When a child is struggling with attention, impulsivity, organization, schoolwork, or behavior, it may not be obvious whether ADHD is the reason. ADHD can overlap with learning, emotional, developmental, and sleep-related concerns, so diagnosis involves more than a single questionnaire or online test.
At Resilience Behavioral Health, Dr. Olivia Dorn, PhD, provides psychological and neuropsychological evaluations for children ages 5 and older in Everett, Washington. Evaluation can help clarify whether ADHD is supported by the available information and whether other concerns may also need to be considered.
If your child already has an ADHD diagnosis and you are looking for ongoing care, visit our ADHD treatment for children page.
You can also learn more about our child and adolescent psychiatry services.
Children can be energetic, distracted, forgetful, or impulsive without having ADHD. An evaluation may be worth considering when concerns are persistent, affect daily functioning, or appear in more than one setting.
Parents may notice:
These signs do not confirm ADHD by themselves. Other conditions can cause similar difficulties, which is one reason a careful evaluation matters.
Parents searching for an ADHD test for kids often find short online questionnaires or rating scales. These tools can be useful, but they are not the same as a diagnosis.
Rating scales help organize observations about inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. During ADHD assessment, clinicians may gather information from parents, teachers, and the child because diagnosis considers how symptoms affect functioning in different settings.
A questionnaire by itself does not diagnose ADHD. Clinical evaluation looks at the broader pattern: when symptoms began, how they affect daily life, whether they appear in more than one setting, and whether another condition could better explain what is happening. Anxiety, depression, sleep problems, learning disorders, and other developmental or behavioral conditions may resemble or coexist with ADHD.
Neuropsychological testing is not required for every ADHD diagnosis. It may be useful when there are additional questions about learning, cognitive functioning, or a more complex clinical picture.
Dr. Dorn provides psychological and neuropsychological evaluation rather than a one-size-fits-all ADHD test. The scope of an evaluation depends on the questions being assessed.
Psychological and neuropsychological evaluations can involve structured tasks and standardized measures designed to better understand different areas of functioning. The purpose is not for a child to “pass” or “fail,” but to gather information that may help explain patterns of strengths and difficulty.
The exact number of appointments, testing activities, and level of parent participation can depend on the scope of the evaluation. When scheduling, ask what to expect for your child, including how many appointments are anticipated and whether a parent should remain for all or part of testing.
For families who need evaluation beyond ADHD alone, learn more about neuropsychological testing at Resilience Behavioral Health.
You do not need to coach your child to perform a certain way. It can help to explain in simple, low-pressure language that they will meet with a psychologist and complete activities designed to learn more about how they think and learn.
Bring any records the practice requests. If school concerns are part of the evaluation, relevant educational records may also be useful when requested.
Avoid framing the appointment as a test your child must “do well” on. Encourage them to try their best and ask questions if they are unsure what to expect.
The length of ADHD testing and the time needed to complete a written report can depend on the scope of the evaluation.
When scheduling with Dr. Dorn, ask about the expected appointment length, number of visits, and current estimate for receiving results and written documentation.
Some families seek ADHD testing because attention or executive-function difficulties are affecting school and they want clearer documentation of their child’s needs.
A psychological or neuropsychological report may provide information that parents can share with a school team. An outside ADHD diagnosis or evaluation does not automatically qualify a student for a Section 504 Plan or an Individualized Education Program (IEP).
For Section 504 decisions, school teams consider information from multiple sources, which may include an outside evaluation. Under IDEA, qualifying independent evaluations provided by parents must also be considered by the public agency when making educational decisions. Schools may conduct their own assessment as part of determining eligibility and services.
If school concerns are one reason you are seeking evaluation, mention them when scheduling so the purpose of the evaluation is clear.
5 and older
Dr. Olivia Dorn is a licensed psychologist with a PhD in Counseling Psychology. Her doctoral internship included a focus on neuropsychological evaluations and psychological treatment for youth. She provides psychological and neuropsychological evaluations for children, adolescents, and adults at Resilience Behavioral Health.
Dr. Dorn is the psychologist who provides ADHD-focused psychological and neuropsychological evaluations at Resilience.
Dr. Dorn provides evaluation only. She does not provide ongoing therapy or prescribe medication.
Psychological and neuropsychological evaluation only
ADHD, depression, generalized anxiety, bipolar disorder, OCD, trauma-related conditions, personality disorders, specific learning disorders excluding dyslexia, and preliminary autism spectrum assessment
Dr. Dorn currently accepts:
$2,922 per neuropsychological evaluation.
Insurance participation does not guarantee that a particular evaluation is covered under an individual plan. Because benefits, authorization requirements, deductibles, and network details can vary, contact us before the evaluation to review current insurance information.
The next step depends on the findings of the evaluation and your child’s needs. If the evaluation supports an ADHD diagnosis and your family is looking for ongoing care, Resilience Behavioral Health offers separate ADHD treatment for children and teens.
Dr. Dorn’s role at Resilience is evaluation only. She does not provide ongoing psychotherapy or medication management.
Our office is located at 3927 Colby Ave, Everett, WA 98201, and we serve families in Everett and throughout Snohomish County.
To ask about ADHD testing with Dr. Olivia Dorn, call 425-616-3430 or send us an appointment request. Let us know your child’s age, the concerns prompting the evaluation, and your insurance plan if you would like coverage taken into account.
Because insurance networks and individual benefits can change, contact us before the first appointment to review current coverage information for ADHD testing.
ADHD For Children
3927 Colby Ave, Everett, WA 98201
