Question 1

Can a child have both ADHD and anxiety at the same time?

Accepted Answer

Yes, this is common — the two conditions frequently co-occur, and a thorough assessment considers this possibility directly rather than assuming only one is present.

Question 2

Could anxiety alone explain everything, without any ADHD at all?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it's entirely possible for anxiety alone to produce attention and restlessness difficulties that resemble ADHD without ADHD being present — this is exactly why professional assessment matters more than assuming based on behaviour alone.

Question 3

Is the assessment different if we suspect anxiety rather than ADHD?

Accepted Answer

The assessment process considers both from the outset, so there's no need to know in advance which one it 'actually is' — that's precisely what the assessment is designed to clarify.

Question 4

What happens if the assessment finds anxiety rather than ADHD?

Accepted Answer

The consultant will discuss what was found and appropriate next steps, which may include a referral to services more specifically suited to anxiety, depending on what's clinically indicated.

Question 5

If our child has both, do we treat them separately or together?

Accepted Answer

This depends on the individual case, and the consultant will discuss the most sensible order and approach directly with you — sometimes one condition is addressed first because it's making the other harder to manage, and sometimes both are addressed together from the start.