What Would You Like Help With?

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🗣 Talking, Communication or Being Understood

Choose this if your teenager:

• has difficulty expressing their thoughts or needs
• finds it difficult to understand spoken information
• has speech difficulties
• struggles to follow complex instructions
• has communication difficulties affecting school, home or everyday life
• needs support with functional communication

​A good place to start may be Speech Pathology.
Explore Paediatric Speech Pathology

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🏠 Everyday Skills & Becoming More Independent

Choose this if your teenager needs support with things like:

• personal care
• dressing
• preparing food
• household tasks
• managing everyday routines
• getting organised for school or activities
• developing independence
• preparing for greater independence as they get older

​A good place to start may be Occupational Therapy.
Explore Paediatric Occupational Therapy

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🧠 Organisation, Planning & Getting Things Done

Choose this if your teenager:

• forgets what they need to do
• struggles to get started on tasks
• has difficulty finishing tasks
• frequently loses things
• struggles to organise schoolwork
• has difficulty managing time
• becomes overwhelmed when there are several things to do
• needs significant support to follow routines

These skills are often referred to as executive functioning.

Occupational Therapy may be a useful place to start for practical strategies and everyday participation.If you're wondering whether ADHD may be contributing, you can also explore assessment options.

Explore Paediatric Occupational Therapy
Explore ADHD & Autism Screening

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📚 School, Learning, Reading, Writing or Maths

Choose this if your teenager:

• is struggling significantly at school
• has ongoing difficulties with reading or spelling
• finds written work particularly difficult
• struggles with maths
• has difficulty keeping up despite support
• may have dyslexia, dysgraphia or dyscalculia
• needs a clearer understanding of their learning or cognitive profile

The right pathway depends on what is causing the difficulty.
Explore Learning & Specific Learning Disorder Assessments
Explore Speech Pathology
Explore Occupational Therapy

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🔊 Sensory Differences

Choose this if your teenager:

• becomes overwhelmed by noise, crowds or busy environments
• finds certain clothing or textures difficult
• avoids particular sensory experiences
• strongly seeks movement or other sensory input
• finds school environments exhausting or overwhelming
• has sensory differences affecting everyday activities

A good place to start may be Occupational Therapy.
Explore Sensory Support
Explore Paediatric Occupational Therapy

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❤️ Emotions, Anxiety, Stress or Coping

Choose this if your teenager is having difficulty with:

• anxiety or worries
• stress
• coping with change
• understanding or managing emotions
• confidence or self-esteem
• relationships
• difficult life events
• feeling overwhelmed

Counselling may be a useful place to start.Depending on what's happening, Occupational Therapy may also help where emotional regulation is affecting everyday participation and routines.

Explore Counselling
Explore Emotional Regulation Support

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🌱 Behaviour That Is Affecting Everyday Life

Choose this if behaviour is significantly affecting your teenager's:

• safety
• relationships
• participation at home, school or in the community
• everyday routines
• independence
• quality of life

Positive Behaviour Support looks at why behaviour may be happening, what the person may be communicating, and what changes or supports may improve participation and quality of life.

Positive Behaviour Support may be a good place to start.
Explore Positive Behaviour Support

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🤝 Friendships, Social Communication or Connecting With Others

Choose this if your teenager:

• finds social situations difficult to navigate
• has difficulty understanding or expressing themselves in conversations
• experiences communication difficulties with peers
• finds friendships difficult
• feels overwhelmed in social environments
• has communication differences affecting participation

There isn't one service that automatically fits every social difficulty.

Depending on what's happening, Speech Pathology, Counselling or another support pathway may be relevant.
Explore Speech Pathology
Explore Counselling

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🏃 Movement, Coordination or Motor Skills

Choose this if your teenager:

• has difficulty with coordination
• struggles with fine motor activities
• has difficulty with handwriting
• finds everyday physical tasks difficult
• has difficulty learning or planning movements
• has motor difficulties affecting independence or participation

Occupational Therapy may be a good place to start.
Explore Motor Skills & Motor Planning
Explore Paediatric Occupational Therapy

Are You Wondering About Autism or ADHD?

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♾️ I Wonder if My Teenager Might Be Autistic

You may be looking for answers because of differences in areas such as:

• communication
• social interaction
• sensory experiences
• routines and predictability
• focused interests
• emotional regulation
• friendships
• coping with increasing school or everyday demands

Some autistic people are not identified until adolescence, when social, educational and independence demands become more complex.

Explore Autism Information & Assessment Pathways
Explore Psychology Assessments

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🧠 I Wonder if My Teenager Might Have ADHD

You may have noticed difficulties with:

• attention
• impulsivity
• organisation
• remembering tasks
• managing time
• starting or completing work
• emotional regulation
• keeping track of belongings
• increasing school demands

If you're unsure whether a comprehensive assessment is the right next step, screening may also be available.
Explore ADHD & Autism Screening
Explore Psychology Assessments

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Preparing for Adulthood

🌏 My Teenager Needs Help Becoming More Independent

As teenagers get older, support may increasingly focus on skills they'll use in adult life.
This can include:

• personal care
• cooking and meal preparation
• household tasks
• routines
• organisation and time management
• community participation
• using equipment or technology
• managing increasing responsibilities
• building practical independence

Occupational Therapy may be a useful place to start.
Explore Paediatric Occupational Therapy

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Have You Already Been Told They Need an Assessment or Report?

If a school, doctor, Support Coordinator or another professional has recommended an assessment, you don't need to work through every option above.

Our Assessment Finder can help with pathways such as:

• Autism assessment
• ADHD assessment
• combined Autism and ADHD assessment
• learning and Specific Learning Disorder assessment
• cognitive or intellectual assessment
• NDIS Functional Capacity Assessment
• Assistive Technology assessment
• other allied health assessments and reports

Help Me Find the Right Assessment

Still Not Sure?

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Which ONE Is Causing the Most Difficulty Right Now?

​Talking, understanding or communication
Speech Pathology

Everyday independence, sensory needs, organisation or coordination
Occupational Therapy

Emotions, anxiety, stress or coping
Counselling

Behaviour affecting safety, participation or quality of life
Positive Behaviour Support

Learning difficulties or questions about Autism, ADHD or cognitive development
Psychology Assessments

I need an NDIS assessment or report
Assessment Finder

None of these seem right
Help Me Work It Out

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What if More Than One Option Fits?

That's okay.

A teenager may experience difficulties across several areas at the same time. For example, organisation difficulties might occur alongside sensory differences, anxiety, communication differences or learning difficulties.

This guide isn't designed to diagnose your teenager or determine exactly which services they need.
It's designed to help you find a sensible place to start.

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Choose Again

Back to Not Sure Where to Start
Choose Child 0-12 Years
Choose Adult 18-64 Years
Help Me Find the Right Assessment
I Have No Idea Where to Start

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Last Edited: October 2026