Adult ADHD Treatment: Complete Australian Guide

What is adult ADHD treatment?

ADHD is a long-term condition. The Australian ADHD Guideline reports a review of 7 North American follow-up studies found symptoms persisted in 60-86% of individuals (AADPA). Treatment is about building a life that works with your brain, not removing ADHD.

The guideline was released in October 2022 and generated 132 recommendations on the identification, diagnosis, treatment and support of children, adolescents and adults with ADHD (AADPA). Our guide to adult ADHD symptoms explains how it shows up.

Adult ADHD treatments compared

These are the main options, described in plain terms. Which suit you depends on your goals, health and what you can access.

CBT for ADHD

Therapy that builds skills for planning and emotional regulation. Our guide to CBT for ADHD explains what sessions involve and how to find a practitioner.

ADHD without medication

Many people want to know what else helps. Our guide to managing ADHD without medication looks at non-medicine options honestly, including what the evidence does and does not support.

ADHD coaching

Coaches help you set goals and keep routines going between appointments. Read what ADHD coaching offers before you commit to a provider.

Occupational therapy for ADHD

Occupational therapists look at how ADHD affects daily tasks and suggest changes to routines and spaces. See our guide to occupational therapy for ADHD.

TQN Care support workers help with personal care, community access, respite and help around the home across Sydney, Melbourne and surrounding areas (NSW & VIC). Tell us what you need and we will call you back.

How to treat ADHD with medicine: what the guideline lists

Medicine is one option among several, and it is always a conversation with a prescriber. The Australian ADHD Guideline lists stimulants (methylphenidate, dexamfetamine or lisdexamfetamine) as first-line medication for people aged 5 and over, atomoxetine or guanfacine as second line, and, in children and adolescents, clonidine as another second-line medication (AADPA).

• Ask your GP, psychiatrist or pharmacist what a medicine is for, how it is monitored and what side effects to watch for.
• Never start, stop, change or share medicine without talking to your prescriber first.
• Keep a short diary of sleep, appetite, mood and focus to bring to review appointments.
• Tell every health professional about all the medicines and supplements you take.

For the Australian detail, see our guide to ADHD medication in Australia.

ADHD new treatment: what to make of headlines

New treatments appear in the news often, and it is natural to hope. Check each claim before you pay or change your plan.

• Ask whether the Australian ADHD Guideline or a government health site mentions the treatment and what it says.
• Be cautious of any program promising to remove ADHD, and ask what independent evidence exists.
• Look at the cost, the practitioner’s registration and whether you can stop at any time.
• Remember that the guideline made no recommendation on neurofeedback because it did not identify sufficient evidence to support one.

ADHD management strategies for daily life

Many people find simple, visible strategies built around their strengths easier to keep up. Start with one or two and add more as habits form.

• Use a single calendar for appointments, bills and deadlines, with alerts set for the day before and the hour before.
• Break big tasks into steps you can finish in one sitting, and write the first step on a sticky note.
• Try body doubling, where a friend or support person sits with you while you do a dull job.
• Put keys, wallet and phone in the same place each time, and add a basket by the door.
• Plan rest, movement and sleep as seriously as meetings.

ADHD morning routine

Set out clothes, bag and keys the night before, then follow the same order every day.

1. 1Place your alarm across the room. That way you need to get out of bed to turn it off.
2. 2Follow a short checklist. Stick it on the bathroom mirror or fridge: shower, dress, breakfast, bag, keys, leave.
3. 3Build in a ten-minute buffer. Then one lost item or a slow start does not make you late for the whole day.

Free printable ADHD routine charts

You can make a chart yourself on paper or a whiteboard. Use pictures or large words, list four to six steps, and place it where you will do the task. Check your pharmacy, library or an occupational therapist for templates.

ADHD teaching strategies for study and training

If you are returning to study, ask your education provider about reasonable adjustments, such as extra time or recorded lectures. Break reading into short blocks, test yourself instead of rereading, and study with others when you can.

Our guide to ADHD symptoms and traits can help you spot which parts of daily life to target first.

ADHD helpline and adult ADHD support

You do not have to work this out alone. These services are a good first step if you are unsure where to start.

• The healthdirect helpline (1800 022 222; NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria) is staffed by registered nurses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (healthdirect).
• healthdirect lists the ADHD Foundation on 1300 39 39 19 for ADHD support.
• The ADHD Foundation also has resources for adults (ADHD and adults).
• Ask your GP about local peer groups, counselling and allied health.

If you are still looking for answers about whether you have ADHD, our guide to the ADHD test for adults explains how assessment works. For more on ADHD across genders, see our guides to ADHD in women and men.

ADHD is ruining my life: when it feels like too much

Feeling overwhelmed does not mean you are failing. healthdirect states adults with ADHD can successfully learn to manage their lives, but may also experience depression or anxiety, substance misuse problems, and difficulties with family and work.

• Tell your GP honestly how things are, including mood, sleep, alcohol or other drug use, money and relationships.
• Ask about screening for anxiety or depression, since they can occur alongside ADHD and need their own care.
• Pick one pressure to reduce first, such as bills, paperwork or clutter, and ask for practical help with it.
• If you feel unsafe or in crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, and call 000 if you or someone else is in immediate danger.

ADHD co-management with your GP and specialists

Co-management means your GP and a specialist work as a team, so you are not repeating your story at every appointment. For example, you might see a psychiatrist for assessment or reviews and a GP for day-to-day care.

• Ask each professional who is responsible for prescriptions, reviews and referrals.
• Keep one folder or phone note with your diagnosis, plan, medicines and appointment dates.
• Ask for written summaries after specialist visits and have them sent to your GP.
• If you also manage a condition such as epilepsy, make sure each clinician knows. See our epilepsy treatment guide for how plans fit together.

ADHD treatment in Australia: reviews and how to judge a clinic

Online reviews can help, but they are one view and may not reflect clinical quality. Check these points before you book.

• Confirm the clinician’s registration with AHPRA and ask about their ADHD training.
• Ask what an assessment and follow-up involve, how long they take and what each step costs.
• Be wary of anyone who promises a diagnosis or medicine before meeting you.
• Ask how they work with your GP, and whether they share care or expect you to transfer fully.

How to help a child or someone else with ADHD

Understanding, patience and practical help matter for families. The Australian ADHD Guideline’s clinician factsheet states parent and family training should be offered to parents and carers of children and adolescents with ADHD.

• Ask the person what helps, and listen without trying to solve everything for them.
• Offer to be a body double, make a shared calendar or help break tasks into steps.
• Praise effort and strengths, and avoid blame for lateness, forgetfulness or lost items.
• Learn about ADHD from reliable Australian sources, and encourage them to see their GP.

Adult ADHD treatment and the NDIS

The NDIS is about supports for daily life rather than medical treatment. It can fund supports only if you meet the NDIS access requirements, so check with the NDIA.

• Read our guide to ADHD and the NDIS for how access requests work and what evidence helps.
• See whether ADHD is a disability for how the law and schemes view it.
• Keep reports from your psychiatrist, psychologist or occupational therapist and a diary of daily support needs.

When to talk to a GP or specialist about ADHD treatment

• Your current plan is not helping, or side effects are affecting your sleep, appetite or mood.
• You feel persistently low, anxious or overwhelmed.
• Work, study, money or relationships are being affected on most days.
• You are using alcohol or other drugs to cope.
• You want a review, a second opinion or a plan that fits your life better.

Call 000 in an emergency.

TQN Care support workers help with personal care, community access, respite and help around the home across Sydney, Melbourne and surrounding areas (NSW & VIC). Tell us what you need and we will call you back.

Your next step

If you or someone you care for has ADHD and an NDIS plan, TQN Care’s NDIS services can help with the practical side of daily life. Our support workers assist with personal care, community access, respite and help around the home across Sydney, Melbourne and surrounding areas (NSW & VIC). We do not diagnose or treat ADHD, but we can help turn your routines and goals into steady habits at home.