ADHD in Gilbert and East Valley Children: When to See a Pediatric Neurologist

By Dr. Tamara Zach MD — May 10, 2026

ADHD is the most commonly diagnosed neurodevelopmental condition in school-age children, and families in Gilbert, Power Ranch, Agritopia, Layton Lakes, and throughout the East Valley navigate this diagnosis every day. In most cases, ADHD is diagnosed and managed by a pediatrician or child psychiatrist — but there are specific situations where a pediatric neurologist plays a critical role.

This article from Dr. Tamara Zach MD at Rose Medical Pavilion explains what those situations are, and what east valley families can expect from a neurology evaluation for attention and behavioral concerns.

What Makes a Case “Complex” ADHD?

A straightforward ADHD diagnosis in a child with no other health concerns doesn't necessarily require a neurologist. However, referral to Dr. Zach is appropriate when:

• Seizures or staring spells accompany attention problems. Absence seizures are frequently mistaken for ADHD inattention. A child who appears to zone out briefly, repeatedly, and then resumes activity as if nothing happened may actually be having absence seizures rather than — or in addition to — ADHD. An EEG can distinguish between them.
• The diagnosis is uncertain after standard evaluation. When behavioral assessments are inconclusive or inconsistent across settings, a neurological examination can add important information.
• There are comorbid neurological symptoms. Headaches, tics, motor coordination problems, or sleep disorders alongside ADHD symptoms suggest a neurological component that warrants specialist evaluation.
• Medications are not working or are causing significant side effects. Dr. Zach can evaluate whether medication effects are neurological in origin and work with your prescribing provider to adjust the approach.
• There is a family history of epilepsy or neurological conditions. Children with this background may benefit from neurological screening before stimulant medications are started.
• The child has developmental delays alongside ADHD symptoms. This combination often reflects a broader neurological picture that benefits from specialist assessment.

The Absence Seizure Mistake

This deserves its own section because it is genuinely common and has real consequences. Absence seizures — sometimes called petit mal seizures — are brief, typically 5–30 second episodes in which a child stops what they're doing, stares blankly, and then resumes as if nothing happened. They can occur dozens or even hundreds of times per day.

Teachers and parents frequently describe these children as “spacey,” “not paying attention,” or “daydreaming constantly” — which looks exactly like ADHD inattention. Children are sometimes placed on stimulant medications for months before absence seizures are identified as the underlying issue. The correct treatment is an anti-seizure medication, not a stimulant.

If your East Valley child's inattention is particularly episodic — appearing and disappearing rather than being consistently present across all situations — a neurology evaluation to rule out absence seizures is worth pursuing before committing to an ADHD diagnosis.

What a Neurological ADHD Evaluation Looks Like

When Dr. Zach evaluates a child for complex ADHD or attention concerns, she conducts a thorough neurological examination and reviews the full clinical history. Depending on the presentation, she may order an EEG to rule out seizure activity, and she may request prior behavioral and educational assessments. She will also speak with parents about what specific behaviors are occurring, when they started, and in which settings they appear.

Her role is not to duplicate what a psychiatrist or psychologist does, but to assess the neurological contribution to the picture — and to identify whether there are underlying brain-based factors that haven't yet been addressed.

For Gilbert and East Valley Families

Rose Medical Pavilion is approximately 25–30 miles from most Gilbert and East Valley communities, typically a 33–38 minute drive via the Loop 202 or US-60. If your child's attention challenges feel complex — or if you've already pursued an ADHD diagnosis and something still doesn't feel right — call (623) 257-ROSE (7673) to schedule an evaluation. You can also read more about our approach on the developmental delays and epilepsy pages, and see our community pages for Gilbert, Power Ranch, and Agritopia.