ADHD Assessment for Children & Teens (Ages 5–20)

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects attention, activity levels, and impulse control. In children and young people, it can influence learning, friendships, family life, and self-esteem.

ADHD presents differently from child to child. Some young people are mainly inattentive — they may daydream, lose track of tasks, or seem forgetful. Others are mainly hyperactive and impulsive, while many experience a combination. An accurate assessment helps families understand what is happening and what support will help.

This page is about ADHD in children and young people aged 5–20. For information about ADHD in adults, see our ADHD page.

Signs that may prompt a family or school to seek an assessment include:

• Inattention: difficulty sustaining focus, frequent careless mistakes, difficulty following instructions, losing things, or being easily distracted.
• Hyperactivity: restlessness, difficulty staying seated, or seeming "on the go".
• Impulsivity: difficulty waiting, interrupting, or acting before thinking.

Many children show some of these behaviours some of the time. ADHD is considered when the pattern is persistent, occurs across more than one setting (such as home and school), and affects day-to-day functioning.

ADHD has a strong genetic and neurobiological basis and often runs in families. It is not caused by parenting, diet, or screen time, although a supportive environment can make a meaningful difference to how a young person copes. Understanding the basis of ADHD helps families focus on practical, evidence-based support.

A thorough ADHD assessment in young people draws on information from more than one source. The process may include:

• Developmental and clinical history: gathered with parents or carers to understand the young person's development and current functioning.
• Information across settings: with consent, input from school helps establish whether difficulties occur in more than one environment, which is part of the diagnostic criteria.
• Standardised rating scales: validated questionnaires completed by parents and, where appropriate, teachers.
• Consideration of other explanations: ADHD symptoms can overlap with anxiety, learning differences, sleep difficulties, and autism, which are considered as part of the assessment.

Assessments are conducted via telehealth, and your family will be guided through what to expect.

Support for ADHD is individualised and may combine several approaches:

• Education and practical strategies for home and school to support attention, organisation, and routines.
• Parent and carer support, including evidence-based behavioural strategies.
• School coordination and information to support reasonable educational adjustments.
• Medication, where appropriate, considered carefully on an individual basis with the young person and their family, taking age and circumstances into account.

The right combination depends on each young person's needs and is reviewed over time.

ADHD assessments for children and young people at Mindscape Psychiatry are provided by Dr Rajesh Harjai, our Consultant Child, Adolescent and Youth Psychiatrist, who has a special interest in ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Dr Harjai consults via telehealth and sees young people aged 5 to 20 years.

• Comprehensive, multi-source assessment in line with current clinical guidelines.
• Family-centred care that works alongside parents, carers, and schools with consent.
• Accessible Australia-wide via secure telehealth.

A valid GP referral is required. Speak with your GP about a referral to Mindscape Psychiatry.