ADHD Evaluations for Children and Adolescents in Baltimore, Maryland
Parents may consider an ADHD evaluation when a child has persistent difficulty with attention, organization, impulsivity, activity level, or completing everyday responsibilities. Some children are noticeably restless or impulsive, while others primarily struggle with distractibility, forgetfulness, time management, or inconsistent perforamnce.
Dr. Shelley McDermott provides individualized ADHD evaluations for children and adolescents at her Baltimore office, serving families from Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and communities throughout Maryland. Each evaluation considers the child's broader developmental, academic, behavioral, and emotional functioning--not simply whether the child appears inattentive or active.
When an ADHD Evaluation May Be Helpful
Children and adolescents referred for an ADHD evaluation can present in many different ways. Parents, teachers, pediatricians, or therapists may have noticed concerns involving:
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Difficulty sustaining attention or following instructions
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Becoming easily distracted
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Forgetfulness or frequently losing needed items
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Difficulty beginning, organizing, or completing tasks
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Inconsistent academic performance
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Poor time management or difficulty meeting deadlines
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Acting or speaking without considering consequences
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Restlessness or difficulty remaining seated
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Trouble waiting, taking turns, or managing frustration
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Becoming overwhelmed by multistep tasks
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Difficulty regulating emotions
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Increasing problems as schoolwork and responsibilities become more demanding
Occasional difficulties in these areas are common, particularly when children are tired, stressed, bored, or adjusting to new expectations. An evaluation may be helpful when the concerns are persistent, occur across important areas of the child's life, or interfere with learning, relationships, independence, or family functioning.
Families do not need to determine beforehand whether ADHD is the most likely explanation. Dr. McDermott begins by learning about the family's concerns and recommends an assessment process tailored to the questions they hope to answer.
A Comprehensive, Individualized Evaluation
There is no single test that determines whether a child has ADHD. A comprehensive evaluation considers the child's history, behavior across settings, current demands, individual strengths, and possible explanations for the reported difficulties.
Depending on the child's age and needs, and ADHD evaluation may explore:
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Attention and concentration
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Impulse control and activity level
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Organization, planning, and task completion
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Working memory and processing
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Cognitive and academic abilities
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Learning strengths and difficulties
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Emotional and behavioral functioning
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Social development and relationships
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Adaptive skills and everyday independence
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Developmental, medical, and educational history
Dr. McDermott selects standardized assessment tools and other evaluation activities based on the child and the referral questions. With parental permission, she may also review school records and gather information from teachers, therapists, or other professionals who know the child.
Information from multiple sources is particularly important because attention and executive-functioning difficulties may appear differently at home, at school, and during an individual assessment. Not every evaluation includes every area listed above; the scope is determined by the child's needs.
Looking Beyond Attention and Activity Level
Difficulty concentrating does not always indicate ADHD. Problems involving attention, organization, motivation, or task completion can also be associated with learning difficulties, anxiety, mood, sleep, stress, developmental differences, or environmental demands. Some children experience more than one of these concerns at the same time.
Dr. McDermott considers these possibilities so that the evaluation does not reduce the child's difficulties to a single behavior or test score. The goal is to understand why the child is struggling and which supports are most likely to help.
When appropriate, Dr. McDermott uses the evaluation to determine whether the child meets diagnostic criteria for ADHD and whether another diagnosis or co-occurring concern should also be considered. When an ADHD diagnosis does not apply, the evaluation can still clarify the child's strengths and needs and provide useful recommendations for moving forward.
What to Expect
The evaluation process generally includes three stages:
Initial Parent Meeting
The process begins with a telehealth meeting with Dr. McDermott. Parents discuss their child's history, current concerns, and the questions they hope the evaluation will answer. Dr. McDermott then explains the recommended assessment process and applicable fee before the evaluation is scheduled.
Individualized In-Person Assessment
The child participates in an in-person assessment at Dr. McDermott's office at The Rotunda in Baltimore's Hampden neighborhood. The activities and time required vary according to the child's age, needs, and the scope of the evaluation.
Feedback and Written Report
After the assessment is complete, Dr. McDermott meets with the parents to explain the findings, discuss whether a diagnosis applies, answer questions, and review recommended next steps.
Families receive a written report documenting the evaluation results and individualized recommendations for home, school, treatment, and other appropriate services.
Practical Recommendations for Moving Forward
An ADHD evaluation should provide more than a diagnosis. Recommendations are developed around the child's particular pattern of strengths, difficulties, environment, and everyday responsibilities.
Depending on the findings, recommendations may address:
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Classroom supports and educational accommodations
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Organization, planning and time-management strategies
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Approaches to homework and task completion
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Behavioral and emotional supports
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Parent strategies for routines and expectations
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Therapy or skills-based intervention
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Consultation with a pediatrician or other medical professional
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Further evaluation or additional services when appropriate
Recommendations may also help parents communicate more effectively with schools, healthcare providers, and other professionals involved in the child's care.
The goal is for families to leave the evaluation with a clearer understanding of the child's difficulties, greater confidence in how to support them, and a practical foundation for what comes next.
ADHD Evaluations in Baltimore
Initial parent meetings are conducted through telehealth. Assessment appointments with children and adolescents take place in person at McDermott Psychological's Baltimore office:
The office is located in Baltimore's Hampden neighborhood near the Jones Falls Expressway (I-83) and serves families from Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and surrounding Maryland communities.
Currently Accepting New Evaluation Clients
McDermott Psychological is currently welcoming families seeking psychological and psychoeducational evaluations for children and adolescents in Baltimore. Depending on your child’s needs the evaluation process may be able to begin soon after your initial inquiry.
Submit an evaluation request to tell Dr. McDermott about your concerns and learn about current availability and possible next steps.
Reaching out does not commit your family to scheduling an evaluation.