How Do You Get an ADHD Assessment in Red Deer?

Your family doctor. Your 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 is covered by Alberta Health Care, but waits for adult ADHD assessments can be long.

A psychologist. Psychologists in Alberta can assess and diagnose ADHD, and you can book directly. Psychologists do not prescribe medication, so if medication is something you want to consider, the report goes to your family doctor, who can prescribe or refer you on.

• A detailed interview about current difficulties and childhood. ADHD symptoms must have been present before age 12, so early history matters.
• Rating scales from you and, where possible, a parent, partner or teacher.
• Old school report cards, if you can find them.
• Testing, and screening for conditions that can look like ADHD or occur alongside it, including anxiety, depression, learning disorders and trauma.
• A written report and a feedback session with recommendations.

An online quiz can suggest whether an assessment is worth pursuing, but it cannot diagnose ADHD.

For a child, the process usually starts with the family doctor or paediatrician, or with the school if teachers have raised concerns. Input from teachers is an important part of a child's assessment, because ADHD has to show up in more than one setting.

At Supporting Wellness, assessments in Red Deer are available from age 6 through adulthood. The report can support accommodations at school, and our article on assessments and school accommodations explains how.