ADHD Evaluation For Children in NYC
At Park West Psychology, we specialize in comprehensive ADHD assessments for children. Our goal is to provide clear, accurate answers so families can better understand what’s going on and feel confident about next steps.
There are many misconceptions related to ADHD, especially when diagnosed in children. Many parents think their kids are just being kids, and they don’t need a diagnosis or treatment. Others worry that treating ADHD will turn their kids into a zombie. We’ve all seen these portrayals of ADHD in movies or TV shows, or heard these stories from well-meaning loved ones.
While children do have a shorter attention span and more energy compared to adults, that doesn’t mean that all symptoms of ADHD are natural in children—or that they don’t need support to help them achieve personal and academic success.
I’m Dr. Daniel Clark, and I offer ADHD testing for children to help them better understand how ADHD affects them and seek appropriate support to achieve their goals with less difficulty.
How ADHD Affects Children
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that impacts a child’s ability to pay attention, control impulses, and manage energy. These abilities fall under what clinicians call executive functions, or the parts of the brain responsible for how we think, feel, and behave.
Executive functions help children:
Convert important information from short-term to long-term memory
Prioritize tasks
Complete projects
Structure their thinking
Moderate energy levels
Effectively interact with others
For children with ADHD, these functions are disrupted, which can make everyday life more challenging. As a result, children may:
Struggle academically
Experience behavioral issues
Feel overwhelmed by intense emotions
Encounter social difficulties
"All children have tremendous talents. Our job is to help them see and develop those talents." - Michael Carrera
The ADHD Assessment Process for Children
Because ADHD symptoms can overlap with typical developmental behaviors, working with an experienced assessment psychologist is essential for an accurate diagnosis.
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The process begins with an intake session. Depending on your child’s age and developmental level, this may include:
Parents only
Parent and child together
Parent and child separately
During this session, we discuss:
Family health history
Your child’s health history
Referral questions from a pediatrician (if applicable)
Specific concerns or symptoms that prompted the evaluation
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After the intake, I develop a personalized testing battery tailored to your child. This typically includes assessments of:
Attention and concentration
Memory
Intelligence
Other relevant cognitive variables
Children and caregivers may also complete rating scales that provide insight into the severity and frequency of ADHD-related symptoms.
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Once testing is complete, we meet again to review the results. You’ll receive a comprehensive written report outlining:
Whether your child meets criteria for ADHD
Identified strengths
Areas of difficulty
Personalized recommendations and resources
Our goal at Park West Psychology is not just to provide a diagnosis, but to offer clarity and direction so your child can receive the right support.
Frequently Asked Questions
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The goal of ADHD diagnosis is simple: differentiate between behaviors that are typical for a child’s age and those that may indicate ADHD.
But the deeper purpose goes beyond labeling behavior. Seeking an ADHD diagnosis can:
Provide clarity about why your child may be struggling with focus, behavior, or emotions
Reduce self-blame for both parents and children who may feel frustrated or confused
Identify your child’s strengths alongside areas of difficulty
Open the door to support, including school accommodations, targeted interventions, or therapy
Prevent long-term challenges, such as academic gaps, low self-esteem, or ongoing behavioral issues
Without an evaluation, children with ADHD are often misunderstood. They may be described as “lazy,” “defiant,” “too sensitive,” or “not trying hard enough,” when in reality they may be working much harder than their peers just to keep up.
An accurate diagnosis helps reframe the conversation. It shifts the focus from discipline or character flaws to understanding how your child’s brain works — and how to support it effectively.
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Undiagnosed ADHD can affect a child academically, socially, and emotionally. Without understanding what’s driving their challenges, a child may struggle with focus, organization, behavior, or impulse control and receive repeated negative feedback from teachers, peers, or family members.
Over time, this can impact self-esteem. Children may begin to believe they are “lazy,” “bad,” or “not smart,” when in reality they’re dealing with a neurodevelopmental difference. Without appropriate support, academic gaps can widen, friendships may suffer, and frustration or emotional distress can increase.
An accurate diagnosis helps shift the narrative from blame to understanding and open the door to meaningful support.
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Many of the following behaviors can look like typical childhood energy. This is why a thorough, professional assessment is so important.
Inattentiveness at school, at home, and with friends
Excessive energy, including:
Fidgeting
Talking excessively
Interrupting others
Difficulty waiting their turn
Poor impulse control, which may:
Lead to frequent difficulties
Increase the risk of unsafe or risky behaviors
Difficulty completing tasks or projects
Struggles developing or maintaining friendships
Mood swings
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Executive functions are the mental skills that help children plan, focus, remember instructions, manage emotions, and control impulses.
ADHD affects executive functioning by making these skills less consistent and harder to access. A child with ADHD may struggle to start tasks, stay organized, regulate energy, remember directions, or manage big emotions — not because they aren’t trying, but because their brain has difficulty coordinating these processes efficiently.
In short, ADHD impacts the brain systems responsible for self-management, which can affect learning, behavior, and relationships.
Let’s Get Started
If your child is having difficulty in school, experiencing behavioral challenges at home, or showing signs of ADHD, let’s talk about it.
If you’re concerned, please reach out to me, Dr. Daniel Clark, for a free consultation. This brief call gives you the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about what to expect from the process.