Author: Sonja Walker, Founder, Kids First Children’s Services
Clinically reviewed by: Dr Fernanda Nardi (PSY0004069429 )
Every child has days when they forget their homework, struggle to listen, or seem to have endless energy. So how do you know when these behaviours are simply part of growing up and when they might be a sign that your child needs extra support?
If you’ve found yourself asking that question, you’re not alone. Many families begin to notice small patterns over time. Perhaps your child’s teacher has raised concerns, homework has become a daily struggle, or you’re seeing challenges with attention, emotions, or friendships that don’t seem to be improving.
This checklist is designed to help you recognise some of the common signs that may suggest your child could benefit from an ADHD assessment. It isn’t designed to diagnose ADHD, but it can help you decide whether it’s time to seek professional advice and better understand what happens next.
What Is ADHD and Why Does Early Identification Matter?
ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects attention, impulse control, activity levels, and executive functioning. Executive functioning is the set of mental skills that helps children plan, stay organised, manage their emotions, remember instructions, and complete everyday tasks.
Recognising ADHD early gives children the opportunity to receive the right support before challenges begin affecting their confidence, learning, or relationships. Without that understanding, some children may start believing they’re lazy, naughty, or “not trying hard enough” when they’re actually finding everyday tasks more difficult than their peers.
No two children with ADHD are exactly the same. Some struggle mainly with attention, others with hyperactivity and impulsive behaviour, while many experience a combination of both. Understanding these different presentations can help you recognise patterns in your own child before seeking professional advice.
Predominantly Inattentive Presentation
Children with the inattentive presentation often seem distracted or forgetful. They may lose things, miss instructions, struggle to stay organised, or find it difficult to finish tasks. Because they aren’t usually disruptive, their challenges can sometimes be overlooked at home or school.
Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation
Children with the hyperactive-impulsive presentation often seem constantly on the go. They may struggle to stay seated, interrupt conversations, act before thinking, or find it difficult to wait their turn. These behaviours are often more noticeable in structured settings such as the classroom.
Combined Presentation
Children with the combined presentation show signs of both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive ADHD. Because every child has a unique combination of strengths and challenges, a thorough assessment helps psychologists understand how ADHD is affecting their everyday life and identify the support that may be most helpful.
Checklist: Signs Your Child May Benefit From an ADHD Assessment
This checklist isn’t designed to diagnose ADHD, but it can help you recognise patterns that may be worth discussing with a psychologist. Every child has difficult days from time to time. The difference is when these behaviours happen consistently, across different settings such as home and school, and begin affecting your child’s learning, relationships, or everyday life.
Attention and Focus
Children who may benefit from an ADHD assessment often struggle to stay organised and follow through with tasks. They might lose track of what they’re doing halfway through an activity, forget everyday responsibilities, become easily distracted, or have difficulty following instructions with several steps. Some also avoid tasks that require sustained concentration or make careless mistakes despite understanding the work.
Hyperactivity and Impulsivity
Some children seem to be constantly moving. They may find it difficult to stay seated, fidget throughout the day, talk excessively, interrupt conversations, or act before thinking. Others struggle to wait their turn or become frustrated when they have to slow down.
Children who can’t sit still don’t always have ADHD. There are many reasons a child may struggle with restlessness, which is why psychologists look at patterns of behaviour rather than a single symptom.
Emotional and Social Wellbeing
ADHD can also affect the way children manage their emotions and relationships. Some children become overwhelmed by small changes, have frequent emotional outbursts, or struggle to make and keep friends. Others become easily discouraged and begin saying things like, “I’m stupid” or “I can’t do anything right.”
If you’re noticing challenges across several of these areas, it may be time to consider a professional assessment. A psychologist can help determine whether ADHD or another developmental, learning, or emotional difference may be contributing to what you’re seeing.
How Are These Signs Different From Typical Child Behaviour?
Every child forgets things, gets distracted, or has an occasional emotional outburst. On their own, these behaviours are a normal part of growing up. What matters is how often they happen, how long they’ve been happening, and how much they affect your child’s everyday life.
Psychologists look for patterns that are consistent over time and across different settings, such as at home and school. They also consider whether the behaviours are affecting your child’s learning, friendships, confidence, or family life. For example, if your child’s teacher has raised the same concerns more than once, homework has become a daily struggle, or your child is regularly finding it difficult to manage at school or with friends, it may be worth seeking further advice.
When Is It Time to Seek an ADHD Assessment?
Many parents worry about whether they’re overreacting. In reality, you don’t need to wait until your child is in crisis before asking for help. If something doesn’t feel quite right, it’s okay to ask questions and explore your options. If you’re unsure whether an ADHD assessment is the right next step, our guide on when your child should see a psychologist explains when it’s helpful to seek professional support.
You may want to consider an ADHD assessment if:
- Your child’s teacher has raised concerns on more than one occasion
- They are finding it increasingly difficult to keep up with learning
- Their behaviour is affecting family life or friendships
- They become distressed about school or everyday activities
- The strategies you’ve tried at home or school aren’t making a lasting difference
Seeking an assessment doesn’t mean your child has ADHD. It simply gives you the opportunity to better understand what’s happening and whether any additional support may be helpful.
What Does an ADHD Assessment Involve?
An ADHD assessment brings together information from your child, family, and school. Psychologists don’t rely on one test or one behaviour. They look at how your child manages attention, emotions, learning, routines, and everyday tasks across different settings.
Depending on your child’s age and needs, the assessment may include:
- A detailed developmental and medical history
- Questionnaires completed by parents and teachers
- An age-appropriate interview with your child
- Observation of your child’s behaviour
- Cognitive or academic testing, where needed
- Consideration of other factors, such as anxiety, learning difficulties, or sleep problems
The psychologist then reviews all the information before discussing the findings and recommendations with you. This helps ensure the assessment considers your child’s overall needs rather than focusing on one group of symptoms.
ADHD in Girls: Signs Can Be Easier to Miss
ADHD can be less obvious in girls, especially when they don’t show the hyperactive behaviour that many people associate with the condition. Some girls may appear quiet, cooperative, or well behaved while finding it difficult to stay organised, follow instructions, manage schoolwork, or cope with their emotions.
They may also work very hard to hide their difficulties, which can leave them tired, anxious, or worried that they aren’t trying hard enough. Parents and teachers may notice frequent daydreaming, forgotten belongings, unfinished work, friendship difficulties, low confidence, or strong emotional reactions after school.
These signs don’t always mean a girl has ADHD. However, when they continue over time and affect her learning, relationships, or wellbeing, an assessment may help explain what’s happening and whether further support would be useful.
ADHD and Other Conditions
Some children with ADHD also have other learning, developmental, or emotional differences. This is one reason a thorough assessment is so important. Rather than looking at ADHD on its own, psychologists consider whether another condition may also be contributing to your child’s challenges.
Some of the more common co-occurring conditions include:
- Anxiety
- Learning difficulties, such as dyslexia or dyscalculia
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
- Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)
- Sleep difficulties
A child won’t necessarily have any of these conditions, but assessing for them helps psychologists build a clearer understanding of your child’s needs. For example, anxiety can sometimes look similar to ADHD, while learning difficulties or poor sleep may also affect attention and behaviour. Looking at the bigger picture helps ensure children receive the right support.
How Kids First Can Help
If you’re concerned your child may have ADHD, the team at Kids First can guide you through the assessment process from the very beginning. During the assessment, our psychologists take the time to understand your child’s strengths, challenges, and everyday experiences before making any recommendations.
When additional support is needed, Kids First’s multidisciplinary team works together to provide coordinated care. Psychologists, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, specialist teachers, and paediatricians collaborate where appropriate, helping families access the support that best meets their child’s individual needs.
What Happens After an ADHD Assessment?
If your child is diagnosed with ADHD, your psychologist will explain the findings and talk you through the recommended next steps. Every child is different, so the support plan will be based on your child’s individual strengths, challenges, and everyday needs.
Support may include strategies for home, school-based adjustments, psychology sessions, occupational therapy, or a referral to a paediatrician if further medical assessment is appropriate. Your child’s school may also use the assessment report to plan classroom adjustments that better support their learning and wellbeing.
Receiving a diagnosis isn’t about putting a label on your child. For many families, it’s the beginning of understanding why certain things have been difficult and knowing how to better support their child moving forward.
Talking to Your Child About ADHD
Many parents worry about how to explain an ADHD diagnosis to their child. In most cases, children respond best to honest, age-appropriate conversations that focus on helping them understand themselves rather than defining who they are.
Younger children usually need simple explanations. Older children and teenagers often appreciate being included in conversations about the assessment and having the opportunity to ask questions. Whatever your child’s age, reassuring them that ADHD doesn’t change who they are can make a real difference. It simply helps explain why some things feel harder and what kinds of support may help.
You don’t need to have all the answers in that first conversation. Listening to your child’s questions, acknowledging their feelings, and reminding them that you’re there to support them can make a lasting difference.
Speak With the Kids First Team
If you’re concerned about your child’s attention, behaviour, or learning, you don’t have to work it out on your own. Many families contact Kids First because something doesn’t quite feel right, even if they aren’t sure whether an ADHD assessment is the next step.
Our team is happy to talk through your concerns, answer your questions, and help you understand the assessment process. If an assessment is appropriate, we’ll guide you through the next steps. If another service would better meet your child’s needs, we’ll explain those options as well.
Seeking an assessment isn’t about putting a label on your child. It’s about gaining a better understanding of how they learn, behave, and experience the world, so you can make informed decisions about the support that may help them thrive.
Kids First Children’s Services
Level One, 527 Pittwater Road (cnr Pine Ave), Brookvale NSW 2100
Phone: (02) 9938 5419
Email: [email protected]
Frequently Asked Questions
1. At what age can a child be assessed for ADHD?
Children can be assessed for ADHD at different ages, but the assessment process varies depending on their stage of development. Younger children are usually assessed more broadly to understand their overall development, while school-age children can complete more detailed ADHD assessments. If ADHD or another developmental difference is affecting your child’s everyday life, it’s worth discussing your concerns with a psychologist rather than waiting to see if they simply grow out of it.
2. Will my child need medication if they’re diagnosed with ADHD?
Not necessarily. Medication is only one of several treatment options and isn’t recommended for every child. Depending on your child’s age, symptoms, and individual needs, support may include psychology sessions, parent strategies, school-based adjustments, occupational therapy, or a combination of approaches. If medication is appropriate, your paediatrician will discuss the potential benefits and help you decide whether it’s the right option for your child.
3. How long does an ADHD assessment usually take?
Most ADHD assessments involve 2 to 4 sessions with your child, together with a parent consultation and questionnaires completed by parents and teachers. Sometimes the process takes a little longer if teacher information is delayed. Once testing has finished, psychologists usually spend 3 to 4 hours preparing the report, which is generally available around 3 weeks after testing is complete. From the first appointment to the feedback session, the entire process often takes 4 to 8 weeks, depending on your child’s individual needs.
4. Can ADHD be mistaken for other conditions?
Yes. Difficulties with attention, behaviour, or emotional regulation don’t always mean a child has ADHD. Anxiety, learning difficulties, autism, sleep problems, sensory differences, and other developmental or emotional factors can sometimes look similar. That’s why psychologists complete a thorough assessment rather than relying on one behaviour or a short consultation. Looking at the whole picture helps ensure your child receives the most appropriate support.
5. What information is used during an ADHD assessment?
Psychologists gather information from several sources to build a complete picture of your child’s development and everyday functioning. This may include parent interviews, teacher questionnaires, behavioural observations, developmental history, and, where appropriate, cognitive or academic assessments. Looking at your child’s behaviour across home and school helps psychologists understand whether ADHD or another condition may be contributing to the difficulties you’re seeing.
6. Will my child’s teacher be involved in the assessment?
In most cases, yes. Teachers spend many hours with children each week and can provide valuable information about attention, learning, behaviour, and relationships in the classroom. Their observations are usually collected through questionnaires or rating scales and are considered alongside information from parents and the assessment sessions. This helps psychologists understand whether concerns are occurring across different settings.
7. What happens after my child receives an ADHD assessment?
After the assessment, your psychologist will meet with you to explain the findings and discuss the recommended next steps. Depending on the outcome, recommendations may include strategies for home, school-based adjustments, psychology support, occupational therapy, or referral to another professional if needed. Every support plan is tailored to your child’s strengths, challenges, and individual needs.
8. What if my child doesn’t have ADHD?
An assessment is still valuable even if ADHD isn’t identified. It may show that your child’s challenges are related to another developmental, learning, emotional, or behavioural factor, or it may provide reassurance that their development is within the expected range. Either way, you’ll leave with a clearer understanding of your child’s needs and practical recommendations about any support that may be helpful.
