ADHD diagnosis and management.
ADHD assessment and ongoing management for children and adolescents through Kids' Dr, our developmental paediatrics team based at Sans Souci. Assessment is a considered process that draws on your paediatrician's clinical review alongside input from school and family. Ongoing management is a partnership, adjusted as your child grows.
A structured view of your child.
ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects attention regulation, activity levels and impulse control. It looks different in different children, and the same child at different ages. Diagnosis is made by a paediatrician after a structured assessment that gathers information from home, school and the consultation itself.
Kids' Dr paediatricians manage ADHD as part of broader developmental and behavioural paediatric care. That means assessment considers the full picture of your child's development, not ADHD alone. Where a diagnosis is made, ongoing management is a partnership between paediatrician, family and school, with review appointments to check on progress, adjust medication where prescribed, and address anything that has changed.
Dr Martina Popelkova takes a special clinical interest in complex behavioural matters, including ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder and autism spectrum disorder alongside general paediatric care. Dr Moe Moe Thinn is a Consultant Developmental and General Paediatrician.
Not a single test.
Your paediatrician talks through your child's development, current concerns, family history, school reports and any allied health input to date.
Questionnaires completed by parents and teachers give a structured picture of how your child is going across settings. ADHD symptoms need to be present in more than one setting for a diagnosis.
The paediatrician sees your child, observes them in the consultation, and asks age-appropriate questions.
Attention and behaviour concerns can have many causes. Anxiety, sleep problems, learning difficulties, sensory issues, hearing problems, family stressors and other conditions can all present similarly to ADHD or coexist with it.
Personalised to your child.
Structured routines, environmental adjustments at home and school, sleep and exercise support, and parenting strategies. Kids' Dr allied health team (paediatric psychologists, counsellors, dietitians and physio) provides coordinated support where relevant.
For some children, medication is a useful part of management. Your paediatrician will discuss whether medication is appropriate, which medication may suit your child, and how it is trialled and monitored. Not all children with ADHD need medication.
Once your child is diagnosed and settled on a stable dose, ongoing prescriptions can now be shared with a suitably-trained GP under recent NSW reforms, so you don't need a paediatrician appointment for every script. Your paediatrician stays involved to review progress and make any changes to treatment. Selected GPs across SMSG centres can provide this service with the coordination of your specialist who initially prescribed the medication. See Mental Health Care under General Practice for more details.
Whether or not medication is used, regular review appointments check on progress, discuss adjustments, monitor growth and side effects where medication is prescribed, and respond to changes as your child develops.
With your consent, your paediatrician can communicate with your child's school to support consistent understanding and appropriate accommodations.
Sans Souci and Earlwood.
Privately billed.
Paediatric consultations are privately billed. A GP referral is required for the Medicare rebate to apply. Without a valid referral in place, the consultation is fully private.
Billing arrangements vary by paediatrician. Reception confirms the specific fee and expected out-of-pocket cost when you book.
Common questions.
Do I need a referral?
Yes. A GP referral is required for the Medicare rebate to apply to paediatric consultations. Your usual GP or one of our GPs can prepare the referral.
How long does the assessment take?
Assessment usually takes more than one appointment. Your paediatrician will confirm the specific process at your first visit.
Will my child need medication?
Not necessarily. Whether medication is appropriate depends on your child's specific situation and is a decision made with you after assessment.
Can Kids' Dr coordinate with my child's school?
Yes, with your consent. Communication with schools helps ensure consistency across settings.
What if my child already has an ADHD diagnosis from another paediatrician?
You can transfer ongoing care to Kids' Dr with a GP referral. Bring existing reports and any current management information to your first appointment.
Does Kids' Dr see adolescents?
Yes. Kids' Dr sees children and adolescents.
