ADHD Testing and Treatment for Children, Adolescents & Young Adults

Dr. Aaron Montgomery provides comprehensive research-based ADHD assessments. Get the answers your child needs!

Newport Beach | Orange County CA

Is your child easily distracted, disorganized & forgetful?

Is your child extremely restless, talkative & impulsive?

If so, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may be impacting their performance. As a child and adolescent specialist, Dr. Montgomery helps children, adolescents, young adults and parents identify, understand and manage ADHD symptoms. Dr. Montgomery provides treatment for ADHD that is guided by contemporary cognitive-behavioral and family therapy change strategies. Through education and skill building, parents learn to tailor their parenting style to the needs of their child, and kids learn information about ADHD and practice new ways of thinking and acting to promote their social and academic success.

ADHD Evaluations

Dr. Montgomery provides two evaluation models/packages for ADHD. The first is The Focused ADHD Evaluation Package which includes clinical interviewing, behavioral observation, performance testing, measures of general behavioral and emotional functioning at home and school, and measures of ADHD behavior at home and school. The second is The Comprehensive ADHD Evaluation Package which includes all items in the Focused ADHD Evaluation Package and adds IQ testing, academic testing and neuropsychological testing to assess a broader range of total functioning related to ADHD and performance in cognitive and academic tasks. 

How is ADHD Diagnosed?

The 3 Types of ADHD

Predominantly Inattentive Presentation: 

  • These children/adolescents have a hard time organizing and finishing tasks, paying attention to details, remembering information, following instructions and listening during conversations. These examples of inattention often lead to trouble in relationships at difficulty completing work at home and school. 

Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation: 

  • These children/adolescents have a hard time sitting still (i.e. while eating or completing homework), may seem restless and fidgety, may interrupt others often during conversations, may say things at inappropriate times, may grab things from people and act without thinking. These examples of impulsivity often lead to trouble in relationships at difficulty completing work at home and school. 

Combined Presentation: 

  • Symptoms of the above two types are present.

What is ADHD?

5 Quick Facts About ADHD: 

  • ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood.

  • ADHD occurs in 3-7 percent of children.

  • Among children the gender ratio is 3:1 (i.e. boys are 3x more likely to have ADHD than girls).

  • ADHD is usually first diagnosed in childhood and often lasts into adulthood.

  • Children with ADHD may have trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive behaviors, may often act without thinking, or be overly active in ways that disrupt their healthy development at home and school. 

ADHD Signs & Symptoms

It is normal for children to have trouble focusing and behaving at one time or another. However, children with ADHD do not just grow out of these behaviors. The symptoms continue and can cause difficulty at school, at home, or with friends.

A child with ADHD might:

  • Daydream a lot

  • Forget or lose things a lot

  • Squirm or fidget excessively

  • Talk too much in ways that interfere with effective communication

  • Make careless mistakes or take unnecessary risks

  • Have a hard time resisting temptation

  • Have trouble taking turns

  • Have difficulty getting along with others

A 4-Step ADHD Evaluation Process

  • child interview

    #1: Clinical Interview & Behavioral Observations

    Dr. Montgomery begins the evaluation process with a clinical interview and behavioral observation of the parent and child to gather ADHD relevant information. For example, is there a family history of ADHD behavior? Are there any developmental issues that are relevant? Does your child's behavior occur at home and school? Does your child present with behavior that may be consistent with other mental health or physical health issues that may look like ADHD? Does your child present as restless, hyper or unfocused in session? This is typically accomplished in one 45 minute session. The outcome of this step will determine if a parent and child need to advance to the next step of the evaluation process or of there is a different direction to go in.

  • Psychological Testing

    #2: Psychological Testing

    In the second step of the evaluation process, Dr. Montgomery obtains objective data that compares your child's behavior to other children with and without ADHD to determine if the symptom criteria and behavioral functioning style of ADHD are met. This typically includes parents completing a behavior questionnaire, a teacher completing a behavior questionnaire and your child completing a testing session to evaluate for performance in ADHD related areas of executive functioning (i.e. attention, memory and impulsivity). If indicated this step may also include IQ testing, academic testing and neuropsychological testing. This is typically accomplished in one 45-minute session or two to three 2-hour sessions depending on the number of tests administered.

  • ADHD profile

    #3: Developing An ADHD Profile

    The third step Dr. Montgomery evaluates all assessment and testing data to develop a social, behavioral and cognitive profile for your child and will determine if your child's profile is consistent with an ADHD profile/diagnosis or if it is consistent with another profile/diagnosis i.e. depression, anxiety, learning disability et cetera. While developing your child's profile, Dr. Montgomery reviews assessment and testing data gathered from the clinical interview, behavioral observation, objective data from parents, teachers, and objective and performance data gathered from your child or adolescent. The information gathered will be developed into an written report of assessment findings along with diagnostic and treatment recommendations.

  • Communicating Testing Results

    #4: Communicating Testing Results & Providing Assistance

    Dr. Montgomery will meet with parents to deliver a written report of findings and explain testing results. Parents will receive information about ADHD resources, helpful handouts and book recommendations, and recommendations for discussing results with school staff and beginning the process of pursuing support for your child at school. Treatment recommendations will be provided including ADHD focused cognitive behavioral and parenting recommendations and referral to meet with a pediatric psychiatrist to determine suitability for medication services (if needed) and referral to an academic consultant to assist with pursuing support for your child at school (if needed).

ADHD Evaluation Packages

Dr. Montgomery offers two different evaluation packages for ADHD. The first is best for parents who are concerned because their child's behavior is beginning to cause mild to moderate problems at home and school and would like to know if these behaviors may be due to ADHD. The second package is best for parents that are concerned due to moderate to severe problems at home and school (i.e. dropping grades, difficulty making and keeping friends, not consistently completing tasks at home and school) and would like to obtain a more comprehensive evaluation of overall functioning and how ADHD may be related to academic and cognitive performance. 

The Focused ADHD Evaluation Package:

Answers the Questions: Does my child's behavior meet criteria for a diagnosis of ADHD?  Is my child significantly more inattentive and/or hyperactive that other kids their age? Are there other mental health issues present that may be contributing to my child's behavior (i.e. depression, anxiety, developmental issues)? How can we work together as a family to provide our child with tools for success?

  • Clinical Interview, Behavior Observation & ADHD Testing (90 minutes)

    • Clinical interview with parents

    • Clinical interview and observation with child

    • General behavioral and emotional assessment forms for parents, teacher and child

    • ADHD assessment forms for parents, teacher and child

    • Computerized assessment of inattention and impulsivity (T.O.V.A.; Test Of Variables of Attention) with child only.

    Scoring, interpretation and report writing (4 hours)

    Testing feedback session (1 hour)

    • Comprehensive written report with diagnosis and detailed recommendations

    • Additional helpful handouts

    • Referrals (see sample referrals listed below)

      Referral may be provided for a psychiatric consultation to determine suitability of medication for ADHD

      Referral may be provided for an educational consultant to provide parents with guidance while collaborating with your child's school.

    • ADHD education for parents.

The Comprehensive ADHD, IQ & Psychoeducational Evaluation Package

Answers the Questions: Does my child's behavior meet criteria for ADHD? Are there other mental health issues present that may be contributing to my child's behavior and functioning (i.e. depression, anxiety, developmental issues)? What is the relationship between my child's Intelligence and Executive Functioning? Does my child's academic achievement match their intellectual abilities and how might ADHD be related to their academic performance? Does my child qualify for a Specific Learning Disability

  • Clinical interview of parents and interview/observations of child (1 hour)

    ADHD & Neuropsychological Testing (2 hour).

    • Includes general behavioral and emotional assessment forms for parents, teacher and child

    • ADHD assessment forms for parents, teacher and child

    • Computerized assessment if inattention and impulsivity (T.O.V.A.; Test of Variables of Attention) with child only

    • Neuropsychological testing to evaluate for executive functioning strengths and limitations

    IQ testing (2 hours)

    • Intellectual/cognitive assessment of child using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fifth Edition (WISC-V)

    Academic Testing (2 hours)

    • Academic achievement assessment of child to evaluate mathematics, reading, and writing skills using the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test, Third Edition (WIAT-III)

    Scoring, interpretation and report writing (8 hours)

    Testing feedback session (1 hour)

    • Includes comprehensive written report with diagnosis and detailed recommendations

    • Additional helpful handouts

    • Referrals (see sample referrals listed below)

      Referral may be provided for a psychiatric consultation to determine suitability of medication for ADHD

      Referral may be provided for an educational consultant to provide parents with guidance while collaborating with your child's school.

    • Guidance for parents regarding academic and treatment recommendations.

Learn more...

Is it ADHD? 

ADHD can only be diagnosed by a trained health professional. However, parents can use the ADHD checklist provided below to determine if their child may need to be evaluated for ADHD. 

Inattention

Children and adolescents may need to be evaluated for ADHD if Six or more of the following symptoms of inattention have been present for at least 6 months:

  • Often does not give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other activities.

  • Often has trouble keeping attention on tasks or play activities.

  • Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly.

  • Often does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace (loses focus, gets sidetracked).

  • Often has trouble organizing activities.

  • Often avoids, dislikes, or doesn't want to do things that take a lot of mental effort for a long period of time (such as schoolwork or homework).

  • Often loses things needed for tasks and activities (e.g. toys, school assignments, pencils, books, or tools).

  • Is often easily distracted.

  • Is often forgetful in daily activities. 

Hyperactivity / Impulsivity

Children and adolescents may need to be evaluated for ADHD if Six or more of the following symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity have been present for at least 6 months to an extent that is disruptive and inappropriate for developmental level:

  • Often fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat when sitting still is expected.

  • Often gets up from seat when remaining in seat is expected.

  • Often excessively runs about or climbs when and where it is not appropriate (adolescents or adults may feel very restless).

  • Often has trouble playing or doing leisure activities quietly.

  • Is often "on the go" or often acts as if "driven by a motor".

  • Often talks excessively.

  • Often blurts out answers before questions have been finished.

  • Often has trouble waiting one's turn.

  • Often interrupts or intrudes on others (e.g., butts into conversations or games). 

Dr. Aaron Montgomery, Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychologist | Newport Beach and Irvine California

Interested?  Let’s connect!

If you are interested in assessment services and live near the Newport Beach, Orange County California area, please contact me as soon as possible. I would love to hear from you and answer any questions you may have about my practice. 

I provide assessments for children and families throughout the Newport Beach area, but I also work with folks from Orange, Costa Mesa, Anaheim, Mission Viejo, Laguna Beach, Rancho Santa Margarita, Aliso Viejo, Fountain Valley, Laguna Hills, Irvine, Tustin, Huntington Beach, Seal Beach, and Dana Point.

I can help you find the right academic or work-based support.  Why wait?

Dr. Montgomery holds dual certifications in Clinical Psychology (California Board of Psychology PSY28475) and Family Therapy (California Board of Behavioral Sciences MFT49608). He has dedicated his professional and academic activities to understanding and addressing psychological, behavioral and interpersonal health in children, adolescents, and families.

Education:

  • Psy.D. Clinical Psychology

  • M.A. Clinical Psychology

  • M.S. Counseling Psychology

  • B.A. Psychology