceiling. It is a starting point: an explanation of why certain things have been harder, and a roadmap toward supports that fit the actual profile.
Evaluation intake session with you (~50 minutes)
We start with a real conversation with you, the parent. What you've been noticing, when it started, what the school has been saying, what's already been tried, what you'd want a report to do for you and your child's school. This is also where we'll discuss timeline, fees, and any insurance questions.
Evaluation sessions with your child (1 to 2 sessions)
The testing itself: cognitive measures appropriate to your child's age, ADHD-specific clinical assessment, and academic achievement testing when relevant to the question. Most child/teen ADHD evaluations are completed across 1 or 2 sessions, paced for your child with breaks as needed.
Teacher and collateral input
With your permission, we'll request structured input from your child's teacher(s). Teacher rating scales add important context, ADHD that's visible at school may look different at home, and vice versa. This is one of the parts of a thorough evaluation that a short office visit can't substitute for.
Scoring, integration, and a written report
We integrate the testing data, the rating scales (from you and from the school), the clinical observations, and your child's developmental history. The report is detailed; the diagnostic conclusion is one section; the recommendations are the larger part.
Feedback session with you
We walk through the report together. You'll leave with the report itself, a clear understanding of what each recommendation means, and answers to your questions.
A 48-hour expedited turnaround is available, useful when an IEP meeting, school decision, or therapy admission is timing-sensitive.
What happens after the evaluation
Dr. Colman meets with families after testing is complete for a guided feedback session. You will hear what the findings mean in plain language, including strengths as well as areas to support. The written report follows and is organized to be shared with schools, pediatricians, or therapists.
| Payment method | Report turnaround |
|---|---|
| Private pay | 5 to 10 business days after testing |
| Insurance (BCBS, BCN, Priority Health) | 6 to 8 weeks after testing |
| Expedited (private pay only) | 48 hours after testing, for an additional fee |
The recommendations section of the report is what carries forward, into school, into therapy, into your conversations at home, and into any medical follow-up.
Recommendations from a child/teen ADHD evaluation typically include:
- School supports and IEP/504 language, written specifically for school teams, including accommodations recommendations and service-area suggestions
- Referral to a prescribing provider when appropriate; we don't prescribe, but the report will include a clear referral to a pediatrician or developmental pediatrician if medication is appropriate to consider
- Therapeutic supports, specific suggestions for what kind of therapeutic or coaching support will be most useful, including referrals where indicated
- Strategies for parents, practical, named approaches you can use at home, tied to your child's specific ADHD presentation
- Strategies for your child, age-appropriate language and tools your child can use directly (especially helpful for older kids and teens)
- Follow-up evaluation timing, when a re-evaluation will be useful (often around school transitions)
Reports are written to be used, by you, by your child's school, by your child's therapists, and by your child themselves.
In person at Bloomfield Hills
Child and teen ADHD evaluations are in-person at our Bloomfield Hills office. The space is set up to feel calm, closer to a comfortable living room than a clinical waiting room.
The cognitive testing components of an ADHD evaluation work better in the same room. Some of the most useful information we collect is the clinical observation that comes from being together, paced naturally.
What this costs and how it's paid for
Encore Psychology is in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), Blue Care Network (BCN), and Priority Health. Private pay is also available for all evaluations.
If you are unsure about your specific benefits, our reception team can walk you through what your plan is likely to cover before you commit to scheduling.
Location and scheduling
Encore Psychology is located at 33 Bloomfield Hills Parkway, Suite 225, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304, and is available Monday through Friday for in-person evaluations. Telehealth evaluations may be available depending on your location; see Online Evaluations for details.
Initial appointments are typically scheduled within approximately six weeks of contact. If your child's situation is time-sensitive (an upcoming school year, an IEP meeting, or an accommodations deadline), let us know.
Encore Psychology is part of Michigan Healthcare Professionals (MHP), a larger affiliated physician group.
Questions parents ask before scheduling
At what age can my child be evaluated for ADHD?
We typically evaluate children for ADHD from school age and up (kindergarten onward), since the diagnostic criteria depend on observation across multiple settings (home, school). For preschoolers we focus on the broader developmental picture, which sometimes results in ADHD as part of the answer and sometimes points to something else.
Will the evaluation result in a diagnosis?
An evaluation produces diagnostic clarity. Sometimes that's an ADHD diagnosis. Sometimes the picture is something else (anxiety, learning disorder, sleep problem, or some combination). Sometimes the answer is clearly "not ADHD" but the patterns you've been noticing still have a useful explanation. The point is to know.
Do you prescribe ADHD medication?
No. Encore Psychology is a non-prescribing practice. The report will make a clear referral to a prescribing provider if medication is appropriate to consider.
Can the report be used for the IEP / 504 process?
Yes, recommendations are written specifically to be carried into IEP and 504 conversations. With your permission, we can coordinate directly with the school team.
My child was already diagnosed (or partially diagnosed) somewhere else. Is this evaluation different?
A full evaluation here is more thorough than a brief office visit or a single rating scale. If you'd like a current, comprehensive evaluation, for school documentation, for clarity, or for a second opinion; that's a common reason adults bring children to us.
Could it be ADHD, or could it be something else?
Often both. ADHD overlaps meaningfully with anxiety, depression, learning disorders, sleep problems, and autism. A good evaluation looks at the whole picture, not just one diagnosis.
My child is anxious about testing. What should I tell them?
Most of the kids we see are nervous when they arrive. We meet them in the waiting room, walk them through what the day will look like, and offer breaks freely. There are fidget toys and snacks. We'll talk through what to say to your child during the intake conversation with you.
How long does the report take?
Standard turnaround is 5 to 10 business days after the final session for private pay, and 6 to 8 weeks for insurance. A 48-hour expedited private-pay option is available for fixed-date deadlines, for an additional fee.
Do I need a referral?
No. You can schedule directly.
Questions before you reach out?
It is completely normal to have questions before deciding on an evaluation. Our reception team is glad to walk you through the process and talk through whether Encore Psychology is the right fit for your family.
A first conversation, on your terms.
Reach out by phone or message. We return inquiries within one to two business days.