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Rumours abound that fuelled by the pandemic and TikTok videos, parents are rushing off their feet to get a diagnosis for their children.

But do more children have ADHD and what should you think about when considering taking your child for an assessment? Is it always the right thing to do?

Anjula Mutanda meets mum Fran who worries her 13 year old daughter might have ADHD. She fidgets, can’t concentrate and is getting into trouble at school.
She is in two minds about taking her daughter for an assessment: NHS waiting lists are long and school haven’t mentioned it. And she is concerned about putting her on the medication so young – is it addictive, what are the side effects? On the other hand, are the downsides of never being diagnosed if you do have ADHD?

To help Fran decide, Anjula discovers what ADHD really is, where is comes from and why more boys seem to have it than girls. She finds out about the pros and the cons of medication and how yoga and cycling might help.

Anjula is joined by: Edmund Sonuga-Barke, Professor of Developmental Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience at Kings College London; Dr Jane Gilmour, Consultant Clinical Psychologist at Great Ormond Street Hospital, Dr Max Davie from ADHD UK, Consultant Adolescent Psychiatrist and CAMHS lead for North of Scotland Dr Kandarp Joshi, Dr Ellie Dommett from King's ADHD Research Lab and Assistant Head Teacher Sarah Finch.

Producer: Sarah Bowen