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Comprehensive ADHD assessment

Empower your child’s success: everything parents need to know about ADHD assessments.

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects millions of people – adults and children – worldwide.

It usually develops early, presenting in children displaying a range of symptoms from difficulty paying attention to impulsive or hyperactive behaviours, or difficulty regulating their emotions.

ADHD is categorised by the widely-used classification systems, DSM-V-TR and the ICD-10, as one of three subtypes:

Inattentive
Hyperactive/Impulsive
Combined

ADHD symptoms may include any or all of the following:

Inattention – difficulty keeping attention, easily distracted, often forgetful.
Impulsivity – interrupting others, acting without thinking.
Hyperactivity – restlessness, being overly active, often fidgeting.

ADHD can impact daily activities, education, and work.
If left unmanaged, ADHD can become quite a large barrier in a person’s life.

People with ADHD may experience further issues, like poor impulse control, anxiety disorder, heightened sensitivity to their emotions, and more.

Continuously being corrected and reprimanded for behaviour they struggle with often leads to low self esteem and may lead to oppositional behaviour.

With a thorough ADHD assessment, we can create a treatment plan tailored to each person.

We look at managing specific challenging behaviours and creating coping skills for the individual and supportive skills for their family members.

Treatment options include a range of early intervention therapies including:

Mindfulness Based Therapy (MBT)
Cognitive Behaviour Therapies (CBT)
ADHD skill coaching

Alongside the support of family members, children and adults with ADHD can thrive.

Enquire now 1300 372 439

Getting an ADHD diagnosis

If you’re concerned about your child’s development, or you’ve recognised ADHD symptoms in a loved one, you can get an ADHD assessment completed with a healthcare provider.

At Early Start Australia, we are highly experienced in identifying early symptoms of ADHD in young children. Here’s what the assessment process looks like:

Gathering information: An assessment starts with a diagnostic interview with parents and/or family members.
This gives us a thorough understanding of the background to your child and considers alternative diagnoses that may better explain ADHD symptoms.
Physical exam: Conducted by your GP or paediatrician, this rules out other medical conditions that may be causing symptoms.
Cognitive testing: An Early Start psychologist will assess your child’s attention, memory, and other functions.
Behavioural observation: With behavioural scales and functional assessments in the clinic, we can review your child’s capabilities in different settings.
These may include with your child in the clinic, reports from home and school, and sometimes from family members and peers.
Diagnosis: With the assessment findings, we’ll determine if your child meets the diagnostic criteria for ADHD. We also want to create a solid picture of your child’s developmental progress. This includes identifying strengths and struggles in intellectual, learning and social functioning.
You receive a detailed thorough report on our results that can be shared with a paediatrician or child psychiatrist to discuss pharmacological treatment if this is your preferred treatment.
Treatment plan: Once we have an accurate diagnosis, we can look at a detailed treatment plan tailored to your child’s needs.
If your child does not meet the diagnostic criteria for ADHD, we can equally suggest the next steps for your child.
Our team of mental health professionals will work with you to create a holistic care approach.

Enquire now 1300 372 439

ADHD treatment options

Address ADHD symptoms early with early intervention therapy and get the support you need.

Early Start provides the following multi-disciplinary care options in supporting children with ADHD:

Psychology
Occupational therapy
Speech therapy
Physiotherapy
Positive behaviour support
Dietitians
Social work

Enquire now 1300 372 439

Frequently asked questions

Our ADHD assessment process involves the following steps:

Parent Initial Consultation – 50 minutes, with both parents where appropriate
Intellectual (IQ) Assessment – 90 minutes, individually with your child
Functional Assessment – 90 minutes, individually with your child
Social, Emotional & Behavioural Assessment – rating scales completed with parents and teachers
Results Interpretation and Report Preparation – 4 to 5 weeks following the assessment
Parent Feedback Consultation – 50 minutes, with both parents where appropriate

To find out more about ADHD assessments available near you, contact us today.

ADHD, or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, is a neurodevelopmental disorder that may present the following symptoms:

Struggling to pay attention or lack of impulse control
Making careless mistakes in simple daily activities
Certain learning disabilities, with often poor school reports even when they try their best
Issues with time management, planning or completing tasks
Difficulty regulating emotions or interacting socially
Trouble focusing on tasks, being easily distracted and struggling to follow instructions
Being easily bored, feeling restless or fidgety, and interrupting or talking excessively

If you feel your child is displaying these ADHD symptoms, consider an ADHD assessment with a mental health professional.

Absolutely. We believe early intervention is for everyone.

It’s about addressing your issues as early as possible and providing support to improve your quality of life.
To book an ADHD assessment, simply fill out our online form or give your closest clinic a call. We can then arrange a clinical interview to begin the assessment process.
We will also review your family and medical history to rule out other possible conditions.

Improving lives with Early Start

Work with a group of experienced therapists from different fields to help your child reach their developmental goals

With a comprehensive ADHD assessment, we can help your child tackle life’s challenges with more ease.

Experience personalised treatment plans and the support of a passionate team of therapists.

Enquire now 1300 372 439

How to get started

Step 1

Contact your nearest Early Start Australia clinic to book your initial appointment.

Our therapist will listen to your concerns and guide you on beginning your child’s therapy journey.

Step 2

We’ll make recommendations for assessments to give us a better understanding of your child.

Step 3

We’ll review the assessment results and provide detailed reports and feedback identifying your child’s strengths and challenges.

We then work with you to develop a personalised therapy plan to suit your child’s needs.

Step 4

You and your child will begin their plan which may include a variety of therapies, lifestyle changes, and support for parents and educators.

We are experienced in delivering children’s assessments and counselling and we like to keep therapy sessions fun, engaging and playful.

If you have any questions or would like to speak to someone for more information about our services, visit our contact us page.

The Early Start Australia promise

Holistic care and treatment plans

We’ll create a personalised care plan that suits your child’s individual requirements. This treatment plan will include a variety of therapies, lifestyle changes and training for parents.

Australia-wide reach

With clinics and therapists across the country, you’re guaranteed the help you need, when you need it.

Registered NDIS provider

Access necessary support without any additional worries. Our early intervention services are covered within your NDIS plan however ADHD is generally not covered by NDIS funding.