Ask The Expert: ADHD Awareness Month

In Singapore, ADHD is usually diagnosed by psychiatrists, psychologists or developmental-behavioural pediatricians. When I receive referrals for ADHD assessment from psychiatrists or pediatricians, it's usually when they want more comprehensive testing to check on IQ and other conditions like learning disorders. You could also look up the specific practitioner’s area of expertise or specialisation, e.g. some psychologists may specialise more in adult psychotherapy rather than ADHD assessment.

This is not a very common term, as we usually use high functioning with autism. With ADHD, we do have adults who are high functioning meaning they are doing well in their jobs and the impact of ADHD is minimised. In a child, it may refer to a child who is functioning well despite having ADHD. An example is an older child with mild ADHD and high IQ, who was identified early and received good support by parents and teachers and has been taught coping strategies to function well in school.

In general, yes we do see that many children with neurodevelopmental conditions like ADHD and ASD do seem to have higher levels of food sensitivities or fussiness. This could be due to their sensory differences (e.g. higher taste/smell sensitivity). There are also some studies that suggest that reduced consumption of artificial food colours can be helpful for ADHD symptoms. Do consult a healthcare professional when making any dietary changes to ensure that your child is consuming a well-balanced diet.

Hi I’m afraid this is not a live video session but I’m online now replying to all the posted questions so feel free to post! :)