A child who quietly struggles to follow instructions. An adult who works twice as hard to stay organised. A parent who begins recognising their own lifelong difficulties after their child is assessed. ADHD can look very different from the stereotypes many people associate with the condition, and understanding those differences may help families recognise when to seek support.
When I speak with people about attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), one of the misconceptions I encounter is that it always involves a restless child who cannot sit still.
In reality, ADHD can present in many different ways. It can affect attention, planning, organisation, impulse control and the ability to manage everyday responsibilities. Some of these difficulties are readily noticeable, while others can remain hidden for years.
Australian clinical guidelines estimate that ADHD affects approximately 6–10 per cent of children and adolescents and 2–6 per cent of adults.
As a GP and Medical Director at Telos Medical Centre in Brighton, I believe one of the most important things families can understand is that ADHD does not always look the way we expect it to.
When Coping Becomes Exhausting
Some adults with ADHD become remarkably good at finding ways around their difficulties.
They may depend on multiple reminders, work late into the night to meet deadlines or maintain strict routines because they worry about forgetting something important.
To colleagues, friends and even family members, they may appear organised, productive and entirely in control.
But what others cannot see is how much effort it takes to maintain that appearance.
We sometimes call this masking — when someone conceals or compensates for difficulties so they are less apparent to other people.
Masking is not unique to ADHD, and not everyone with ADHD experiences it. For those who do, however, constantly trying to keep everything together can be exhausting.
I find it particularly important to explore how people have managed their responsibilities over time, rather than looking only at how well they appear to be functioning today.
Someone may have coped reasonably well through school or early adulthood, only to find things increasingly difficult after starting university, taking on a demanding job, becoming a parent or assuming greater responsibilities.
Sometimes, the demands of life simply become greater than the coping strategies a person has developed.
Executive Dysfunction: When Everyday Tasks Become Difficult
Another aspect of ADHD that I think deserves greater understanding is executive dysfunction.
Executive functions are the mental processes that help us plan, organise, prioritise, manage time and follow through on tasks.
Imagine knowing that an important bill needs to be paid, having the money available and fully understanding the consequences of missing the deadline — yet somehow continuing to put it off.
Or sitting down to begin a work project, knowing exactly what needs to be done, but finding it extraordinarily difficult to take the first step.
For some people with ADHD, this gap between knowing what to do and being able to do it can affect almost every part of daily life.
It may mean repeatedly running late, forgetting appointments, struggling to complete household tasks or becoming overwhelmed when several responsibilities compete for attention.
Over time, these difficulties can affect relationships, financial wellbeing, career opportunities and self-confidence.
When people do not understand why these things keep happening, they may begin questioning their own abilities.
However, I always emphasise that executive-function difficulties are not exclusive to ADHD. Poor sleep, anxiety, depression and other health conditions can produce similar experiences.
That is why a comprehensive assessment is so important. We need to understand the whole person, not simply identify a collection of symptoms.
Why a Child’s Assessment Can Raise Questions for Parents
One of the interesting things about ADHD is its strong genetic component.
Sometimes, when parents begin learning about ADHD during their child’s assessment, they recognise experiences from their own childhood.
They may remember struggling to finish schoolwork, losing belongings, finding it difficult to concentrate or needing much more effort than their classmates to stay organised.
They may have developed ways of coping without ever considering that ADHD could be involved.
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition, which means symptoms begin during childhood, although a person may not receive a diagnosis until adulthood.
Of course, recognising similarities between yourself and your child does not automatically mean you both have ADHD.
But it can be a useful starting point for a conversation with a healthcare professional, particularly when those difficulties have persisted over many years and continue to affect daily life.
The Signs in Children Aren’t Always Loud
When parents think about ADHD, they often picture a child who is constantly moving, interrupting conversations or struggling to remain seated.
Those behaviours can certainly be associated with ADHD, but they are not the only signs.
Some children have predominantly inattentive symptoms. They may be quiet, frequently daydream, miss parts of instructions or struggle to complete tasks even when they understand what is expected.
Others may regularly lose school materials, forget everyday routines, find it difficult to wait their turn or struggle to manage frustration.
I encourage parents to look for patterns rather than isolated incidents.
All children become distracted, restless or forgetful at times. What matters is whether these difficulties are persistent, greater than would be expected for the child’s developmental stage and affecting everyday life across different settings.
A child may experience difficulties at home that are also apparent to teachers at school.
Importantly, good academic results do not necessarily rule out ADHD. Some children perform well in class but expend considerable effort managing their attention, organisation and schoolwork.
We should not assume that a child is coping comfortably simply because their grades are good.
It’s Never Too Early to Ask for Help
If parents are concerned about their child’s attention, behaviour or development, my advice is not to wait until those concerns become serious problems before seeking guidance.
Seeking help early does not mean rushing into a diagnosis or medication.
For younger children, the first steps may involve discussing developmental concerns, learning practical strategies to support behaviour and routines, or working with early childhood educators.
A formal ADHD diagnosis may be more difficult to establish in very young children, and not every developmental concern will turn out to be ADHD.
Nevertheless, parents can seek professional advice whenever they notice persistent difficulties affecting their child’s wellbeing or development.
Early support can help families better understand a child’s needs and respond to challenges before they begin affecting learning, friendships or confidence.
Preparing for an ADHD Assessment
Whether you’re seeking advice for yourself or your child, a little preparation can help make the first appointment more productive. Here are some common questions families have before an assessment.
What information should I prepare?
Write down examples of difficulties with attention, organisation, impulsivity or completing tasks. Include when they occur and how they affect school, work, home life or relationships.
Are childhood school reports important?
They can be helpful, even for adults. ADHD symptoms begin in childhood, so old reports, family recollections and teacher observations may help establish a developmental history.
Should I bring information from teachers or family members?
Yes, where available. Observations from people who know the individual in different settings can provide useful context. Ask the clinic beforehand what information it prefers.
What medical information should I bring?
Details of current medications, previous assessments, sleep difficulties, relevant medical conditions and family history can help the clinician consider possible explanations for symptoms.
Will an assessment automatically lead to medication?
No. An assessment does not guarantee an ADHD diagnosis or a medication prescription. Treatment recommendations depend on individual needs and clinical findings.
What should I ask when booking?
Confirm the assessment process, appointment length, expected costs, Medicare eligibility, whether further consultations may be required and what ongoing care is available.
For older children and adults, an ADHD assessment generally involves looking at current symptoms, developmental history and the impact of those symptoms on everyday life.
We may also consider information from family members, teachers, previous school reports or other relevant records.
One thing I want people to understand is that there is no single blood test or brain scan that can confirm ADHD.
Diagnosis involves a careful clinical assessment, including consideration of other medical, developmental or psychological conditions that could explain similar symptoms.
Finding Support Close to Home
Queensland’s ADHD prescribing arrangements changed in December 2025, expanding the role of appropriately qualified specialist GPs in initiating and managing certain ADHD medications for adults, subject to specific requirements.
These changes are helping create additional pathways for people who need assessment and ongoing care.
At Telos Medical Centre in Brighton, we provide ADHD-related assessment and management services for children and adults.
My approach is to understand each person’s individual circumstances, including their developmental history, everyday challenges and broader health needs.
Treatment is not one-size-fits-all. Depending on the individual, it may involve education, behavioural strategies, psychological support, medication where appropriate and ongoing monitoring.
Not everyone diagnosed with ADHD will require the same treatment, and receiving a diagnosis does not automatically mean taking medication.
What matters is finding an approach that helps the person function better in their daily life and supports their overall wellbeing.
For parents wondering whether their child’s difficulties deserve closer attention, or adults who have spent years trying to understand their own experiences, I hope the message is reassuring.
ADHD is not always obvious, and it can affect people in different ways. Asking questions, recognising patterns and seeking appropriate guidance can be the beginning of a better understanding of yourself or someone you care about.Published 15-October-2026
About Dr Anchita Karmakar
General Practitioner and Medical Director, Telos Medical Centre Brighton
Dr Anchita Karmakar is a General Practitioner and Medical Director at Telos Medical Centre Brighton. Her special areas of interest include ADHD assessment, women’s health with a focus on perimenopause and menopause, cardiac risk assessments, integrative health, addiction medicine and pain management.
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