WA Faces Calls too Expand ADHD Diagnosis Access as Specialist GPs Reportโฃ Waitlists
PERTH, โคWA – Calls are growing for โWestern Australiaโฃ to further ease restrictionsโข around ADHD diagnosis, as specialist GPs reportโ significant waitlists and families struggle to โขaccess timely assessments for โขtheir children. The push โคcomes as โawareness of ADHD increases and moreโ families seek support, highlightingโค a gap in service availability.
Currently, diagnosing ADHD in WA typically requires referral to โa paediatrician or psychiatrist – specialists already facing high โฃdemand.โค This creates lengthyโฃ wait times,possibly delaying crucial interventionsโ and impacting a child’s educational and developmental progress. “Just โคhaving the โknowledge that she dose haveโ ADHD, it โmeans that the teacher’s unconscious biasโค is lifted,” โขsaid Sarah Jackson, whose daughter Ayla is awaiting diagnosis.โข “Without that thay just get labelled asโค the arduous child in class โฆ it’s about awareness.”
The issue โคis โฃnotably pressing โfor youngโ children. Ms Jacksonโค explained that an early diagnosisโ would allow Ayla, who struggles with transitions in kindergarten, to receive the โsupportโฃ needed โto fulfil her potential. “It would allow me โand the school to then put scaffolding in placeโ for her,โค so she doesn’t โfallโฃ behind,” she said. “The older โขthat they get, the โคharder it is for them toโ have to โขcatch โup.”
Advocates argue that appropriately trained GPsโ should beโฃ empowered to โขdiagnoseโ ADHD, streamlining the process and reducing pressure on specialist services. Thisโค would align WA with other states and territories where GPs play a โฃgreater role in initial โassessments. While some GPs are already equipped toโข provide diagnoses, broader training โฃand clear guidelines are needed โคto expandโค access across the state.