ABSTRACT
ADHD is one of the most common mental health diagnoses of childhood and, when untreated, can negatively impact developmental trajectories, including academic function and relationships. Primary care providers have access to many children and adolescents and are encouraged to evaluate children who present with impairment and symptoms suggestive of ADHD. This chapter describes the utility and strengths of two tools when assessing children and adolescents in the primary care setting, the Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Teacher and Parent Rating Scales and the Conners 3rd Edition (Conners 3) with DSM-5 update. The Vanderbilt rating scales are useful for assessing and planning treatment for most children presenting to primary care providers with symptoms suggestive of ADHD, and the Conners 3 can be helpful for youth with more complex presentations. Both Vanderbilt and the Conners 3 have forms that can be used repeatedly over time to gather information about treatment response.
