Why is a good evaluation the key to solving any problem? We have a true story to share with you that can shed a little light on the importance of a thorough evaluation. It is from the perspective of a mom whose son was having difficulties paying attention, controlling his impulses, and keeping himself organized — both at home and at school. As with any good story, this one has a happy ending thanks to a dedicated team of educational and mental health professionals who left no stone unturned and worked in close collaboration with both the student and his parents.
The importance of evaluation in diagnosis
Our story began when Jack was a sixth grader. He had been struggling with inattention, impulsivity, oppositional defiance, difficulty keeping himself organized, time management, adaptability, and sleep concerns since the third grade. His teachers were at a loss as to how to help him and we were doing the best we could to manage his symptoms but were at the point where we knew a formal diagnosis was warranted.
We did a lot of research on our own, we understood how nuanced the symptoms of ADHD can be. We also learned that these symptoms can often be accompanied by comorbid conditions such as anxiety, depression, sensory processing concerns, executive function deficits, and oppositional defiant disorder (which Jack was displaying common traits of) we wanted to make sure he received a comprehensive evaluation. His team conducted an initial interview to determine their next steps. Because we knew his sleep issues could be caused by anxiety, the Behavior Assessment System for Children, Third Edition Behavioral and Emotional Screening System (BASC-3 BESS) was their first step. They sent out the Teacher Rating Scales, Parent Rating Scales, and Student Self-Report, and after these were returned and scored, it was determined that further assessment was needed.
Jack, his teacher, and we (his parents) were all sent the BASC-3 Rating Scales to dig a little deeper into his behavior and emotions. Because Jack was also showing signs of deficiency in his executive functions — proficient adaptability, planning, self-monitoring, self-control, working memory, time management, and organization — the Brown EF/A raters were sent next.
Once these were returned and scored, the results were no surprise to us, or anyone else on Jack’s team, and the frustration that we had all felt for years was replaced by a sense of relief. We finally had the answers to all our concerns, and we were able to work closely with his team to develop a solid intervention and progress monitoring plan. I’m happy to report that these efforts have all paid off and Jack’s progress in school and at home has been exemplary, and he has gone from a C-average student to an Honor Roll student in just a few years’ time!
5 steps to helping families support kids with ADHD
Families and caregivers of kids with ADHD are most likely coming to you at a time when they’ve exhausted every other resource and are looking for answers and solutions. These five steps will help you provide the support they need as they work toward their own success story!
- The family should find an ADHD specialist who looks at the whole child and can provide a detailed assessment to get to the root of the problem. This will help identify any coexisting conditions, especially learning disorders.
- Use as many diagnostic tools as necessary to identify the areas that are weak so effective solutions can be provided.
- Educate the families on how to interpret the results of the assessment and offer hope for a solution.
- Provide resources and a variety of ways to address the concerns.
- Offer their support and a clear path to success.
Every child and adolescent is unique, as are their ADHD traits and evaluation needs. Having a clear path through the steps a family and their team needs to take to get to the root of the behavioral and emotional concerns is one of the most important steps along this journey.
For more helpful information and tips, please visit our ADHD resource center!