Notice worry behind the behaviour
Not ratedADHD evidence
Watch for fear and avoidance, not only the obvious ADHD signs.
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 An editorial priority for the general list, weighted by certainty. It does not predict 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.