26/02/2026
Before medication is considered, responsible assessment is essential.
Under HPCSA ethical guidelines, psychologists are required to conduct assessments that are thorough, evidence-based, and appropriate for the individual child. ADHD cannot be diagnosed from a checklist alone or a brief consultation.
A comprehensive ADHD assessment in South Africa typically includes:
1. Detailed Clinical Interview
Developmental history
Medical history
Family history
School functioning
Emotional and behavioural patterns
2. Parent and Teacher Input
ADHD symptoms must be present across settings. Structured parent and teacher interviews and rating scales help establish this.
3. Cognitive Assessment
Standardised tools such as the WISC-V (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children – Fifth Edition) are often used to evaluate cognitive strengths and weaknesses.
This helps determine:
Whether attention difficulties are primary,
Whether learning disorders may be contributing,
Whether anxiety, language, or processing difficulties are present.
4. Screening for Co-Occurring Conditions
ADHD commonly co-occurs with:
Anxiety
Learning & processing disorders
Sleep difficulties
Trauma exposure
Emotional regulation difficulties
If these are not identified, treatment may be incomplete or ineffective.
A responsible assessment does not rush toward medication.
It aims to understand the whole child before any intervention is recommended.
