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ADHD Evaluation · Ages 4-22

ADHD Testing for Children, Teens, and Young Adults

ADHD looks different in everyone. Some are hyperactive and impulsive; others are quietly inattentive and slip under the radar. A thorough evaluation with Claire McCann, a Licensed Educational Psychologist, for ages 4 through 22, brings clarity about what's driving the challenges at school and at home, and what will help.

Book a free call → See the signs

Signs you might be seeing

No single sign means a child has ADHD, and every child is distracted or restless sometimes. But when several of these show up consistently, across home and school, and get in the way of everyday life, an evaluation can help you understand what's going on.

Trouble sustaining attention
Loses focus partway through tasks, is easily distracted, or seems to "tune out" even during one-on-one conversation.
Disorganized or forgetful
Loses track of assignments and belongings, forgets multi-step directions, or struggles to start and finish homework.
Restless or impulsive
Fidgets, has a hard time waiting or taking turns, blurts things out, or acts before thinking through the consequences.
Quietly inattentive
Not disruptive at all, just daydreamy, slow to finish work, and easily overlooked because they aren't causing problems.
Effort that doesn't match results
A bright, capable child whose grades or output don't reflect how hard they're trying, which often leads to frustration for everyone.

What the evaluation covers

Attention challenges rarely travel alone, so the assessment looks at the whole picture: ruling in ADHD where it fits, and ruling out (or catching) the learning, emotional, or processing factors that can look like ADHD or occur alongside it. Standardized rating scales from parents and teachers are woven throughout, so patterns are seen across home and school, not just in the testing room.

Attention & focus
How your child attends, shifts, and sustains focus over time, and how easily they're pulled off task.
Impulsivity & hyperactivity
Restlessness, difficulty waiting, acting before thinking, and the physical or verbal impulsivity that can disrupt daily life.
Emotional control
How your child regulates frustration and big feelings, an area that often goes hand in hand with ADHD but is easy to miss.
Executive functioning
Planning, organization, working memory, and the follow-through skills that keep school and daily tasks on track.
School & academic performance
How attention and executive skills are showing up in schoolwork, so the findings connect directly to the classroom.

What the process looks like

1. A free intro call
We start with a short, no-cost call to talk through your concerns and whether an evaluation is the right next step.
2. Intake & history
A detailed look at development, school history, and your family's observations, plus parent and teacher rating scales.
3. Teacher consult & interview (if applicable)
Where it helps, Claire consults with and interviews your child's teacher to understand how attention, behavior, and learning show up in the classroom.
4. Testing sessions
In-person testing at the Menlo Park or San Francisco office, in a calm, unhurried setting designed to help your child do their best.
5. Written report & feedback session
You receive a comprehensive written report and sit down with Claire to walk through the findings and clear, practical recommendations for home and school.

Why a private evaluation

Diagnostic clarity
A private evaluation can provide a clinical ADHD diagnosis, which school evaluations typically do not offer.
The report is yours
You own the report and can share it with schools, tutors, therapists, physicians, or other providers as you see fit.
Support for 504 & IEP planning
Findings and recommendations can support accommodations and advocacy at your child's school.

Questions parents ask

ADHD evaluations here are for ages 4 through 22: children, teens, and young adults, including college students. The right approach depends on age and what you're seeing, which is exactly what we sort out on the free intro call.

Absolutely. ADHD is not only the hyperactive, disruptive presentation. Many children, and girls in particular, have the inattentive presentation: daydreamy, slow to finish work, and easily overlooked because they aren't causing problems. These children are often missed for years.

School evaluations focus on eligibility for services and usually do not provide a clinical diagnosis. A private evaluation is typically more comprehensive, can provide a clinical ADHD diagnosis, and produces a report that is yours to share with schools, tutors, therapists, and physicians.

Yes. Attention challenges often overlap with learning differences like dyslexia, as well as anxiety. The evaluation is designed to tell them apart, so you understand what is really driving your child's difficulties.

No. As a Licensed Educational Psychologist, Claire provides assessment, diagnosis, and recommendations, not medication. If medication is something to consider, the report gives you and your child's physician the information to make that decision together.

A comprehensive written report and a feedback session with Claire to walk through the findings and clear, practical recommendations for home and school.

Start with a free call

Not sure whether an ADHD evaluation is the right step? Book a free introductory call with Claire to talk through what you're seeing and your options. Offices in Menlo Park and San Francisco, serving families across the Peninsula and Bay Area.

Book a free call → Call (415) 494-9661

Prefer email? Reach Claire at hello@clarityedpsych.com.