News and publications

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects around 7% of children and 2.5% of adults . ADHD causes difficulties holding and sustaining attention over periods of time. People with ADHD also experience hyperactivity and high levels of impulsiveness and arousal. This can make it difficult to plan, coordinate and remain engaged in tasks. ADHD is linked to problems at work, school and home, and to higher rates of mental illnesse

The New South Wales government this week announced reforms that will allow some GPs to treat and potentially diagnose attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This aims to make ADHD care more accessible and less expensive and follows changes in Western Australia and Queensland, which have increased GPs’ role in diagnosing and prescribing for ADHD. Previously, only specialists (usually paediatricians and psychiatrists) could diagnose ADHD and prescribe the most com

When parents are concerned about their child’s development, they often seek an assessment to address concerns and identify any conditions, such as autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or learning disorders. Common worries include difficulties making friends, focusing on tasks, or meeting educational goals. It might seem counter-intuitive but assessments are starting to focus on a child’s strengths during this process. This can create powerful opportuni

Caregiver-identified strengths in children attending their first neurodevelopmental assessment: Findings from the Sydney child development research registry and development of a child strengths checklist There has been a growing focus on the importance of understanding strengths in children with neurodevelopmental conditions, but there is little research exploring caregiver-reported strengths at the time of diagnostic assessment. In this study, we explored caregiver-identifie

Our goal was to develop a checklist that could be completed by caregivers at the time of diagnostic assessment and reviewed by clinicians as part of the diagnostic assessment and observation. This checklist can be used to contribute to an integrated strengths-based approach for the diagnostic narrative that meets caregivers’, clinicians’, and children’s needs. You can download a copy of the CANS Checklist below.

Neurodevelopmental conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism affect about one in ten children . These conditions impact development, behaviour and wellbeing. But children with these conditions and their caregivers often can’t get the support they need. Families report difficulties accessing health-care providers and experience long wait lists to receive care. Digital tools, such as apps and websites, are often viewed as a solution to t

Neurodevelopmental conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism affect about one in ten children . These conditions impact learning, behaviour and development. Executive function delays are core to challenges people with neurodevelopmental conditions experience. This includes skills such as paying attention, switching attention, controlling impulses, planning, organising and problem-solving. These skills are important for learning and long-t

Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects 2.5–5% of people . Less than half of people with ADHD have been diagnosed and treated – though more and more people are presenting for help. Like other neurodevelopmental conditions, there are long delays to diagnosis. The current pathways to diagnosis and care can involve multiple assessments from different professionals who are in short supply, making the process confusing, e

Neurodevelopmental conditions, including autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), affect one in ten people . While the primary focus is often on these diagnoses , worrying research shows people with neurodevelopmental conditions are at a much higher risk of experiencing serious mental health concerns. They may also find it particularly challenging to access mental health support. For instance, when young autistic people seek help from youth mental health o

Getting an autism, ADHD or other neurodevelopmental assessment can be difficult, but there are ways you can get the most out of the process.

Recent years have seen remarkable progress in our scientific understanding of early childhood social, emotional, and cognitive development, as well as our capacity to widely disseminate health information by using digital technologies. Together, these scientific and technological advances offer exciting opportunities to deliver high-quality information about early childhood development (ECD) to parents and families globally, which may ultimately lead to greater knowledge and

Early developmental assessment is crucial for effective support and intervention. This study examined factors that contribute to (a) older child age when caregivers first became concerned about their child’s development and (b) older child age at the point of entry into developmental and diagnostic assessment. We also quantified how factors contributed to risk of children not receiving an assessment by 5 years and considered the acceptability of electronic data capture for fa

Early life development and its divergence is influenced by multiple genetic, neurological, and environmental factors. Atypical neurodevelopment likely begins in early gestation during a period of entwined growth between the brain and epithelial barriers of the skin, gastrointestinal tract, and airway. This review gathers epidemiological and neuroinflammatory evidence linking atopic disease with both reduced skin barrier integrity and determinants of neurodivergence. We consid

CAN Research's supported workplace program has been awarded the Australian HR Award for Best Workplace Diversity & Inclusion Program.

Three CAN Researchers have been awarded an Emerging Researcher Grant from the Cerebral Palsy Alliance.

We're looking for participants for a study investigating the symptoms and progression of brain conditions such as dementia and autism.

Listen to a fantastic discussion on employment for autistic adults, with the excellent Orion Kelly.

New research finds strong links between workplace outcomes and mental health for autistic employees.

An article by The Sydney Morning Herald highlighting the growing demand for specialist preschools to support autistic children.

A new study could help autistic teenagers experiencing high levels of irritability by targeting the gut.