ADHD Psychologist Perth

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder that presents in childhood and often continues into adulthood. Not all people with ADHD have the same symptoms and there are three major subtypes:

• Inattentive Presentation, which includes difficulty concentrating, inattentiveness and difficulty focusing.
• Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation, which can include excessive fidgeting, inability to sit still and poor impulse control.
• Combined Presentation, when individuals have a mix of inattentive and hyperactive symptoms.

ADHD symptoms typically peak in childhood and ease as individuals age. However, some adults may continue to struggle with certain symptoms. For example, hyperactivity is more common in young people, but with age, many individuals find hyperactivity decreases and is replaced by restlessness. Some people see a resurgence of symptoms as adults during times of stress or change, for example, during the menopause or when overwhelmed at work.
It isn’t uncommon for people to experience symptoms of ADHD throughout their lives, such as difficulty concentrating or impulsiveness. However, not everyone who experiences these symptoms has ADHD. If you are experiencing ADHD-type symptoms that are causing ongoing problems in your life, this may indicate an ADHD assessment is necessary.

It’s important to remember that being diagnosed with ADHD is not something to fear. While the condition can be difficult to manage, especially for parents, a lot of help is available. We’ll discuss treatment methods later, but an accurate diagnosis is crucial to getting the right type of support.

An ADHD assessment involves a number of components. When you visit an ADHD psychologist in Perth, you can expect an interview with the assessing psychologist, questionnaires, and cognitive assessments. ADHD psychologists in Perth principally rely on the clinical observation of behaviour as there is no specific medical test for ADHD. For children, an ADHD assessment will also include discussion with primary caregivers and may include input from other professionals, such as teachers. 

There is a specific criteria for an ADHD diagnosis, with the key points highlighted below:

• Children must have at least 6 symptoms.
• People over 17 must have at least 5 symptoms.
• The behaviours must present before age 12 and continue for over 6 months.
• Symptoms must cause genuine problems in two areas of life, such as home, school, work or social environments.
• ADHD symptoms must not occur only during times of mental distress, such as experiencing another mental health condition.

ADHD is an individual condition, no two people experience it in the same way. This means treatment approaches need to be tailored for each person. Our experienced ADHD psychologists in Perth are able to offer a unique, person-centred approach for our clients.

Most commonly, ADHD is managed with stimulant medication by a psychiatrist. While medication can be highly effective for many clients, it poses significant limitations and issues that must be considered. Ideally, a combined treatment approach with the support of an experienced ADHD psychologist is the best option. Treatments options for ADHD include:

• Stimulant or non-stimulant medications
• Neurofeedback
• Psychological Therapy
• Behavioural Therapy 
• Coaching
• Parent training