For Parents
Understanding ADHD in Children
Hear from Clinic Director and Specialist Paediatrician, Dr Natasha Fernandez, as she explains ADHD in children and adolescents, including common signs, assessment pathways, and how early support can help children thrive at home, school, and in everyday life.
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Consultation Process
Initial Enquiry
Families typically begin by contacting the clinic or submitting an enquiry through the website. During this stage, our team gathers preliminary information about your child’s age, presenting concerns, developmental history, and any previous supports or assessments.
This information helps us determine the most suitable starting point and clinician for your family.
Consultation Appointment
Your child will meet with the relevant clinician for a detailed consultation. Depending on the referral question, this may involve discussion around:
- Developmental history
- Learning and school concerns
- Attention, behaviour, or emotional regulation
- Social communication and interaction
- Medical or neurological history
- Family observations and current supports
The consultation provides an opportunity to explore concerns in depth and discuss possible next steps.
Recommendations & Planning
Following the consultation, the clinician will discuss recommendations tailored to your child’s needs. These may include:
- Monitoring and follow-up appointments
- School-based recommendations
- Therapy referrals or intervention supports
- Medical management
- A formal developmental, cognitive, or diagnostic assessment
Our goal is to provide families with a clearer understanding of what may be contributing to their child’s difficulties and a practical plan moving forward.
Assessment Process
Intake & Preparation
Before assessment begins, families complete intake questionnaires and provide relevant background information, such as:
- School reports
- Previous assessments or therapy reports
- Medical history
- Teacher feedback
- Parent observations
Before assessment, a preliminary interview (via telehealth link or phone call) will take place involving the psychologist, parents, and sometimes the child. This preparation phase assists with assessment planning and helps ensure the assessment process is tailored to your child’s specific presentation and referral needs.
Assessment Sessions
Your child will attend one or more structured assessment sessions with the psychologist. Depending on the referral question, this may include:
- Cognitive testing
- Academic assessment
- Attention and executive functioning tasks
- Behavioural and emotional questionnaires
- Autism-specific measures
- Interviews with parents or caregivers
Assessment sessions are designed to be supportive, structured, and paced according to the child’s age and needs.
Feedback & Recommendations
Once the assessment is completed, results are carefully analysed and integrated into a detailed report.
Families are then provided with a feedback session to discuss:
- Assessment findings
- Diagnoses (if applicable)
- Strengths and challenges
- Recommendations for home and school
- Therapy, educational, or medical supports
- Ongoing management planning
Our aim is not simply to provide a diagnosis, but to help families better understand their child and support meaningful long-term outcomes.