Supporting your child while you wait for an ADHD or autism assessment

If you've been told the wait for an assessment is twelve months, or eighteen, or "we're not taking new referrals", you are not imagining it and you are not alone. Assessment waitlists across Australia are long, and on the Central Coast they are no better. In the meantime you have a child in front of you who is struggling, and a school that wants answers. Here is what I tell the parents I meet in exactly this spot.

You don't need a diagnosis to get help

This is the most important thing on this page. A diagnosis explains; it doesn't unlock support on its own. Therapy for a child can begin based on what they are experiencing right now, whether that is anxiety, meltdowns, trouble with friendships or difficulty coping at school. A GP can prepare a Mental Health Treatment Plan on that basis, which gives you a Medicare rebate for psychology sessions, without waiting for an ADHD or autism diagnosis. For children under nine, the NDIS early childhood approach (delivered on the Coast by Lifestart) can also connect families with early supports without a diagnosis.

What you can do at home now

• Assume the difficulty is real. A child who can't sit through dinner or falls apart at bath time is not choosing to. Starting from "this is hard for them" rather than "they're being difficult" changes what you do next.
• Reduce the demands you can. Fewer transitions, more warning before changes, simpler mornings. You are not spoiling anyone; you are lowering the load while you work out what helps.
• Name feelings out loud. "You're really frustrated that the tower fell." Naming an emotion helps a child feel understood and, over time, helps them name it themselves.
• Notice what works. Keep a note on your phone of the good days: what happened before, what the routine was, who was there. Patterns show up, and they are useful to you now and to the assessing clinician later.
• Protect sleep and movement. Neither fixes anything, but both make everything else harder when they are missing.
• Look after yourself. Parents on a waitlist are often exhausted and blaming themselves. Neither is deserved. Parent sessions exist for exactly this stretch.

What you can do at school

Schools can put adjustments in place before a diagnosis. Ask for a meeting with the teacher and the learning and support team, describe what you see at home and what the teacher sees in class, and ask what small changes might help: a movement break, a quiet spot, instructions written down, a heads-up before transitions. Put the request in writing so there is a record. If you are not sure what is reasonable to ask for, this is something I help parents with.

Make the wait count

Ask to be put on cancellation lists. Ask your GP whether a paediatrician with a shorter wait exists, or whether a psychologist assessment is an option for your child's situation. Gather school reports, any previous assessments and your own observations into one folder. When the appointment comes, you'll be ready.

How I can help while you wait

I work with children aged three to twelve and their parents, with a particular interest in ADHD and neurodiversity-affirming support, in Erina or by telehealth Australia-wide. Families often come to me during the wait to work on the things that are hardest right now, to help their child understand themselves, and to get some steadiness back at home. Where it's useful, I can write an observation summary for your paediatrician or assessing clinician. You are welcome to get in touch to talk about whether that might suit your family.