ADHD | Illawarra Learning A

What does the assessment involve?

The assessment involves collecting information to understand your, or your child's, experiences.
We do this through interviews and questionnaires.
The interview usually takes up to two hours.
We recommend completing the parent interview and child interview on different days.

Could it be ADHD if my child isn't hyperactive and doesn't get in trouble at school?

Yes!
ADHD is much more than being energetic or fidgety.
Some people have inattentive ADHD, which involves difficulties with regulating attention, organisation, and memory.
It is also possible to hide traits of ADHD to avoid getting in trouble, this is known as masking.

My child can focus for hours on things they like. Could they still have an ADHD brain style?

Yes!
ADHD is poorly named, people with ADHD don't have a deficit they have difficulties with inhibition or stopping.
During boring tasks, this looks like difficulty focusing or ignoring distractions.
It can also look like hyperfocus for things they love due to difficulty stopping or changing their focus.

How can you tell if it's just "normal" kid stuff or ADHD?

All kids might forget their lunchbox or need a reminder to put their shoes on sometimes.
To determine if it's ADHD we think about how often it is happening (frequency) and what impact is it having on learning, emotions, or family life.
The questionnaires we use also help use to determine how many traits your child experiences compared to other people their age.

What ages do you assess?

We can assess children and adults.
Children are usually assessed from 6 years old.
While we can assess adults you may like to consider an assessment with a psychiatrist. You can discuss this with your GP and a Medicare rebate is usually available.