A Compassionate Guide to the ADHD Diagnostic Process

Why Trust CadabamsCDC for Your Child’s ADHD Diagnosis?

Choosing the right partner for your child's pediatric diagnostic center experience is crucial. Our approach is built on expertise, empathy, and a commitment to seeing the whole child, not just the symptoms.

A Multidisciplinary Team Offering a 360° Diagnostic Perspective

A reliable ADHD diagnosis is never the opinion of just one person. Our team includes developmental paediatricians, neurologists, clinical psychologists, and therapists who collaborate on every case. This multidisciplinary diagnosis ADHD approach ensures we consider every angle—medical, behavioural, social, and sensory—to provide a complete and accurate picture of your child's needs.

Child-Friendly Infrastructure for Accurate and Stress-Free Assessments

We understand that a clinical environment can be stressful for children. Our centers are designed to be warm, engaging, and playful spaces where your child can feel comfortable being themselves. This child-friendly approach is essential for a stress-free and accurate pediatric assessment ADHD, allowing our experts to observe your child’s natural behaviours.

From Diagnosis to a Clear, Personalised Treatment Plan

An early diagnosis of ADHD is only useful if it leads to effective action. We don’t just hand you a report. We sit down with you to explain the findings, answer your questions, and collaboratively create a roadmap for the future. Our focus is on seamless diagnosis and therapy planning that empowers your child and your family.

Over 32+ Years of Specialised Expertise in Neurodevelopmental Care

With over three decades of dedicated service, Cadabams has become a leader in mental health and neurodevelopmental care. We have helped thousands of families navigate the complexities of developmental disorders. Our legacy is built on a deep understanding of conditions like ADHD and a relentless passion for helping children reach their full potential.

Recognising Early Signs of ADHD

How to identify developmental delays and challenges related to ADHD? While every child is different, certain patterns may prompt a child developmental evaluation.

Developmental and Motor Delays

You may notice your child seems clumsier than their peers, struggles with handwriting or tying shoelaces, or has difficulty with coordination in sports. These can be linked to the underlying neurological differences in ADHD.

Atypical Behaviours or Sensory Responses

Many children with ADHD experience sensory information differently. They might be overly sensitive to noise and textures or, conversely, constantly seek intense sensory input by moving, spinning, or crashing into things.

Speech, Feeding, or Communication Challenges

Difficulty waiting their turn to speak, interrupting others, talking excessively, or struggling to follow multi-step directions can be early indicators. Some children may also have feeding challenges related to sensory sensitivities or impulsivity.

Co-Occurring or Associated Difficulties

ADHD often co-exists with other challenges. You might see signs of anxiety, learning difficulties in reading or math, frequent emotional outbursts, or oppositional behaviour. Recognising these is a key part of the comprehensive diagnostic process.

A Step-by-Step Look at the Diagnostic Process at CadabamsCDC

We believe in a transparent, structured process that ensures accuracy and gives your family confidence. Here’s how ADHD is diagnosed at our center.

Step 1 - Initial Consultation and Developmental Screening

Your journey begins with an initial consultation where you share your concerns. We conduct a preliminary developmental screening for ADHD to determine if a full evaluation is warranted. This is a crucial first step in any early intervention assessment.

Step 2 - Detailed Medical & Developmental History Review

We gather comprehensive information about your child’s health, developmental milestones, family history, and school performance. We review reports from teachers and caregivers to understand your child’s behaviour in different settings.

Step 3 - Physical, Neurological & Behavioural Examination

A developmental paediatrician conducts a full physical and neurological exam to rule out other medical conditions that could mimic ADHD symptoms, such as vision or hearing problems, sleep disorders, or thyroid issues.

Step 4 - Observational and Standardised Diagnostic Tests

Our psychologists use gold-standard, age-appropriate rating scales and tests to measure symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. We also conduct structured observations of your child during play and learning tasks to see their challenges firsthand.

Step 5 - Collaborative Diagnosis & Goal Setting with Families

The multidisciplinary team meets to integrate all the findings and arrive at a definitive conclusion based on DSM diagnosis ADHD or ICD criteria. We then meet with you to discuss the diagnosis, what it means, and work together to set meaningful goals for your child’s therapy and development.

Understanding the Role of the DSM in ADHD Diagnosis

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, currently in its fifth edition (DSM-5), is the authoritative guide used by clinicians in the U.S. and many other countries to diagnose mental and developmental disorders.

Beyond the Primary Diagnosis: Understanding the Whole Child

Understanding a DSM diagnosis goes beyond a simple checklist. The DSM-5 helps our clinicians specify the type of ADHD (Predominantly Inattentive, Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive, or Combined Presentation) and its severity. This nuance is vital for creating a truly personalised treatment plan.

Identifying Co-Occurring Conditions Using DSM-5 Criteria

The DSM-5 provides clear criteria for diagnosing conditions that often accompany ADHD. Our comprehensive evaluation process uses this framework to systematically check for and identify any co-occurring disorders, ensuring no challenge goes unaddressed.

Common Co-Occurring Conditions in ADHD

• Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
• Anxiety Disorders
• Learning Disabilities (e.g., Dyslexia, Dyscalculia)
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Tic Disorders (e.g., Tourette's Syndrome)

The Power of a Unified, Collaborative Approach

By using the DSM-5 as a common language, our entire multidisciplinary team—from the neurologist to the special educator—can communicate precisely about your child’s diagnosis, ensuring everyone is aligned on the therapeutic approach.

Understanding the ICD Classification for ADHD

The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) is the global diagnostic standard maintained by the World Health Organization (WHO). It ensures that a diagnosis made in one country is understood and valid across the world.

What an ICD Diagnosis Means for Families

An ICD diagnosis ADHD is essential for medical records, insurance claims, and international consistency. It ensures that your child’s diagnosis is officially recognised by healthcare and educational systems worldwide, which is particularly important for families who may relocate.

Key ICD-10 & ICD-11 Codes Explained

• ICD-10 Codes for ADHD: Under ICD-10, ADHD is classified as a "Hyperkinetic Disorder." The primary code is F90, with variations like F90.0 (Disturbance of activity and attention) and F90.1 (Hyperkinetic conduct disorder).
• ICD-11 Classification for ADHD: The newer ICD-11 classification for ADHD aligns more closely with the DSM-5. It classifies ADHD under Neurodevelopmental Disorders (Code 6A05) and includes specifiers for predominantly inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive, or combined presentations.

The Benefits of ICD-11: A More Precise Picture

ICD-11 provides a more detailed and modern framework for diagnosing ADHD. Its improved structure allows for greater specificity, which helps in tailoring interventions more precisely to your child’s presentation of ADHD.

How CadabamsCDC Ensures ICD Accuracy

Our clinical team is extensively trained in both ICD-10 codes ADHD and the new ICD-11 standards. We ensure every diagnosis is coded accurately, providing you with documentation that is clear, precise, and universally accepted.

From Diagnosis to Development: Your Child’s Journey Forward

A diagnosis is not an endpoint; it is the starting line for a journey of growth and empowerment.

Early Intervention: The Critical Next Step

The research is unequivocal: early intervention is the most powerful tool for improving long-term outcomes for children with ADHD. Starting therapy soon after diagnosis helps build foundational skills before negative patterns become entrenched. This is why a timely early intervention assessment is so important.

Customised Paediatric Therapy Plans

Based on the diagnostic findings, we design a holistic therapy plan which may include:

• Occupational Therapy to improve sensory processing, fine motor skills, and self-regulation.
• Speech-Language Therapy to address challenges with communication and social pragmatics.
• Behavioural Therapy & ABA to teach positive behaviours and coping strategies.
• Special Education to provide academic support and learning strategies.

Family Coaching & Home-Based Support

We empower you, the parent, to become a confident co-therapist. Our family coaching programs provide you with practical strategies to manage challenging behaviours, create supportive routines, and build a stronger, more positive relationship with your child.

Meet the Experts Behind the Diagnosis

Our strength lies in our people. When you come to CadabamsCDC, you are entrusting your child to a team of passionate, highly qualified professionals.

Developmental Paediatricians & Neurologists

Our medical experts lead the pediatric diagnostic process. They conduct the thorough medical and neurodevelopmental screening needed to establish an accurate diagnosis and rule out other contributing factors.

Occupational, Physiotherapists & Speech-Language Pathologists

These therapists are experts in development. They assess your child’s functional skills—how they move, play, communicate, and interact with their environment—providing critical data for the developmental disorder diagnosis.

Clinical Psychologists & Special Educators

Our psychologists administer and interpret standardised tests and behavioural observations. Together with special educators, they analyse your child's learning profile and behavioural patterns to complete the diagnostic puzzle.

###: Expert Quotes & Insights

"A good diagnosis is like a detailed map. It doesn't just tell you where you are; it shows you all the possible routes to get where you want to go. Our job is to help families read that map." - Dr. [Name], Lead Developmental Paediatrician

Real-Life Journeys: From Diagnosis to Progress

Every child's story is unique. Here are a few anonymised examples of how a clear diagnosis at CadabamsCDC created a path forward.

Case Study 1 - Early Diagnosis and Improved Outcomes

Seven-year-old Aarav was struggling to read and was constantly being sent out of class for being disruptive. His parents feared he was just "a bad kid." A comprehensive evaluation revealed severe Combined-Type ADHD and Dyslexia. With a targeted plan of occupational therapy and special education, Aarav’s behaviour in class improved dramatically, and with the right reading support, he began to feel confident in his abilities for the first time.

Case Study 2 - A Path from Confusion to Clarity

Priya, age 5, was extremely shy, would daydream constantly in kindergarten, and often lost her belongings. Her parents thought she was just immature. Our child developmental evaluation identified Predominantly Inattentive ADHD. Without hyperactivity, her struggles had been overlooked. Early intervention focused on building her executive functioning skills—like memory and organization—allowing her to participate more fully in class and at home.

Family Testimonial - “Diagnosis Was the Beginning, Not the End”

"For years, we felt lost. We didn't understand why our son struggled so much when he was so bright. Coming to CadabamsCDC and getting a clear diagnosis was a huge relief. It wasn’t a sad label; it was an explanation. It gave us a plan and a team to support us. The diagnosis was the beginning of our journey to understanding and helping our son truly shine." - Parents of Rohan, age 9.