Areas of expertise
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
I specialise in assessing ADHD in children and adolescents, focusing on how it uniquely affects each young person. Many young people come to me with low self-esteem due to negative experiences with unrecognised ADHD. Getting a clear diagnosis can be a huge relief, especially for families who have waited a long time for answers. By working closely with families and schools, we develop strategies that make a real difference in daily life and future prospects.
I view ADHD as a form of neurodiversity. My approach to offering a diagnosis isn’t about labelling but about addressing specific needs. I help children and their families see ADHD not as a limitation but as a unique set of strengths and challenges. Highlighting these strengths and sharing stories about the many successful people with ADHD can be very motivating for young people.
ADHD in Young Children
For younger children under 12, ADHD often shows up as difficulty keeping still and paying attention. In school, you might notice your child struggling to sit through lessons without needing lots of breaks or extra help to stay focused on their work.
But ADHD isn’t just about school. To get a clearer picture, I usually ask parents to think about everyday situations, in multiple settings including the home, and family activities outside of the home. For example, parents may describe situations where their child is difficult to manage during supermarket trips or cinema outings.
ADHD in Teenagers
ADHD symptoms can look a bit different in adolescents and might be more subtle than when they were younger. They might not be as hyperactive as they were in primary school, but they often continue to have trouble focusing. One of the key issues here is what's called executive dysfunction—basically, it means organising things is really hard. This could include difficulty with:
- Planning trips and activities
- Managing daily routines
- Keeping track of timetables
- Frequently losing items
Another important aspect of ADHD, which sometimes gets overlooked, is difficulty regulating emotions. This can really affect a teenager’s ability to maintain social relationships. So, it's not just about attention and hyperactivity; it’s also about how they manage impulsivity and their emotions.
ADHD in Girls
Girls with ADHD often show different signs compared to boys. Boys might be more obviously hyperactive and disruptive, while girls tend to struggle more with inattention and organising themselves. Because of this, girls with ADHD are overlooked and may be given other diagnoses before ADHD is identified.
When girls come in for an assessment, we usually find they've had attention difficulties from early childhood. These problems become more noticeable as they get older, especially when they hit secondary school, where the academic and social demands increase.
Treatment for ADHD
My approach to treating ADHD is holistic and evidence-based. When creating a treatment plan, I place an emphasis on personalised goals. Depending on your child’s needs, I may recommend:
- Psychoeducation: Providing a strengths-based understanding of how ADHD impacts your child and family. This information helps you to manage symptoms better and help your child succeed.
- Environmental modifications: Whether it's managing the classroom environment better, changing routines at home, or getting additional support for exams. It’s about tweaking and individualising support because environmental changes are key in managing ADHD.
- Medication: Where symptoms of ADHD are significantly impairing your child’s functioning, medication can be a highly effective tool to help manage the symptoms and support your child in achieving their goals.
- Lifestyle: Looking at how we can improve diet, exercise, and sleep to improve ADHD symptoms.
My approach to treatment
As a parent, it can be daunting to seek help and you may be nervous about how a diagnosis might impact your child. My approach with parents is to provide a safe space to explore your concerns and consider how an assessment may be helpful for your child.
I also prioritise the young person’s voice throughout the process. This is because giving them choice and tailoring the approach to their individual needs is hugely effective.
By the time a young person comes to see me, they often have low self-esteem. This might be due to years in school systems that haven't met their needs or being excluded from their peers. The first thing I do is create a warm, welcoming, and empathetic environment, including consideration of sensory preferences. After introducing myself, I make space for them to talk about themselves—their challenges, as well as their hobbies, passions, and strengths.
Your first consultation
When starting the assessment process, I like to meet with parents first to gather a detailed history and school reports. This may include obtaining from you a developmental and early childhood history so that I have a comprehensive understanding of your child’ strengths and difficulties. After an initial discussion with the parents, I then usually schedule a session that includes the young person. However, I’m flexible with the approach, giving families options rather than mandating a specific way.
Personalised treatment plans
We know that personalised treatment plans have the best chance of success. My aim with the assessment process is to blueprint for developing an individualised treatment plan. This takes into account your child's strengths, difficulties and preferences for what will help them most.
A healthy lifestyle makes a huge difference in supporting a young person's well-being. I will make recommendations that might include:
- Diet and Exercise: Encouraging balanced nutrition and regular physical activity.
- Hobbies: Promoting engagement in enjoyable activities that align with your child’s interests. This can also help them make friends who have similar interests.
- Sleep Routine: Healthy sleep is crucial for a child’s overall well-being. However, creating effective sleep routine strategies can be challenging, and I aim to address this using a collaborative approach with you and your child.
Medication
Medication can be a highly effective treatment option for young people who have significantly impairing symptoms of ADHD. I understand that considering medication for ADHD can be daunting and lead to different views from each parent and young person. I believe that the decision to try medication should be a shared decision, and I am happy to provide consultation on the options of medication for ADHD without a need to commit to starting medication in the first meeting.
Young people and families should be well-informed to make decisions about whether to try medication for ADHD, and my role is to support you in this process. This will include an explanation of how medication for ADHD works, clearing up misconceptions, discussing the benefits of trialling medication, setting clear goals, and monitoring for side effects. I follow the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines to support my recommendations for medication in ADHD.
Finally, I think it’s important that your child receives multidisciplinary support alongside medication. This means collaborating with psychologists and a range of therapists to provide holistic care.
Education & Training
I’m a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist with over 9 years of clinical experience. I’m registered with the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the General Medical Council (GMC) Specialist Register for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Currently, I’m a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at a National and Specialist neurodevelopmental service at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. Here, I work with a multidisciplinary team to provide personalised recommendations and care for young people with complex neurodevelopmental needs.
In addition to my clinical role, I am actively involved in teaching and training. I have organised and delivered educational sessions for paediatricians, multidisciplinary colleagues, psychiatry doctors in training, and medical students. I also hold a Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education. This enhances my ability to provide high-quality training and support to future mental health professionals.
Born and raised in Malaysia, I completed my medical degree from Universiti Malaysia Sabah and have gained extensive experience in psychiatry with the Ministry of Health Malaysia. I then obtained my Membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and completed Child and Adolescent Psychiatry higher training at the prestigious Maudsley Hospital, where I achieved a CCT in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry from the General Medical Council. Before my current clinical role, I was a substantive Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist in a neurodevelopmental service in Newham, East London NHS Foundation Trust. Collectively, these diverse experiences provided me with a global perspective and specialist expertise in assessing and managing neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD.
In addition to my clinical work, I have also published several articles in peer-reviewed journals, including the Asian Journal of Psychiatry.
Personal interests
I’d describe myself as an approachable clinician, with a genuine interest in supporting the people I work with. Outside of work, I enjoy playing tennis and am a keen tennis fan. I also enjoy travelling, gaming, and exploring museums.
