Getting the right diagnosis and treatment plan is essential to helping your child with ADHD lead a happy and fulfilling life.
Find a clinic
It’s characterised by behaviours like an inability for a child to stay focused, being easily distracted, having slow processing speed or poor working memory.
Although there is no cure for ADHD, it is manageable, and different approaches will work best for different people. Therapy is often used to assist with the management of symptoms, as well as any related emotional or social difficulties. While medication is available to treat ADHD, many families choose to participate in therapy, or even employ a combination of medication and therapy.
We offer recommendations on how to support your child after an ADHD diagnosis and how to continue to assist them into the future. Our psychologists enjoy working together with medical specialists, allied health professionals and educators to offer ongoing collaborative care following assessment.
If you have recently received an ADHD diagnosis or have concerns about your child’s development, Early Start Australia offer assessments and a range of evidence-based early intervention therapies to support children with ADHD.
To learn more about ADHD or to book an appointment contact your nearest Early Start Australia clinic.
Find a clinic
At ESA, our team of allied health professionals that can work with our psychologists and offer practical support for your child with ADHD include:
Psychologists. According to the latest clinical guidelines for the treatment of ADHD, psychologists are pivotal to providing therapy to children and adults with ADHD. Specifically, cognitive – behavioural therapies are considered evidence-based practice together with family-oriented therapy to support parents and children to work through challenges together.
Occupational Therapists. Children with ADHD can be overstimulated by their environment. An OT can help them find areas of quiet space and calming zones, encourage workable daily routines and teach organisation skills for school and home.
Physiotherapists. A paediatric physiotherapist can help a child with ADHD maximise their physical ability and develop motor skills to minimise the risk of pain and postural problems– not sure where this came from? Exercise is key for regulation and mental health though
We will also work closely with your child’s GP, Paediatrician, Psychiatrist and other medical professionals to ensure the best all-round treatment and management.
As a parent, you are also a key part of any therapy and developing coping skills. You need to be involved to understand the strategies to help your child.
The ESA ‘wrap around’ service means you can bring your child to one place for all allied health services. Our team will work together to achieve your child’s needs and goals and avoid duplication and confusion about therapies.
ADHD symptoms often affect many aspects of a person’s life, sometimes causing difficulties in social relationships and academic performance. However, these difficulties can be caused by many other factors and so thorough comprehensive assessment is essential. Children and teenagers with ADHD who don’t receive appropriate help in managing their symptoms are at a higher risk of developing learning difficulties, risky behaviours, depression, anxiety, and relationship problems. As a result, it’s important to identify ADHD and provide supports as early as possible.
First, our ESA Psychologist conducts an initial assessment looking at background history from parents based on child behaviour, history of parents’ health or any issues, developmental issues, and mental health issues.
To identify what symptoms exist, we look at things like a child’s developmental history (walk, talk, presentation as a baby) and school history, looking at things such as lack of focus and restlessness. And we use Conners Child Behaviour Checklist Questionnaire to capture other information from parents and teachers, and/or the child if they are over 11.
The Psychologist also takes observations in their session and completes cognitive assessments – looking at IQ – level of processing speed and working memory. The psychologist may also include further assessments of functioning to better understand strengths and difficulties and/ or a specific behavioural assessment of attention.
A detailed report is prepared and sent to a Paediatrician or Psychiatrist for a clinical diagnosis. This report is very helpful when the Paediatrician/ Psychiatrist reviews the child.
Find a clinic
We focus on supporting clients (and their families) to develop language, motor, cognitive, social and emotional skills, and provide therapy supports for children with developmental delay or disability, including autism spectrum disorder.
Our multi-disciplinary teams work together with you to understand your needs and develop a plan using evidence-based strategies to help you achieve your goals and aspirations.
We have clinics in every state and territory creating a strong community of allied health professionals with the collective knowledge and expertise to deliver you the best outcomes.
We are a registered NDIS provider and are here to help you on your NDIS journey.
Early intervention is not just for the kids. We offer therapies to cater for all ages, needs and abilities,
and we know the sooner you start your therapy journey the better.
