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Homeschooling a Child with ADHD: With the ADHD Foundation Australia | 57
Many parents first see the signs of ADHD when their child starts school or moves into high school. Ellen Brown talks with Dympna Brbich and Lindy Hadges from ADHD Foundation Australia about what ADHD is, ADHD masking, homeschooling and getting a diagnosis.
Many parents first see the signs of ADHD when their child starts school or moves into high school. A child who held it together all day falls apart at home, mornings become a struggle, or the teacher raises concerns about focus.
Ellen Brown talks with Dympna Brbich and Lindy Hadges from ADHD Foundation Australia about what ADHD is, what they hear on the Foundation's helpline, and where to start with a diagnosis. Lindy, who homeschooled her five children, believes homeschooling is ideal for children with ADHD, because learning can be shorter, lower pressure, and built around movement and your child's interests.
Meet Dympna and Lindy
Dympna is the chair and founding director of ADHD Foundation Australia. The Foundation started in 2017 with a single phone line in New South Wales and now runs a national helpline that handles more than 10,000 enquiries a year. It receives no government funding and is run entirely by volunteers.
Lindy is a director of the Foundation and also a psychotherapist with over 16 years of clinical experience. She homeschooled her five children for 30 years and spent 12 years in Media Relations for the Home Education Association (HEA), where she worked on their helpline and heard from many parents of children with ADHD who wanted to know whether school was the right place for them.
Key discussion points
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition. Lindy compares it to diabetes: a real, physical condition with no shame attached.
ADHD often runs in families. Dympna says it's common for a parent to be diagnosed after their child.
Starting school and starting high school are when many parents call the helpline. Children who coped in primary school may struggle in high school.
Many children with ADHD mask their difficulties all day. The exhaustion often shows once they get home.
Play to your child's strengths. Lindy believes this is how a child with ADHD builds confidence.
Movement helps learning. Lindy says sitting still and listening is often the least effective way for a child with ADHD to learn.
Stick to evidence-based advice while you wait for a diagnosis. Dympna has heard from parents who spent large sums on advice that didn't help.
What is ADHD?
Lindy still hears outdated myths about ADHD that date back to the 1980s: that it means naughty boys climbing on rooftops, or that a child just needs more discipline. Dympna describes it as a neurodevelopmental condition that can be hereditary and seldom travels alone, often sitting alongside anxiety or depression.
It also looks different from one child to the next. Dympna explains there are hyperactive, inattentive, and combined presentations, and while some people manage with counselling or coaching, others need medical support.
Lindy explains the science behind it. Dopamine, which she calls "our motivation hormone" rather than a feel-good hormone, is low in the ADHD brain, and so is noradrenaline. That makes it harder to get started on a task, stay focused, and finish it. Over time, it can affect a child's self-esteem as they compare themselves with their peers.
If your pancreas is low on insulin and you can't process sugars, that's a problem. Well, if your prefrontal cortex is low on dopamine and noradrenaline, important transmitters for focus and executive function, then that's a very real problem and there's no shame in that. There's no shame in diabetes, no shame in ADHD. — Lindy Hadges, Director, ADHD Foundation Australia
Why ADHD can seem to appear in the teenage years
Parents often tell Ellen their child could concentrate on Lego for hours when they were younger and now can't get out the door by 9 am. Lindy points to hormones, which interact with dopamine and noradrenaline. The same link is behind the record number of women in their fifties now being diagnosed, and she says the hormonal changes of the teenage years can have a similar effect.
What parents notice when school isn't working
Dympna hears from parents whose child is calm and delightful one day and melts down over the smallest thing the next. Some children don't want to go to school, some are lonely in the classroom, and many are bullied, which she says can mean anything from being ignored to physical harm.
Transitions are especially hard. Starting school or moving into high school can feel like climbing a mountain, and trouble sleeping, which is common with ADHD, makes it harder. Ellen notes that school refusal, bullying, and ADHD are often talked about as separate issues, when for many children they overlap.
Dympna explains masking as a coping mechanism. A child hides their behaviour, difficulties, and study habits so they don't seem different from everyone else. It's common in children with ADHD, but it isn't unique to them: a child without ADHD who is struggling with a subject like maths or spelling may mask that too.
Keeping that up all day takes a lot of energy. When the mask comes off at home, a child is often exhausted and might lash out at siblings, scream, or refuse to do what they're told. Lindy calls it the "brain girdle" coming off after a day of holding everything in.
Episode 54, with psychologist Lisa Boland, covers this after-school collapse in more detail.
Can homeschooling help a child with ADHD?
Lindy believes homeschooling is ideal for children with ADHD. In her view, the ADHD brain reaches capacity quickly, which makes 9 am to 3 pm, five days a week, a tough gig. At home, a child can play in the garden, ride their bike, or read a favourite book, then return to schoolwork with less pressure.
She knows it isn't possible for every family, especially single parents or families that need two incomes. For children in school, she would like to see more room for brain breaks, such as time in a quiet corner with Lego or hands-on materials.
Ellen shares the story of a Euka student with ADHD who is starting university in software technologies. Learning at home helped him see his ADHD as a strength, because he could focus completely on the subjects he loved for short bursts, take breaks when he needed them, and move quickly through the subjects he was less interested in.
Episode 23 follows one mother homeschooling children with dyslexia, ASD, and ADHD.
How to homeschool a child with ADHD
Find your child's passions and teach through them
Lindy recommends taking time to observe your child and work out what they love. Children with ADHD often have strong passions because of hyperfocus, and building on their strengths helps their confidence. If your child dislikes maths and loves acting, she suggests teaching maths through acting and coming back to the textbook later.
She draws on the story of Michelangelo looking at a block of marble to work out what was inside it. Homeschooling parents have time to do the same with their children, and Lindy believes a child can learn every subject through their strengths.
Keep them moving while they learn
Lindy explains that children with ADHD tend to learn best through movement, then visually, with listening being the least effective. She suggests practising times tables on the trampoline, talking with your child while they ride their bike, and giving them Lego, drawing, or play-dough while you read aloud. Try to keep lessons short. Our guide to the seven learning styles explains the different ways children take in information.
Adapt the lesson to your child
Ellen encourages parents to treat the Euka program as a starting point. Every lesson has a hands-on component, and if it asks for a poster of a volcano and your child doesn't enjoy that, make a volcano with Mentos and Coca-Cola instead. Her own family made rap songs with spelling words and drew hopscotch in chalk.
Being open to what your child really enjoys and feeling confident enough to make changes... so that you make the learning the child's, rather than trying to make the child adapt to the learning. — Ellen Brown, Co-founder and Head of Education
By high school, Ellen's three youngest knew how they liked to learn, which subjects they wanted more of, and which ones to move through more quickly.
What support is there while you wait for an ADHD diagnosis?
Dympna says children usually aren't diagnosed before the age of seven, but many parents notice differences at around three, which makes the years in between especially hard. Paediatricians are heavily booked, and while the public health system is the most affordable option, it can take time.
In the meantime, the Foundation focuses on helping parents understand and support their child, and a neurodevelopmental psychologist may help identify what a young child needs. Dympna is pleased that more families are looking for evidence-based information rather than hearsay. Many parents have told the helpline they spent thousands of dollars on other people's advice and achieved nothing.
How do you get an ADHD diagnosis for your child?
Lindy is a strong advocate for formal diagnosis, because she believes "information is power." For a child, she describes the usual path: see your GP for a referral, see a paediatrician, and go through the diagnosis process. In some states, GPs can now oversee ongoing care. One of Lindy's clients went from paying $450 a quarter for a psychiatrist check-up to $70 with their GP.
Dympna adds that these changes are rolling out state by state and aren't in place in most states yet. In Western Australia, around 100 GPs have been trained to diagnose children from the age of seven.
The Foundation has also started supporting GPs directly. Its psychologist completes an ADHD screening and, with the parent's agreement, provides the GP with a report of up to 16 pages covering areas such as executive functioning. You'll need a GP referral to receive the Medicare rebate.
The Foundation also offers counselling for parents, because hearing that their child is different can be hard to process. Dympna's suggested first step is to complete the enquiry form on the Foundation's website so the right person can call you back. You can also call the National ADHD Helpline on 1300 39 39 19.
Why this episode matters
This episode gives parents a clearer picture of what ADHD is, what it can look like at school and at home, and the practical first steps towards support and a diagnosis.
Lindy's advice to parents whose child is struggling at school is not to keep pushing on for another three, four, or five years. She suggests looking into homeschooling, reaching out to the Foundation, seeking a formal diagnosis, and getting onto it earlier rather than later.
Dympna's closing words are for the parent who had an awful morning and is wondering whether they're failing their child.
You're not failing, you're parenting a child whose brain works differently, and you're doing your best with the information you have. Your child doesn't need perfection, they need you. — Dympna Brbich, Chair and Founding Director, ADHD Foundation Australia
Start the free homeschooling course
If youare figuring out what homeschooling could look like for your family, our Complete Guide to Confident Homeschooling covers registering legally in your state, choosing and structuring a program, building a daily rhythm, supporting a child who learns differently, and knowing your child is progressing.
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that can be hereditary. Lindy explains that the ADHD brain is low in dopamine and noradrenaline, which affects motivation and focus. Dympna adds that it can present as hyperactive, inattentive, or combined, and often comes with anxiety or depression.
Lindy points to the hormonal changes of puberty, which interact with the brain chemicals involved in ADHD. High school also brings more deadlines and a different classroom for each subject, which Dympna says is when many children who coped in primary school start to struggle.
Masking is when a child works hard at school to hide anything that makes them seem different. Parents usually see the cost after school: meltdowns, lashing out at siblings, or refusing to cooperate.
Lindy believes it's ideal because a child can learn with less pressure, take breaks to move, and spend more time on what interests them. She also recognises that families needing two incomes, and many single parents, can't always make it work.
Build lessons around your child's interests, keep them short, and let your child move. Ellen also encourages parents to treat each lesson's activity as a suggestion and change it if another approach suits their child better.
Learn as much as you can from evidence-based sources. Dympna recommends the ADHD Foundation's helpline as a first point of contact. For younger children, a psychologist who specialises in child development may help you work out what your child needs.
It depends on where you live. GP-led diagnosis and care is being introduced state by state, and Western Australia already has trained GPs who can diagnose children aged seven and over. Elsewhere, your GP will usually refer your child to a paediatrician.
About the host and guests
Ellen Brown is Euka's co-founder and Head of Education. She is a qualified teacher, a mother of five, and has homeschooled for 12 years.
Dympna Brbich (chair and founding director) and Lindy Hadges (director) are part of ADHD Foundation Australia, a volunteer-run charity that offers a national ADHD helpline, screening, and counselling.
This article is general information, not medical advice. If you're concerned your child may have ADHD, please speak to your GP.
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Meet Brett Campbell
Brett Campbell is a visionary leader, serving as Chairman and CEO of Euka, an innovative education provider who’s building the future of education. As a bestselling author and award-winning entrepreneur, Brett brings a wealth of expertise to his role, driving Euka’s mission to bring real world individualised experiential learning.
Beyond his professional pursuits, Brett is a dedicated family man, cherishing his roles as a loving father and husband. With a passion for lifelong learning, he embodies a commitment to personal and professional growth, continually seeking to expand his knowledge and skills.
As the esteemed host of the Future Learners Podcast, Brett shares his insights and inspiration with audiences worldwide, empowering individuals to embrace the transformative power of education. Brett aims to shape a brighter, more enlightened future for learners everywhere.
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Meet Ellen Brown
Ellen Brown is a mother of 5 and the founder and Head of Education at Euka. With over 25 years of teaching experience, Ellen is the original visionary behind Euka and has committed years of her life ideating, writing and overseeing the entire teaching curriculum, ranging from Foundation – Grade 12. Ellen has been featured in and on multiple publications including Channel 9, ABC, SKY News and is often called upon for her expert commentary surrounding the future of Education.
Euka can help make your homeschooling registration simple and stress free. Euka’s Registration Service includes:
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We assist you every step of the way to prepare your registration application by providing all the documentation and support you need.
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Your Euka program includes Standard Reporting, allowing you to track progress of daily learning, certificates and standard academic reports.
For families who need help with government reporting requirements, upgrading to Premium Reporting helps you save time, stay organised and access these benefits:
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Perfect for families who need:
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Reports for school transitions
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At Euka, we’re partnering with a growing number of universities to provide a seamless transition to further education. Students who have completed our assessed University Pathway course have exclusive pathways to some of Australia’s leading universities below.
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