An assessment for attention difficulties is appropriate to determine whether your child has a weakness in their attentional abilities or an underlying attention deficit disorder.. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is defined as a persistent pattern of inattention and or hyperactivity that interferes with functioning in the home and school environments. See FAQ for more details.

Difficulties with attention can significantly impact on learning and are often seen in association with learning difficulties. A comprehensive assessment of attention can also help to differentiate between different types of attention difficulties e.g. sustained attention compared to visual selective attention. An assessment of attention will typically include:

  • An assessment of intellectual functioning to determine a child’s strengths and weaknesses in Verbal and nonverbal intelligence as well as Working Memory and Processing Speed.
  • An assessment of academic achievement to determine whether your child’s learning in reading, writing, and maths is at a level consistent with their potential.
  • Assessment of specific attention abilities.
  • An assessment of behavioural and emotional functioning from parent and teacher.

The goal is not merely diagnosis, but suggestions for interventions that are tailored to you or your child's to address difficulties are an essential component of the evaluation. Feedback and recommendations will be tailored to suit your child's specific strengths and weakness across attention tasks.