ADHD assessments for children and teens (ages 6 to 16)

in Brookvale, Northern Beaches, Sydney

Difficulties with focus, hyperactivity, or impulsivity can affect your child at school and create tension at home. An assessment provides clear answers, paving a path forward grounded in understanding, compassion, and practical guidance. Based in Brookvale on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
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At a glance
WHO CAN BE ASSESSED

Children and adolescents, ages 6 to 16

ASSESSMENT TOOLS

WISC-V, WIAT-III, Conners CPT, Young DIVA, and screening questionnaires

WHAT YOU RECEIVE

A full written report and feedback session, suitable for sharing with schools, GPs, or other health professionals

MEDICARE REBATES

May be available, see the FAQs below for eligibility

✦
GETTING STARTED

A 20-minute intake call to check availability and talk through whether this is the right fit

Is ADHD part of the picture?

ADHD is a difference in how attention, executive functioning, and impulse control work, not a matter of effort or willpower. It often shows up as a child who is capable and bright in some settings while struggling in others, which can be confusing for everyone involved. Understanding your child’s neurotype creates space for self-compassion and for strategies that suit the way their brain actually works.
ADHD assessment for children and teens by clinical psychologist Jessica Radovan in Brookvale on Sydney's Northern Beaches.
ADHD presents differently in every child, and it is frequently missed in those who are quiet, compliant, or academically capable enough to get by. Northern Beaches families often reach out for an assessment when noticing that their child is:
  • Frequently distracted, or struggling to sustain focus on everyday tasks
  • Often forgetting or losing items like school supplies, hats, or homework
  • Disorganised, or struggling to get started on chores, homework, or routines
  • Experiencing big emotional outbursts that feel out of proportion to the situation
How an assessment can help

Clarity, and a plan that fits

Every assessment is a collaborative process of understanding, not a checklist. The goal is genuine insight into how your child thinks and learns, whatever the outcome.

A name for your experience

Understanding ADHD as part of the picture can reframe years of school reports and home friction that never quite added up on their own.

A neuroaffirming lens

ADHD is understood here as a difference in how attention and motivation work, not a deficit of character or effort, and the assessment reflects that throughout.

Practical next steps

A clear report opens the door to school learning support, classroom adjustments, and a better-informed conversation with your GP or paediatrician.

Relief at home

Knowing what drives the forgetting, the lost hats, and the meltdowns often takes the blame out of daily life for the whole family.

The process

What to expect

An ADHD assessment runs across four appointments, from the first phone call through to a written report and feedback session.
20 minutes
01
Intake call

A brief call to discuss your current concerns, answer initial questions, and determine the most appropriate assessment pathway for your child.

3 hours
02
Background information session

A detailed parent or carer interview exploring developmental history and current concerns, using the Young DIVA. Screening questionnaires (Conners 4, BRIEF-2, ABAS) are completed by parents, carers, and teachers to gather insight across different settings.

3 hours or 2×90 minutes
03
In-person testing

A supportive, child-friendly evaluation tailored to your child’s age and pace, covering cognitive functioning (WISC-V), academic achievement (WIAT-III), and attention and focus (Conners CPT), with close clinical observation throughout.

3 weeks later
04
Feedback session and report

A dedicated consultation to review results, discuss diagnoses if applicable, and outline practical, actionable recommendations for home and school, with plenty of time for your questions.

FEES AND REBATES

$1,850, split across sessions

Children and teens under 25 may be eligible for a complex neurodevelopmental referral from a paediatrician or psychiatrist, which attracts a rebate of $406.20 across the assessment sessions. This is discussed during the intake call, and current fees are listed on the FAQs page.
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ADHD assessment for children and teens by clinical psychologist Jessica Radovan in Brookvale on Sydney's Northern Beaches.
A neuroaffirming approach

Tools used for assessments

A combination of standardised cognitive testing, screening questionnaires, and direct observation, selected to suit your child’s age and pace. Select a tool to read more.

WISC-V

The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, 5th Edition evaluates verbal comprehension, visual spatial processing, fluid reasoning, working memory, and processing speed, providing an overall estimate of intellectual functioning and a clear picture of thinking style.

WIAT-III

The Wechsler Individual Achievement Test, 3rd Edition assesses core academic skills in reading, writing, comprehension, and mathematics, showing your child’s learning style and how this relates to their unique thinking style.

Conners CPT

A computerised continuous performance test measuring sustained attention, impulsivity, and vigilance. It provides objective data on attention that complements what is reported at home and school.

Young DIVA

A structured diagnostic interview for ADHD used during the parent or carer session, covering developmental history and current concerns against diagnostic criteria.

Questionnaires

Screening questionnaires including the Conners 4, BRIEF-2, and ABAS are completed by parents, carers, and teachers, gathering insight into how your child functions across different settings.

Clinical observation

Close engagement throughout testing to observe how your child approaches tasks, their attention span, and any signs of neurodivergence, all in a low-pressure environment.
What comes next

Following the assessment

A diagnosis opens the door to understanding and support. Following an assessment, post-diagnostic support is available through individual therapy: psychoeducation on ADHD, and practical strategies for school, home, and friendships. Parenting support is also available for families working out how best to respond at home.

Post-diagnostic support
Common questions

ADHD assessment FAQs

An assessment is never wasted. If diagnostic criteria aren’t met, the assessment will still provide a much greater understanding of your or your child’s unique strengths and challenges, plus guidance on how to offer support and which adjustments may be useful.

Tell them they’re meeting someone who will do some activities with them to learn how their brain works and learns best. Let them know there’s no pass or fail, everyone’s brain works differently.

The process runs across four appointments. From first contact to final report is usually four to six weeks, with the feedback session held three weeks after the final testing session. Each testing session is between 90 minutes to 3 hours, depending on age; parent interview and feedback sessions are 60 minutes.

Teacher input is valuable, since ADHD presents differently across settings. Screening questionnaires are sent to the school to complete alongside the ones you fill in at home, and past school reports are reviewed as part of the assessment.

Yes. Reports are written to a standard suitable for school learning support applications and other formal supports, with clear and practical recommendations for home and school.

Medicare rebates may be available in some circumstances. Children and teens under 25 may be eligible for a complex neurodevelopmental referral from a paediatrician or psychiatrist, which attracts a rebate of $406.20 across the assessment sessions. This is discussed during the intake call.

ADHD and autism frequently co-occur and can mask each other. Where traits of both are present, an AuDHD assessment evaluates them together in a single process, which the AuDHD assessment page explains in full.
OTHER ASSESSMENTS
Autism assessment

Social, sensory, and communication differences. Ages 3+.

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AuDHD assessment

When autism and ADHD traits appear together or mask each other. Ages 3+.

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Psychoeducational

Thinking and learning styles, and learning disorders such as dyslexia. Ages 6-16.

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