Many parents come to us worried their child has ADHD. Their child can’t sit still, can’t concentrate, forgets instructions, interrupts others, or doesn’t think before acting.
But is it really ADHD or could it be something else? Sleep problems, anxiety, learning difficulties and a number of medical conditions can mirror ADHD behaviours. That’s where getting an ADHD assessment takes into account other variables, giving you a clearer picture of what’s actually going on.
| Condition | Can look like ADHD as… | But also consider… |
| Sleep disorders | Inattention, hyperactivity, irritability, restlessness | Snoring, enlarged tonsils/adenoids, obstructive sleep apnoea, restless legs, poor sleep habits |
| Iron deficiency | Poor concentration, fatigue, restlessness, learning difficulties | Often improves on its own once iron levels are corrected, worth a blood test if risk factors are present |
| Hearing or vision problems | Looks “distracted” or “not listening” | May simply be unable to hear instructions clearly or see the whiteboard/task |
| Thyroid disorders | Poor concentration, low energy, low mood | Uncommon cause, but worth checking if history/examination points that way |
| Coeliac disease & other chronic conditions | Behavioural changes, poor concentration, fatigue | Slow growth, weight loss, iron deficiency, or recurrent infections, often picked up via Feeding Difficulties or Growth & Development clinics |
| Anxiety | Poor concentration, irritability, restlessness, avoiding schoolwork | Mind is occupied by worry rather than an attention deficit |
| Learning difficulties | Loses focus, avoids tasks, appears disengaged | Task may simply be much harder for the child than it looks, dyslexia or a language difficulty |
| Epilepsy & neurological conditions | Mistaken for daydreaming or inattention | Absence seizures, frequent staring spells always warrant assessment |
| Sudden change in behaviour | Rarely how ADHD presents (usually longstanding) | Warrants a prompt medical review rather than an ADHD assumption |
Yes, more often than most parents expect. ADHD commonly overlaps with anxiety, autism, a specific learning disorder, a sleep disorder, iron deficiency, speech or language difficulties, or another medical condition. Treating only the attention difficulties may not solve the whole problem, which is why a comprehensive assessment looks at the whole child.
ADHD is a clinical diagnosis-there’s no single blood test or scan that confirms it. An assessment looks at whether symptoms are persistent, occur across settings, affect everyday functioning, and considers other explanations alongside ADHD.
Not every concern can sit on a waitlist for months, and some of the red flags above, a sudden change in behaviour, unexplained weight loss, ongoing pain, a fever that won’t settle, genuinely shouldn’t.
That’s why we reserve one dedicated clinic every Monday purely for children who need a prompt paediatric assessment for acute or urgent concerns. It runs alongside our regular developmental and behavioural appointments, so children needing urgent medical review don’t have to wait behind a long list of routine bookings.
These appointments are designed for children who need an early specialist review, including those with:
If your GP feels your child would benefit from an early specialist review, they can flag the referral as urgent and, subject to availability, offer one of these reserved weekly appointments.
Our goal is simple: timely, comprehensive paediatric care, whether your child has an acute medical concern, a developmental or behavioural difficulty, or both.
Worried your child’s symptoms need a closer look? Contact Tiny Tots Paediatrics to discuss whether a routine or Weekly Acute Clinic appointment is the right fit.
