ADHD testing and evaluations

Difficulty concentrating, staying organized, managing time, completing tasks, or regulating attention can affect school, work, relationships, and everyday life. But attention difficulties can have many causes, and symptoms that look like ADHD may also occur with anxiety, depression, trauma, sleep difficulties, stress, and other conditions.

Wallace Counseling Co. offers ADHD assessment services using the T.O.V.A.® 9 (Test of Variables of Attention), an FDA-cleared computerized assessment that provides objective information about attention and inhibitory control.

If you or your child is struggling with attention, organization, impulsivity, task completion, or academic performance, an ADHD evaluation may be a helpful first step toward understanding what is happening and identifying appropriate next steps.

The Test of Variables of Attention (T.O.V.A.) 9 is a standardized computerized continuous performance test designed to objectively measure aspects of attention and inhibitory control.

Unlike a questionnaire that asks you to describe your symptoms, the T.O.V.A. measures your performance during a structured task. It evaluates important aspects of attention, including:

• Response time – how quickly you respond to stimuli
• Response-time variability – how consistently you respond
• Omissions – missed or overlooked targets
• Commissions – responses to stimuli when you should not respond

Your performance is compared with age-based normative data and other reference groups to provide objective information about your attentional functioning.

For more information on the T.O.V.A. 9 test appointment, see the TOVA website: https://tovatest.com/how-tova-works/  

ADHD is more than a single test score. A meaningful evaluation considers the whole person, including symptoms, history, functioning, and other factors that may contribute to attention difficulties.

Your evaluation may include:

1. Clinical interview
   We discuss your current concerns, symptoms, developmental history, academic or occupational functioning, and how attention difficulties affect your everyday life.
2. ADHD symptom assessment
   Standardized rating measures may be used to evaluate ADHD-related symptoms and their impact across different areas of functioning.
3. T.O.V.A. 9 assessment
   You will complete a computerized attention and inhibitory-control task. The T.O.V.A. provides objective performance data that can be incorporated into the overall evaluation.
4. Clinical interpretation
   Results are reviewed alongside your history, symptoms, behavioral information, and other relevant clinical factors.
5. Feedback and recommendations
   We discuss the findings with you and provide recommendations based on the evaluation results.

ADHD assessment may be appropriate for adolescents and adults who are experiencing concerns such as:

• Difficulty sustaining attention
• Frequent forgetfulness
• Trouble completing tasks
• Disorganization
• Procrastination or difficulty getting started
• Time-management problems
• Restlessness or feeling unable to slow down
• Impulsivity
• Difficulty managing competing demands
• Academic or workplace difficulties
• A lifelong pattern of attention-related challenges that has become more noticeable with increased responsibilities

The T.O.V.A. visual assessment is normed for individuals from approximately ages 4 through 80+, with different versions available by age.

The T.O.V.A. adds an objective performance-based measure to the evaluation process.

Clinical interviews and symptom questionnaires provide important information about what you experience in daily life. The T.O.V.A. provides another piece of the puzzle by measuring performance under standardized conditions.

The T.O.V.A. is designed to measure attention and inhibitory control with highly precise response-time measurement and standardized comparisons.

The T.O.V.A. does not diagnose ADHD by itself.

T.O.V.A. results are intended to aid a qualified professional in the assessment of attention deficits, including ADHD. Results must be interpreted in the context of the individual's clinical history and other available information.

This means that your evaluation is not simply a computer test. The T.O.V.A. is one component of a broader clinical assessment.

Once your assessment is complete, we will review the findings with you and discuss what they mean in the context of your symptoms and daily functioning.

Depending on the results, recommendations may include:

• ADHD-focused counseling strategies
• Organizational and executive-function strategies
• Academic or workplace accommodations to discuss with the appropriate professional
• Coordination or referral for medication evaluation when appropriate
• Additional assessment or referral when another condition may better explain the presenting concerns
• School-based classroom accommodations to enhance the learning environment, in accordance with TEA guidelines: https://tea.texas.gov/special-populations-and-support/section-504 

If you've spent years wondering why certain things seem harder than they "should," an ADHD evaluation may help provide clarity.

Schedule an ADHD evaluation with Wallace Counseling Co.

The T.O.V.A.® is a registered trademark of The TOVA Company. T.O.V.A. results are an assessment aid and are not, by themselves, diagnostic of ADHD or any other disorder.

“Can the T.O.V.A. diagnose ADHD?”
No. The T.O.V.A. provides objective information about attention and inhibitory control and is intended to aid a qualified clinician's assessment. Diagnosis requires consideration of the individual's broader clinical picture.

“How long does ADHD testing take?”
This is something I would customize based on the exact evaluation package you decide to offer. The T.O.V.A. itself has different administration lengths depending on age and test type.

“Do I have to be off my ADHD medication?”
I would not put a blanket yes/no answer on the website. Your testing protocol should specify medication instructions based on what you're trying to assess and your clinical procedures.

“Can adults be tested for ADHD?”
Yes. The T.O.V.A. 9 visual assessment is normed through adulthood, including ages 18 through 80+.