How Do You Get Diagnosed With ADHD in Alberta?

To get diagnosed with ADHD in Alberta, you need an assessment by a qualified professional: a psychologist, a psychiatrist or a physician. There are two main routes. You can start with your family doctor, who may diagnose ADHD or refer you to a psychiatrist, or you can book a private assessment with a psychologist directly, without a referral. Either way, a diagnosis rests on a careful look at your history and current difficulties, not on a single questionnaire.

Your family doctor can talk through your concerns, check for medical causes such as thyroid problems or sleep disorders, and in some cases diagnose ADHD and start treatment. For more complex situations, they may refer you to a psychiatrist. Psychiatry appointments are covered by Alberta Health Care, but waits for adult ADHD assessments can be long.

Psychologists in Alberta can assess and diagnose ADHD. You can book directly, and private assessments usually start much sooner than public ones. The trade-off is cost, since private psychologists are not covered by Alberta Health Care, although extended health benefits often pay part of the fee.

Psychologists do not prescribe medication. If medication is something you want to consider, the psychologist's report goes to your family doctor, who can prescribe or refer you on.

• A detailed interview about your current difficulties and your childhood. ADHD symptoms must have been present before age 12, so your early history matters.
• Rating scales from you and, where possible, a parent, partner or teacher.
• Old school report cards, if you can find them. Comments such as "easily distracted" or "not working to potential" are useful evidence.
• Testing, and screening for conditions that can mimic ADHD or occur alongside it, including anxiety, depression, learning disorders and trauma.
• A written report and a feedback session with recommendations.

For a child, the process usually starts with a conversation with the family doctor or paediatrician, or with the school if teachers have raised concerns. Schools can provide some assessment, but availability varies, so many families book a private assessment with a psychologist. Input from teachers is an important part of any child's assessment, because ADHD has to show up in more than one setting.

Screening questionnaires can suggest whether a full assessment is worth pursuing, but they cannot diagnose ADHD. Many of the symptoms, such as poor concentration, restlessness and forgetfulness, also appear with anxiety, depression, poor sleep and ongoing stress. Telling them apart takes a proper assessment.

• Write down specific examples of what you struggle with at work, school and home.
• Ask a parent or older relative what you were like as a child.
• Gather report cards and any previous assessments.
• Note any medications, health conditions and sleep problems.

A diagnosis opens several doors: medication through your doctor if appropriate, therapy and practical strategies, and accommodations at school, work or post-secondary. The report explains what is going on and what is likely to help, which is often as valuable as the diagnosis itself. If the assessment finds something other than ADHD, that answer is useful too, because it points to the right kind of help.

We provide ADHD assessments for children, teens and adults in Calgary, Red Deer and Cold Lake, and no referral is needed. Call 1-888-622-8350 to talk about whether an ADHD assessment or a broader psychoeducational assessment fits.

We direct bill many insurers, including Alberta Blue Cross, Canada Life, Sun Life, Manulife and Greenshield, and we can check your coverage before you book. See direct billing and insurance.

Related reading: What an ADHD assessment costs, Can you develop ADHD later in life? and ADHD in adulthood.