Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Often fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, at work, or with other activities.

Often has trouble holding attention on tasks or play activities.

Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly.

Often does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace (e.g., loses focus, side-tracked).

Often has trouble organizing tasks and activities.

Often avoids, dislikes, or is reluctant to do tasks that require mental effort over a long period of time (such as schoolwork or homework).

Often loses things necessary for tasks and activities (e.g. school materials, pencils, books, tools, wallets, keys, paperwork, eyeglasses, mobile telephones).

Is often easily distracted.

Is often forgetful in daily activities.

Start by closely observing your child’s behaviour at home. Look for signs like inattention, impulsiveness, and hyperactivity.

Next, your child’s teacher will also make careful observations of your child’s behaviour at school. Since children may behave differently in a classroom setting, it’s important to understand how they interact with peers, how they focus during lessons, and how they handle school routines.

After collecting observations, it’s time to have a discussion. Schedule a meeting with your child’s teacher to share your concerns and hear their perspective. Together, you can decide if further evaluation is needed.

To start the referral process, go to the Smart Paediatrics website and complete the online self-referral form. Don’t forget to contact your General Practitioner to provide a referral letter. A detailed clinical information such as medical, surgical, obstetric and social history will be obtained from the parents/ carer electronically.

Preferably your GP can also fill out a direct referral form through the Smart Paediatrics website. Direct referral can provide detailed clinical information about your child’s physical examination findings directly, making it really a collaborative effort.

To ensure clear communication, provide the email address of your child’s teacher. This allows the doctor to contact the teacher directly for any additional insights or information about your child’s school behaviour. Rating scale will be sent through way.

Once the referral is complete, the Smart Paediatrics paediatrician will review your child’s history and the physical examination finding conducted by your GP. The paediatrician will discuss any concerns with you and ensure that all necessary clinical information is gathered for an accurate assessment.”

Now, it’s time to assess your child’s behaviour in more detail. You and your child’s teacher will receive rating scales to fill out. These help to understand how your child behaves in different environments. Paediatrician will also look for any other conditions, like anxiety or learning difficulties, that may be affecting your child. Once the scales are completed, the results are carefully analysed to understand your child’s needs. At this stage if any further referral is required to allied health professionals such as Speech Pathologist, Occupational therapist, Behavioural therapist, dietitian , psychologist , through face to face appointment or through Telehealth , that would be organised.

In some cases, an additional test may be needed. This is called QbCheck—a FDA cleared computer-based online test that objectively measures your child’s attention and activity levels. If this is recommended, you can book the test online. Your paediatrician will need to send you a voucher code to use during the test, which can be accessed through the Smart Paediatrics website. Details of the testing environment is mentioned in the QbCheck section at the menu bar.

After all the information is gathered, you’ll receive a packet with everything you need to know about ADHD, including tips for behaviour management and classroom strategies. At your follow-up visit, the paediatrician will review all the results and make a diagnosis. Together, you’ll develop a plan to support your child, which may include therapy, medication, and even the use of digital tools for better symptom management.

Once a plan is in place, regular visits to the paediatrician will help monitor your child’s progress. To ensure the treatment is effective, you and your child’s teacher may be asked to provide feedback on your child’s behaviour over time. This ongoing support will help to make sure your child receives the best possible care.

Regular follow-up sessions via telehealth may include psychological therapy, medication management, and discussions on lifestyle interventions. Families receive guidance on coping skills, relaxation techniques, and building resilience.

Telehealth offers convenient and ongoing monitoring of symptoms, treatment adherence, and progress tracking, with regular feedback loops between families and clinicians.