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ATTENTION DEFICIT / HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD) ASSESSMENT
WHAT IS ADHD?
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that begins in childhood and often continues into adulthood. While some individuals were diagnosed earlier in life, many students are not identified until college or university, when increased academic demands make their difficulties more noticeable.
Young Adults with ADHD often experience challenges with:
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Sustaining attention during lectures or while studying
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Organizing assignments and managing deadlines
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Planning long-term projects
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Prioritizing tasks and managing time effectively
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Remembering appointments or due dates
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Completing work despite understanding the material
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Becoming easily distracted by internal thoughts or external distractions
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Regulating motivation and maintaining consistent effort
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Restlessness, fidgeting, or difficulty remaining seated for extended periods (for some individuals)
Many students with ADHD are intellectually capable and may have performed well in elementary or secondary school. However, the increased independence and workload of post-secondary education often place greater demands on executive functioning skills, making ADHD symptoms more apparent.
Without appropriate support, ADHD may affect academic performance, emotional well-being, relationships, and overall quality of life.
HOW IS ADHD ASSESSED?
At Cognostic, we provide comprehensive diagnostic assessments for ADHD in college and university-aged students. Assessments are completed by Registered Psychologists and are based on an hourly fee.
The assessment is individualized and may include:
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A comprehensive clinical interview with the student
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Developmental history (when available, information from parents or another family member may be requested to help clarify childhood symptoms)
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Review of previous educational, medical, or psychological records (if available)
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Standardized cognitive testing
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Academic testing (when indicated)
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ADHD-specific rating scales and measures
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Assessment of executive functioning, attention, memory, and processing speed
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Screening for other conditions that may present with similar symptoms or commonly occur alongside ADHD
The number of assessment hours varies depending on each individual's history and referral questions.
ESTIMATED ASSESSMENT HOURS
Typical assessment hours for a college or university student include:
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Student interview (approximately 2 hours)
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Parent or family interview when appropriate (approximately 1 to 2 hours)
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Cognitive and attention testing (approximately 5 to 6 hours)
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Review of records, scoring, interpretation, and report preparation (approximately 5 hours)
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Feedback session (approximately 1 hour)
ASSESSMENT OUTCOME
Following the assessment, the student will receive:
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A comprehensive feedback session reviewing the assessment findings
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A detailed written psychological assessment report
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Diagnostic conclusions (if applicable)
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Individualized recommendations for academic supports, treatment, and intervention
Where appropriate, the report may be used to support applications for academic accommodations through Accessibility Services at a college or university. Recommendations may include accommodations such as additional examination time, a reduced-distraction testing environment, note-taking supports, assistive technology, or other accommodations based on the individual's needs.