ADHD

Help for attention and impulsivity problems

Help For Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) in children is a natural variation in how their brains function, affecting attention, impulse control, executive functioning, energy and emotional regulation. At Mindworx Psychology, we take a neuro-affirming approach to providing help for ADHD – recognising that it is not a disorder to be “fixed” but a natural variation in how brains function.

ADHD impacts the whole family and a child or teens relationships. Instead of seeing differences as deficits, we focus on understanding needs through testing, and supporting strengths while helping individuals develop strategies that work for them.

What ADHD Can Look Like in Children

Children with ADHD may experience differences in attention, impulsivity, hyperactivity, and emotional regulation. Some children primarily struggle with focus, while others have higher energy levels, and some experience both.

Every child with ADHD is unique, and their experience of the world may differ from others. Recognising and supporting these differences can have a profound impact on their functioning, allowing them to thrive.

Signs can include:

  • Difficulty staying focused, following instructions, or completing tasks
  • Frequent fidgeting, restlessness, or trouble staying seated
  • Impulsive behaviours, such as blurting out answers or interrupting conversations
  • Emotional sensitivity, big reactions, and difficulty regulating emotions

What ADHD Support Looks Like at Mindworx Psychology

Early identification of ADHD can make a significant difference in your child’s well-being and success. Once ADHD is identified, we offer ongoing support and interventions tailored to your child’s unique strengths and challenges. Our neuro-affirming and trauma informed psychologists can help with:

  • Executive Function Coaching – Teaching organisation, time management, and self-regulation skills
  • Emotional Regulation Strategies – Helping children manage frustration, anxiety, and impulsivity
  • School Support & Accommodations – Guidance on adjustments for the classroom and learning plans
  • Parent Coaching – Practical tools to help you support and advocate for your child
  • Social & Behavioural Skills– Developing skills for positive relationships and self-confidence

While many children occasionally display challenging behaviours, ADHD is a persistent pattern that significantly impacts daily life. Previously referred to as Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), ADHD is now categorised as three presentations:

  • Inattentive presentation – challenges with focus, organisation, and follow-through.

  • Hyperactive-Impulsive presentation – difficulty with impulse control, restlessness, and fidgeting.

  • Combined presentation – a mix of both inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity

Does my child have ADHD?

It’s important to know that no single test can diagnose a child as having ADHD. Although your child may appear to have symptoms consistent with ADHD, it is important to complete a full assessment, which may involve (with parental consent) your psychologist liaising with your school, your paediatrician and/or your G.P.

Assessment is much more than just filling out a questionnaire. While questionnaires are useful screening tools, they do not provide a diagnosis – they simply highlight potential symptoms.

A comprehensive ADHD assessment involves ruling out other factors that can contribute to ADHD-like symptoms, such as:

  • Vision or hearing difficulties that affect attention and focus
  • Anxiety or emotional regulation challenges that mimic inattention
  • Sleep problems that impact energy and concentration
  • Parenting styles or environmental factors influencing behaviour
  • Learning difficulties that may be mistaken for ADHD

By taking a thorough, evidence-based approach, we ensure that any diagnosis is accurate, helping your child receive the right support and strategies to thrive.

Why Early Support Matters

Children with ADHD often face frequent criticism, even when they are trying their best. Without understanding and support, this can impact self-esteem and relationships.

Early intervention can help by:

  • Providing evidence-based strategies to support focus, emotional regulation, and executive functioning
  • Helping parents and teachers understand how ADHD works and how to support their child
  • Building confidence in children so they can flourish, not just cope

With the right support, children with ADHD can thrive in their own unique way.

ADHD is not a flaw -it’s a different way of experiencing the world. It is part of neurodiversity, the natural variation in how brains work. At Mindworx Psychology, we believe that neurodivergent minds are valuable, and differences should be understood and supported – not “fixed.”

If you’d like to learn more about ADHD or explore how we can support your child, get in touch with us today, or join our online program, Parenting An ADHDer. Ready for change? We are ready to help.

Understanding ADHD AS PART OF NEURODIVERSITY

ADHD is a consistent and lifelong pattern of inattention, impulsivity, and/or hyperactivity that can impact daily functioning, learning, and relationships.

While all children sometimes forget homework, daydream in class, act impulsively, or get restless at the dinner table, ADHD is more than occasional lapses. It involves persistent challenges that affect multiple areas of life – at home, school, and in social interactions.

ADHD & Neurodiversity

ADHD is a natural variation in brain function, not a flaw or a failure. It is part of neurodiversity, the broad spectrum of how humans think, learn, and process the world. Other forms of neurodivergence include Autism, Dyspraxia, and Dyslexia. Research suggests that up to 40% of the population may be neurodivergent, while the rest are considered neurotypical.

At Mindworx Psychology, we believe that neurodivergent minds bring valuable strengths. People with ADHD often have high creativity, strong empathy, and the ability to hyperfocus on tasks they are passionate about. These traits can be powerful assets in the right environment.

ADHD Challenges & the Need for Support

While ADHD comes with unique strengths, it can also bring cognitive challenges that may impact a child’s ability to reach their full potential without the right support. Children with ADHD may experience difficulties with:

  • Working memory – remembering and using information in the moment
  • Set shifting – transitioning between tasks or ideas
  • Response inhibition – managing impulsive reactions
  • Vigilance – maintaining focus over time
  • Planning & organisation – structuring tasks and managing time effectively
  • Reaction time variability – inconsistent processing speeds

These challenges are not due to a lack of intelligence or effort. With understanding, the right strategies, and early support, children with ADHD can develop skills to navigate these difficulties while embracing their strengths.

At Mindworx Psychology, whether through face-to-face work in the practice or via telehealth support with our Psychologists, or through our Online Programs we help children and families build practical strategies for success, ensuring that ADHD is understood not as a deficit, but as a different way of thinking that deserves the right support to thrive.

Our Director, Dr Amanda Mullin is one of Australia’s leading speakers in the field, and a passionate ADHDer herself.

Want to learn more? We’re here to help.

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition with a strong genetic component. Research suggests that heritability is approximately 74%, meaning ADHD often runs in families. However, there is no single “ADHD gene”. Instead, multiple genetic and environmental factors contribute to how ADHD presents in each individual.

When Does ADHD Begin?

The age of onset for ADHD can be difficult to pinpoint, as young children naturally show a wide range of behaviours, making it hard to distinguish between typical toddler traits and ADHD. Because a child’s brain develops rapidly in early years, many experts agree that a definitive diagnosis is often not possible before age 4. However, early assessment and intervention are crucial for neurodivergent children to ensure they receive the accommodations and support needed to thrive.

How ADHD Presents Across Development

  • Early childhood: Many parents notice hyperactive and impulsive traits in toddlers and preschoolers, such as difficulty sitting still or high levels of energy.
  • Early school years: Inattentive symptoms become more apparent, as children are expected to focus, follow instructions, and complete structured tasks.
  • Adolescence: Hyperactivity may shift from external movement (running, climbing) to internal restlessness, fidgeting, or impatience. Emotional impulsivity and difficulty regulating emotions remain common.

Because ADHD is a developmental condition, symptoms evolve over time. It is important to reassess and adapt support strategies as a child grows and their environment changes.

ADHD Across the Lifespan

ADHD does not look the same for everyone – and it does not look the same at every stage of life. A child’s brain continues developing into their twenties, particularly in areas related to executive functioning, impulse control, and emotional regulation. Even in adulthood, neuroplasticity allows for ongoing learning and adaptation.

Given our increasing understanding of ADHD as a genetic, neurodevelopmental condition, it is likely that ADHD is underdiagnosed in adults – particularly those who were not identified in childhood due to differences in symptom presentation, gender biases in diagnosis, or a lack of awareness.

For adults diagnosed in later life, understanding what ADHD is may lead to a deeper understanding of the self, and awareness of helpful strategies to reduce stress.

At Mindworx Psychology, we believe that understanding ADHD at every age, including adults with ADHD – and providing the right support at the right time – can help individuals flourish in their own way.

We are passionate about colllaborative care and work closely with paediatricians, OTs, speech pathologists and GPs. However we tread carefully with the idea of “treatment” – much the same way as we are careful to avoid labels.

It is important to remember that ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition. That means that the symptoms, and associated behaviours are the result of a person’s brain developing differently. It is estimated that between 30% and 40% of the population are neurodiverse, and the remaining majority are neurotypical.

The goal of ADHD treatment is to ensure that people with ADHD can reach their full potential, not to “cure them” of ADHD.

The right support can be very helpful. It may help with many challenges faced by families and individuals with ADHD. Although ADHD is often associated with stigma, there are many aspects of ADHD that can be strengths, such as hyperfocus and boundless energy.

With the right support, most people with ADHD can be successful in school and lead productive lives.

What type of treatment works?

There isn’t a one-size fits all. We adapt our supports based on your child or teens needs, challenges and strengths. Neuro-affirming, adapted Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is the gold standard first intervention worldwide, and this includes a strong component of parent training.

Medication for ADHD

Medication can also play an important role, but is not without side effects – children and teens react differently. Our team at Mindworx Psychology often work in conjunction with Developmental Paediatricians and Child Psychiatrists to achieve optimum outcomes. Ultimately, the choice of whether or not to medicate remains with the parents.

Psychologists do not give advice on, or provide medication, our specialist area is psychological interventions.

We love to work holistically, however, the research tells us that there is less evidence for neuro-feedback, dietary approaches, supplements and complimentary therapies. We are constantly reading the latest research – as Clinical Psychologists, our focus is delivering treatments most likely to work to bring you the outcome you seek.

Your Psychologist will be happy to advise and support you with a range of strategies tailored to your child and your family.

ADHD can present differently across individuals, and gender norms and biases have historically influenced how it is recognised and diagnosed.

Children with inattentive ADHD – often seen in girls, but also in some boys and gender-diverse individuals – may be overlooked because they appear quiet, dreamy, or disengaged, rather than disruptive. Without obvious hyperactivity, their struggles with focus, organisation, and working memory may go unnoticed.

Additionally, research suggests that emotional regulation challenges can differ in presentation:

  • Boys are more likely to show externalising behaviors, such as difficulty managing frustration or impulsive outbursts.
  • Girls and gender-diverse individuals may more often experience internalising difficulties, such as heightened anxiety or perfectionism.

These patterns are influenced not only by neurological differences but also by societal expectations, which can shape how children express and regulate emotions. This can lead to some children receiving support later than they should – or being misdiagnosed with anxiety or mood disorders instead of ADHD.

At Mindworx Psychology, we take a gender-affirming, individualised approach, recognising that ADHD presents uniquely in each person. Regardless of gender, early identification and tailored support can help children and adults understand their brains, harness their strengths, and thrive.

The simple answer to this is yes! We recommend a thorough health assessment by a GP or Paediatrician, as well as vision and hearing checks as part of a holistic assessment.

Many children with ADHD have other mental health challenges such as anxiety, or learning difficulties, or conduct problems. It is becoming increasingly recognised that, along with ADHD, children may experience symptoms of other neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism, Asperger’s, Tourette’s syndrome, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), dyslexia, and dyspraxia.

Your Psychologist can talk with your school and other people in your child’s life to get a full picture of the problem, and how it affects your specific child.

Flexible ADHD Testing and Support Options

ADHD Testing

At Mindworx Psychology, we understand that every child is unique – there’s no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to ADHD support. Whether you’re seeking a formal diagnosis, guidance for school accommodations, or strategies to help your child at home, we provide personalised solutions designed to meet your family’s needs.

We work to industry gold standards, but equally – we won’t write or charge for extensive reports, or conduct a battery of tests if you don’t need them.

A personal approach:

FORMAL ADHD DIAGNOSIS: If you need a formal ADHD diagnosis, we conduct a full assessment using validated tools to determine whether your child meets diagnostic criteria. This includes in-depth testing, a detailed report, and practical recommendations to support your child at home and in school.

TREATMENT AND SUPPORT: If your focus is treatment and support, we can screen for ADHD and make a provisional diagnosis based on clinical observations. This allows us to begin therapy and provide strategies to improve focus, emotional regulation, and behaviour – without unnecessary assessments or costs.

We’ll discuss your specific goals and concerns to determine what level of testing or support is most helpful and relevant for your child.

TIPS FOR PARENTING CHILDREN WITH ADHD

ROUTINES

Try to keep the same routine every day, from wake-up time to bedtime. Use visual reminders.

Include time for homework, outdoor play, and indoor activities – and allow extra time to reduce stress.

Keep copies of your schedule on the fridge, or on a bulletin board in the kitchen.

ORGANISE EVERYDAY ITEMS

Have a place for everything, and keep everything in its place. This includes clothing, backpacks, and toys.

Use age appropriate labels and pictures.

Encourage children to complete tasks e.g. part of taking off shoes is putting them away in the right place

BE CLEAR AND CONSISTENT

Children with ADHD need consistent rules they can understand and follow.

Having a neuro-atypical brain means that routines can be more challenging to learn. Make it easier by being as consistent as possible.

GIVE PRAISE OR REWARDS WHEN RULES ARE FOLLOWED

Children with ADHD often receive a lot of criticism, even when they may be trying their best.

Look for good behaviour, and praise it. Don’t wait for perfect, praise the attempt, praise the effort.

BE KIND TO YOURSELF !

Parenting children with ADHD can be filled with joy, and it can also be complex, challenging, frustrating and demanding!

Make it a priority to build in time for yourself to recharge and refresh, even if it is just a five minute walk each day.

GET PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT

It is important that children learn how to successfully master tasks. This can’t happen if they are placed in situations they are not able to cope with.

Professional advice can help you understand exactly what your child struggles with, and provide you and their teachers with strategies and solutions to help.

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Suite 206, 10 Century Circuit, Norwest Central, Baulkham Hills, NSW 2155

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Friday 8:00AM – 7:00PM
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Fees & Insurance

You do not need a GP referral to book an appointment at Mindworx Psychology.

Medicare Rebates are available if you have a valid referral from a GP, Psychiatrist or Paediatrician.

Your Private Health Fund may offer cover for Psychology Services – you can check this directly with your fund.