Common signs

What parents may notice

  • Difficulty sustaining attention
  • Frequently losing things
  • Not finishing age-appropriate tasks
  • Acting before thinking
  • Excessive movement or restlessness
  • Interrupting or difficulty waiting
  • School concerns across subjects
  • Emotional frustration linked to demands
Possible reasons

What can cause it?

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition. Sleep problems, anxiety, learning difficulty, hearing or vision problems, stress and other developmental conditions can produce similar concerns and should be considered during assessment.

When to book

When should your child be assessed?

  • Attention or activity concerns are persistent
  • The pattern occurs in more than one setting
  • School progress or friendships are affected
  • Behaviour is creating significant family stress
  • There are additional speech, learning, sleep or emotional concerns
Urgent warning signs

When to seek immediate care

  • Immediate risk of self-harm or harm to others
  • Severe behavioural change with confusion or loss of awareness
  • A child who has taken an unsafe substance or medicine
  • Any acute mental-health crisis
At the specialist visit

How the concern may be evaluated

  • Developmental and medical history
  • Parent and school questionnaires
  • Learning, sleep and emotional review
  • Hearing, vision or other assessment when needed
  • A practical support and follow-up plan
Prepare

What to do before the visit

  • Bring school reports and teacher observations
  • List examples from home and school
  • Bring prior developmental or psychological assessments
  • Note sleep, medicines and daily routines
Questions parents ask

The real questions, answered.

Not what we wish you'd ask. What you're actually thinking when you find this page.

Book a consultation
Does every active child have ADHD?

No. ADHD involves a persistent pattern that is greater than expected for age and affects functioning in more than one setting.

Can ADHD be diagnosed from one questionnaire?

No. Questionnaires support assessment, but diagnosis requires a broader developmental and clinical review.

Can learning difficulty look like ADHD?

Yes. A child may disengage or become restless when work is difficult, so learning needs should be considered.

Is medicine the only treatment?

No. Support may include parent strategies, school adjustments, behavioural approaches and medicine when appropriate.

Can sleep problems worsen attention?

Yes. Inadequate or disrupted sleep can significantly affect attention, mood and behaviour.

Persistent symptoms deserve a clear next step.

Speak with Developmental Paediatrics or contact our team to organise the right starting point.