Assessments
ADHD Testing for Kids & Teens in the South Bay
An ADHD evaluation is a set of tests, interviews and rating scales that shows whether attention problems are ADHD or something else, such as anxiety, a learning difference or poor sleep. We meet with you, test your child one-on-one, then explain the results and give you a written plan for home and school.
Is an ADHD evaluation right for your child?
Most families call after a teacher, pediatrician or tutor raises a concern. Others have simply watched the same struggle repeat for a year or more. An evaluation may help if you notice some of these:
- Teachers say your child drifts off, calls out or has trouble staying seated
- Homework takes far longer than it should, even when your child understands the material
- Your child loses things, forgets steps, or starts tasks and doesn't finish them
- They act before thinking in ways that cause trouble with friends or safety
- Grades don't match how capable your child seems in conversation
- Reminders, charts and tutoring have helped a little, but not enough
Every child shows some of these some of the time. What matters is how often they happen, how long they’ve lasted, whether they show up in more than one place (home, school, activities), and whether something else explains them better. Anxiety, a reading or math disability, poor sleep and stress can all look like ADHD. A good evaluation checks for those too, so you don’t end up treating the wrong thing.
What does the evaluation look at?
ADHD is diagnosed using the criteria in the DSM-5-TR, the manual clinicians use in the United States. Among other things, symptoms have to start before age 12, show up in at least two settings, last at least six months and get in the way of daily life. To answer those questions carefully, Dr. Paul looks at:
- Attention and concentration: how well your child sustains focus, filters out distractions and shifts between tasks
- Executive function: planning, organizing, starting and finishing tasks, and working memory (holding information in mind while using it)
- Thinking skills: reasoning, language, visual-spatial skills and processing speed
- Academic skills: reading, writing and math, to check for a learning disability that can sit alongside ADHD or be mistaken for it
- Emotional and behavioral factors: anxiety, mood, frustration and self-esteem
- Behavior across settings: rating scales completed by you and by your child’s teachers
MP Wellness uses a dynamic, individualized assessment approach, with current, evidence-based psychological assessment tools selected for each person’s needs and presenting concerns. The report lists every measure used.
What happens, step by step
| Step | When | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Consultation | Free, about 30 minutes, by phone | We talk through what you're seeing and whether an evaluation is the right next step. |
| 2. Clinical consultation | After you schedule | We review development, health, school history and your main questions. You send report cards, past testing and any school plans. |
| 3. Testing | 4–5 sessions of 2 hours (about 8–10 hours) | One-on-one testing in our Hermosa Beach office, with breaks. You and your child's teachers complete rating scales. |
| 4. Report writing | About 3–4 weeks after the last session | Our clinical team scores the tests, analyzes the results, reviews prior records and writes a comprehensive diagnostic report. |
| 5. Feedback | A 2 hours session | We go over the findings and a clear plan for treatment, school or workplace accommodations and next steps, and you receive the written report. Feedback can sometimes be done by telehealth. |
Testing takes about 8–10 hours of one-on-one time, spread over 4–5 sessions of 2 hours each so your child can do their best without getting worn out. About 3–4 weeks after the last session, we meet for a 2 hours feedback session.
What you receive
- A written report in plain language, with scores explained
- A clear answer: whether ADHD fits, and if it doesn't, what better explains what you're seeing
- Specific recommendations for school, such as classroom accommodations, and for home
- A feedback session to go through the results together and answer your questions
- A report you can share with your pediatrician, your child's school and any tutor or therapist you choose
If you and your doctor want to consider medication, the report gives your pediatrician or psychiatrist a detailed picture to work from. Psychologists in California don’t prescribe medication, so that decision stays between you and your child’s doctor.
Want to understand how a private evaluation fits with the school’s own process? Read school testing vs. private evaluation.
What does it cost?
This evaluation is $4,000. The fee includes a clinical consultation to plan the evaluation, all testing sessions, scoring, analysis and a written diagnostic report and a feedback and recommendations session. School or IEP meetings are billed separately at $250 per hour.
We're an out-of-network provider, so payment is due at the time of service. We bill your insurance on your behalf and provide the documentation needed to support reimbursement. We can't guarantee coverage, but many families receive partial reimbursement, depending on their plan.
Who you'll see
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
- California license PSY 36605 · Verify with the state (opens the California DCA license search)
- Doctoral training in clinical psychology
- About about eight years of psychological and neuropsychological assessment experience
- Born and raised in Redondo Beach
Common questions
How is a full ADHD evaluation different from a visit to the pediatrician?
What ages do you test for ADHD?
Can a child have ADHD if they aren't hyperactive?
Should my child take ADHD medication on testing days?
Will the evaluation tell us whether my child needs medication?
Can we use the ADHD report to get a 504 plan or IEP?
Serving families in Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, Torrance, Palos Verdes and the South Bay.
Not sure testing is the right step?
A free consultation with Dr. Paul is the easiest way to find out. No commitment.