Notice worry behind the behaviour
Watch for fear and avoidance, not only the ADHD signs everyone can see.
Not ratedADHD evidence
Start with the time you have
1 minute
Try the question out loud: 'What feels hardest or most worrying about this?'
5 minutes
Write down one repeated worry, when it appears and what your child avoids.
15 minutes
Talk with your child, then prepare a short account of the pattern for their health professional.
How sure the science is
Not rated, ADHD evidence
No pooled trials to rate. This rests on single studies, expert consensus or clinical practice. Measured in people with ADHD.
CDC ADHD survey data establish co-occurrence; general child mental-health guidance supports recognition and seeking help.
The number, drawn
Why it matters
CDC reports anxiety in about four in ten US children with ADHD in a national parent survey. Anxiety can show up as irritability, stomach aches or avoiding school and play, so it can be mistaken for difficult behaviour. Noticing the pattern can help you describe the problem to a professional, but does not establish a diagnosis.
How to do it
- Ask gently what feels worrying, instead of assuming your child is refusing on purpose.
- Notice when fear or avoidance starts getting in the way at school, at home or with friends.
- Describe the pattern to your child's health professional and ask what they advise.
This cannot diagnose anxiety. Get prompt help for severe distress, self-harm or major loss of functioning.
Putting it into practice
In real life
- Your child reports stomach aches before school and worries about getting things wrong.
- A child who looks angry is actually scared about joining a group.
Watch out for
- Common mistakeArguing that a worry is irrational may close the conversation, so first listen to the fear.
- Common mistakeDo not treat every physical symptom as anxiety, so mention persistent symptoms to a clinician.
Trusted guides
How we rated it
- Evidence grade
- C Small or mixed studies, expert consensus or clinical practice. Worth knowing, not worth betting on.
- The number
- About 40% of US children with ADHD also had anxiety in a parent survey (CDC, 2026)
- Benefit
- 62/100 The benefit score is an editorial prioritization for the general list, weighted by certainty. It is not a prediction of what will happen for you.
- Effort
- Some effort
Sources
- Tier 1 guidelineData on ADHD in ChildrenCDC, 2026
- Tier 1 guidelineAnxiety and Depression in ChildrenCDC, 2026
General information about ADHD, not a diagnosis or an individual treatment plan. Tailoring changes the order of suggestions; it does not assess you. Medication decisions belong with you and a qualified clinician.