same day & urgent walk-in appointments are available
(02) 9651 2077
3-4/286 New Line Road, Dural NSW 2158
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ADHD Assessment & Management
A clear pathway for children, teenagers and adults
Think ADHD might be part of the picture?
ADHD can affect much more than concentration. It can influence learning, work, organisation, relationships, emotional regulation, time management and everyday life.
At Dural Family Medical Practice, Dr Udara Gunawardane (ADHD Endorsed Prescriber, NSW) can provide ADHD assessment and ongoing management for children (aged 6+), adolescents and adults, with care tailored to the individual and their family.
Whether you are seeking an assessment for yourself, concerned about your child (aged 6+), or already have an ADHD diagnosis and need ongoing treatment, we can help you understand the next step.
Where are you on your ADHD journey?
You don’t need to know exactly what you need before making an appointment.
01
I think I might have ADHD
You may have ongoing difficulties with attention, organisation, impulsivity, restlessness or completing everyday tasks.
02
My child (aged 6+) is struggling at school or home
You may have noticed difficulties with concentration, behaviour, learning, emotional regulation or organisation.
03
I’ve already been diagnosed
You may already have an ADHD diagnosis but want to establish ongoing care closer to home.
04
I’m already taking ADHD medication
If you have an established diagnosis and are stable on treatment, we can discuss whether management through our practice is appropriate.
* Please note that ADHD consultations are structured in a staged assessment and review process and you may require more than one appointment and/ or collaboration with other doctors/ allied health to establish ongoing care.*
What is ADHD?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that can affect people throughout their lives.
ADHD does not look the same in everyone.
Some people experience predominantly difficulties with attention and organisation, while others experience significant hyperactivity and impulsivity. Many people experience a combination.
ADHD may affect
Concentration and sustained attention
Organisation and planning
Time management
Starting and completing tasks
Working memory
Impulse control
Activity levels & restlessness
Emotional regulation
School or workplace performance
Relationships and family life
Symptoms can become particularly noticeable when demands increase — for example, starting school, entering high school, beginning university, starting a new job, becoming a parent or taking on greater responsibilities.
ADHD in children and teenagers
Children do not always describe ADHD as a problem with “attention”.
You may instead notice:
- Difficulty following instructions
- Frequently losing belongings
- Homework taking an unusually long time
- Forgetfulness
- Difficulty sitting still
- Excessive talking or interrupting
- Emotional outbursts
- Problems with organisation
- School or learning difficulties
Assessment of children and teenagers considers the child’s developmental history and functioning across different environments.
Where appropriate, information from parents, teachers, school reports and other professionals can help build a clearer picture.
Our practice has a strong focus on family and children’s healthcare, and ADHD assessment can be considered within the broader context of your child’s development, learning and wellbeing.
ADHD in adults
ADHD can be recognised for the first time in adulthood.
Some adults have spent years developing strategies to compensate for their difficulties. Others may have performed well academically but later find that increasing demands at university, work, relationships or parenting make these difficulties more apparent.
Adult ADHD may involve:
Focus
Difficulty maintaining attention or completing tasks.
Organisation
Difficulty managing paperwork, appointments, deadlines or household responsibilities.
Time
Underestimating how long things take, running late or struggling with deadlines.
Motivation
Knowing what needs to be done but finding it unusually difficult to start.
Impulsivity
Acting or speaking before thinking, interrupting or making rapid decisions.
Restlessness
A feeling of being constantly “on the go” or mentally restless.
Symptoms can become particularly noticeable when demands increase — for example, starting school, entering high school, beginning university, starting a new job, becoming a parent or taking on greater responsibilities.
What does an ADHD assessment involve?
There is no single blood test, scan or questionnaire that diagnoses ADHD.
A proper assessment looks at the whole picture.
Your consultation may include:
01
Your current concerns
What difficulties are you experiencing now, and how are they affecting your everyday life?
02
Your developmental history
For ADHD, understanding earlier life and childhood symptoms can be important.
03
Your functioning
We consider how symptoms affect areas such as:
Home
School
University
Work
Relationships
Organisation and daily activities
04
Other possible explanations
Concentration and organisational difficulties can occur for many reasons. Your GP may consider factors such as sleep, anxiety, depression, stress, medical conditions, medications and other neurodevelopmental or mental health conditions.
05
Additional information
Where appropriate, questionnaires, school reports, previous assessments or information from family members or other people who know you well may contribute to the assessment.
What happens after assessment?
If ADHD is diagnosed, the next question is:
What will help?
Treatment is not one-size-fits-all. Your management plan may include one or several approaches.
Education
Understanding how ADHD affects you can be an important first step.
We can discuss ADHD symptoms, strengths, challenges and practical ways of managing them.
Practical strategies
Strategies may focus on:
Planning
Time management
Organisation
Breaking larger tasks into smaller steps
Establishing routines
Reducing distractions
Improving sleep and exercise habits
Psychological support
Psychological therapies may be useful for ADHD-related difficulties and for conditions that commonly occur alongside ADHD, such as anxiety or depression.
Medication
Medication can be considered when clinically appropriate.
ADHD medications include stimulant and non-stimulant options. The choice depends on the individual, including medical history, symptoms, other medications, potential risks and treatment goals.
Medication is not automatically required following an ADHD diagnosis.
Ongoing review
ADHD management is an ongoing process.
Treatment can be reviewed over time to consider:
Symptom improvement
Day-to-day functioning
Treatment goals
Side effects
Medication effectiveness
Changes in work, school or family circumstances
Dr Udara Gunawardane
BMedSci (Hons) MD (UNSW) DCH FRACGP
Dr Udara has completed additional training in ADHD assessment and management and is an endorsed ADHD prescriber in NSW.
This means eligible patients may be able to receive ADHD assessment and/or ongoing management through our practice, without automatically needing to travel elsewhere for every aspect of their care.
The appropriate pathway depends on the individual patient’s circumstances, clinical assessment and the applicable NSW prescribing requirements.
Our approach
ADHD care should fit the person — not just the diagnosis.
At Dural Family Medical Practice, we aim to look beyond a checklist of symptoms.
We want to understand:
What are you finding difficult?
How is it affecting your everyday life?
What has been happening over time?
What would you like to improve?
What treatment options are appropriate for you?
For children (aged 6+), this also means considering the wider family, school and developmental environment.
Our practice has been caring for families in Dural and the Hills District for more than 30 years, with a broad family-medicine approach.
Before your ADHD appointment
You don’t need to have everything prepared.
However, the following can be helpful:
If you are seeking an assessment
Bring any available:
- Previous medical records
- School reports
- Psychological or psychiatric assessments
- Learning assessments
- Previous ADHD questionnaires
- Medication history
- Information about childhood symptoms
For children (aged 6+), school reports and information from parents or teachers can be particularly useful.
If you already have an ADHD diagnosis
Please bring:
- Previous diagnostic report
- Specialist letters
- Current medication details
- Previous treatment history
- Relevant medical information
If you don’t have previous documents, don’t worry. Discuss this with your GP when booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a psychiatrist to be diagnosed with ADHD?
Not necessarily.
NSW has established GP pathways for ADHD assessment and management by appropriately trained and authorised Specialist GPs. The appropriate pathway depends on the individual circumstances and the Specialist GP’s relevant endorsement and authorisation.
Can adults have ADHD?
Yes.
ADHD can be diagnosed in adults. Assessment considers the person’s current difficulties as well as their developmental history.
Can my child be assessed for ADHD?
Yes.
As an ADHD Endorsed Prescriber in NSW, Dr Udara Gunawardane is able to provide ADHD assessment and management for children aged 6 and above, and adolescents. Assessment considers developmental history and functioning across home, school and other environments.
Does an ADHD diagnosis mean I have to take medication?
No.
Medication is one possible component of treatment. Some people benefit from medication, while others may focus on education, behavioural strategies, psychological support or a combination of approaches.
Can you manage ADHD medication?
As an ADHD Endorsed Prescriber in NSW, Dr Udara Gunawardane can provide ADHD medication management for eligible patients within the relevant NSW prescribing framework. Your suitability for treatment and the appropriate medication pathway will be assessed individually.
Can I transfer my ADHD care from a psychiatrist to your practice?
This may be possible for eligible patients.
We recommend bringing your previous specialist documentation and medication history so that your GP can review your diagnosis and treatment plan and determine the appropriate pathway.
Do I need a referral?
No referral is generally required to make an initial appointment.
What are the Fees for ADHD Consultations?
A new ADHD assessment involves a two-step process to allow time for an initial consultation for suitability assessment, followed by a more detailed assessment and treatment planning. The total fee for a new ADHD assessment is $782, comprising a $182 initial consultation and a $600 focused ADHD assessment.
Eligible patients may receive an estimated total Medicare rebate of $215.45, reducing the estimated out-of-pocket cost to $566.55. Medicare rebates are subject to eligibility and current Medicare requirements.
If ongoing treatment, medication reviews or follow-up consultations are required, these are charged separately at $250 per 20-minute consultation, with an estimated Medicare rebate of $87.10 where applicable.
ADHD Consultation Fee Schedule
| Consultation type | Duration | Fee | Estimated rebate | Out-of-pocket cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1: Initial consultation and information gathering | 20 minutes | $182 | $87.10 | $94.90 |
| Step 2: Focused ADHD assessment and treatment planning | 40 minutes | $600 | $128.35 | $471.65 |
| Ongoing treatment, medication review or follow-up | 20 minutes | $250 | $87.10 | $162.90 |
All Medicare rebates and out-of-pocket amounts are estimates and may vary depending on individual eligibility and applicable Medicare requirements. Fees are payable on the day unless otherwise agreed. Additional consultations or reports may incur further fees.
Why are there two steps to the ADHD assessment?
The first consultation allows us to gather relevant information about your symptoms and medical, developmental, educational, occupational and mental health history.
The second consultation provides time for a more focused assessment, consideration of possible contributing conditions/alternative diagnoses, discussion of findings and treatment planning where appropriate.
Your next step
You don’t have to work out the diagnosis yourself.
If you are wondering whether ADHD may explain difficulties affecting you or your child (aged 6+), start with a conversation.
ADHD Assessment & Management
Dural Family Medical Practice
Important information
ADHD assessment and treatment are individualised. A consultation does not guarantee a diagnosis, medication or a particular treatment outcome.
ADHD medicines, including stimulant medications, are subject to specific NSW prescribing and regulatory requirements. Treatment and prescribing decisions are made following appropriate clinical assessment and in accordance with applicable NSW requirements.
Information on this page is general information only and is not a substitute for individual medical advice.