Your child is restless, unable to finish a task, constantly distracted. Or, on the contrary, they are very calm but “away with the fairies”, absent in spite of themselves. Their teachers mention possible ADHD. You have searched online and you are thinking about it too. But how can you be sure? And which professional should you see first?
The neuropsychological assessment is the tool that objectively establishes the attention and cognitive profile of a child with suspected ADHD — and avoids the two most common mistakes: diagnosing ADHD where there is none, or missing ADHD masked by other disorders.
Book an ADHD neuropsychological assessment
Neuropsychologists specialised in ADHD · Complete cognitive profile · Report within 2-3 weeks · Quick appointment
ADHD: exactly what the assessment evaluates
ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, with or without hyperactivity) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by difficulty regulating attention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. It affects around 5 to 6% of children in France. But its signs vary considerably from one child to another — which makes it hard to identify without a formal assessment.
The neuropsychological assessment precisely measures the functions whose dysregulation characterises ADHD:
- Sustained attention: the ability to stay focused on a long, unstimulating task
- Selective attention: the ability to ignore distractions and focus on what matters
- Working memory: the ability to hold and manipulate information in immediate memory
- Inhibitory control: the ability to hold back an automatic response — the key to impulsivity
- Mental flexibility: the ability to change strategy depending on the context
- Processing speed: how quickly the brain processes information
Why the assessment is essential to avoid diagnostic errors
The HAS (French National Authority for Health) points out that a neuropsychological assessment is not mandatory to diagnose ADHD — but it stresses its importance in complex cases and for differential diagnosis. And complex cases are the rule, not the exception.
ADHD is often confused with other disorders
- An anxious child may seem distracted because they are constantly ruminating — anxiety disrupts attention
- A gifted (HPI) child may become restless out of deep boredom — the stimulation is not enough for them
- A child with sleep disorders may show severe daytime inattention
- A child with ASD may have attention difficulties for reasons very different from ADHD
The neuropsychological assessment makes it possible to untangle these situations: an uneven cognitive profile, low processing speed with intact fluid reasoning, or working memory that has collapsed in isolation are markers that guide the differential diagnosis.
ADHD is often associated with other disorders
ADHD is rarely isolated. It frequently coexists with other disorders: learning disorders in 50 to 80% of cases, anxiety disorders in 25 to 50% of cases, oppositional disorders, dyspraxia, ASD. Without a neuropsychological assessment, these co-occurring conditions often go unnoticed — and support remains incomplete.
Book an ADHD neuropsychological assessment
Neuropsychologists specialised in ADHD · Complete cognitive profile · Report within 2-3 weeks · Quick appointment
The neuropsychological assessment: what it actually provides
- A complete cognitive profile across several indices (not just an overall IQ)
- An objective measure of attention and executive deficits through standardised tests
- The distinction between ADHD and differential diagnoses (anxiety, giftedness, ASD, sleep disorders)
- The identification of associated co-occurring conditions
- Precise recommendations for school adjustments and support
- A document that can be passed on to the child psychiatrist so that the medical diagnosis can be made
The report produced by the ORA-VISIO neuropsychologist is recognised for PAP (personalised support plan) applications, MDPH files, exam adjustments, and the prescription of ADHD coaching or speech therapy if associated disorders are identified.
ADHD without hyperactivity: the discreet profiles that often fly under the radar
Purely inattentive ADHD — with no visible hyperactivity — concerns a significant proportion of children with ADHD, especially girls. These children do not disrupt the class. They are daydreamy, slow, forgetful, but calm. School often puts up with them without flagging them. And they suffer in silence for years.
The neuropsychological assessment is often the only way to detect these discreet profiles, whose difficulties are real but invisible without a formal assessment.
After the ADHD assessment: the support offered by ORA-VISIO
- Online ADHD coaching: organisation tools, attention management, routines and independence
- Speech therapy if associated language disorders are identified
- Psychopedagogy to adapt learning methods to the ADHD profile
- Parental guidance to support the child at home without burning out
- Psychological follow-up if there is associated anxiety or emotional distress
Book an ADHD neuropsychological assessment
Neuropsychologists specialised in ADHD · Complete cognitive profile · Report within 2-3 weeks · Quick appointment
FAQ
Does the neuropsychological assessment diagnose ADHD?
No. The neuropsychologist documents the cognitive and attention profile. The medical diagnosis of ADHD is made by the child psychiatrist or paediatric neurologist, who relies in particular on the results of the assessment. The two steps are complementary.
Can my child have an ADHD assessment online?
Yes. Tests assessing attention and executive functions are perfectly suited to the video-conference format. A familiar environment can even make testing easier for very anxious or restless children, as it reduces unusual distracting stimuli.
At what age should an assessment for suspected ADHD be done?
From the age of 4-5 for the first developmental assessments, with suitable tools. The most complete assessments can be carried out from the age of 6 with the WISC-V. There is no upper age limit — adults can also have an ADHD assessment.
