Dr. Srinivas Gada

24/01/2026

What happens after your child receives a neurodevelopmental diagnosis?
Many parents leave an assessment feeling a mix of relief, worry, and uncertainty, with one pressing question: “What do we do next?”
In this practical guide, I have outlined ten clear, manageable steps to help parents make the most of their child’s neurodevelopmental assessment following a diagnosis of Autism (ASD),ADHD and/or Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD/dyspraxia).
Rather than a rigid checklist, this article offers a menu of evidence-informed actions—from getting organised and sharing reports, to working collaboratively with schools, engagingwith therapy, accessing support, and reviewing progress over time. It also recognises theemotional and practical impact on families and emphasises realistic pacing, strengths-based understanding, and joined-up care.The aim is simple: to help parents translate assessment recommendations into meaningfulday-to-day support, without becoming overwhelmed. By working through these tenmeasures at your own pace, you can build a robust, coordinated, realistic, and strengths-based plan around your child. Small, consistent steps taken at the right time can make asignificant difference.

January 15, 2026 Dr.Srinivas Gada 0 comment Share: 10 Things To Do After Your Child’s Neurodevelopmental Assessment A practical guide for parents of children newly diagnosed with Autism, ADHD and/or DCD   Receiving a neurodevelopmental diagnosis for your child can bring a mixture of relief, worry...

14/01/2026

Masking (also known as camouflaging) refers to the adaptive strategies many neurodivergent children use to hide or suppress their natural behaviours in order to fit in with social expectations. This may include copying peers, forcing eye contact, staying quiet despite having a different view, or suppressing sensory and emotional needs. In my clinical practice, masking is more often observed in children with stronger verbal and cognitive abilities, as these skills can enable the development of compensatory social strategies.

Masking is most commonly seen in school settings, where a child may appear to be coping well, yet become emotionally overwhelmed, anxious or exhausted at home. While masking can help a child manage social situations in the short term, it can come at a significant cost. Prolonged masking is associated with fatigue, anxiety, low mood and, in some cases, depression or autistic burnout.

Recognising masking allows parents and professionals to look beyond surface behaviours and create environments where children feel safe to be themselves. Earlier identification and assessment can lead to better long-term outcomes for children and their families.

January 14, 2026 Dr.Srinivas Gada 0 comment Share: What is Masking? And how can you help? Introduction “The school reports that everything is fine but at home my child is exhausted, emotional and has meltdowns!” If this sounds familiar to you then you are not alone. Masking is a very common stra...

24/10/2025

When a simple request turns into a meltdown...
It’s not misbehaviour — it’s Demand Avoidance — when anxiety collides with everyday demands.

Children with autism, ADHD, or anxiety often resist not because they won’t — but because they can’t in that moment. The good news? A few small changes can make a big difference.

In this video, I have shared 10 practical strategies to turn resistance into calm cooperation:
- Understand what triggers anxiety
- Adjust the environment to reduce overload
- Reframe demands using gentle language
- Offer meaningful choices and downtime
- Use play, humour, and collaboration instead of control
- Demand avoidance isn’t defiance — it’s distress.
- Understanding helps children feel safe, connected, and capable

06/09/2025

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects the brain’s ability to manage attention, activity levels and impulse control. Undiagnosed or untreated ADHD can place a child at risk of serious, adverse long-term outcomes. Fortunately, there are effective medications available to address ADHD. These medications are backed by robust evidence-base, and some of them have been in use for over 70+ years.
The decision to start ADHD medication can be approached holistically in discussion with your child, their teacher/SENDCO, your GP, and your doctor. Starting ADHD medication is not an irreversible decision. But there will be no regret in trying these medications when non-medical measures alone haven’t been fully successful. Please read this article on ‘Medical management of ADHD, Ten things to consider’ to find out more…
https://www.drsrigada.co.uk/considering-adhd-medication-for-your-child-here-the-10-things-every-parent-should-know/

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September 6, 2025 Dr.Srinivas Gada 0 comment Share: Considering ADHD medication for your child? Here the 10 things every parent should know! ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects the brain’s ability to manage attention, activity levels and impulse control.Thus, ADHD is characterised ...

24/08/2025

Demand Avoidance is a pre-disposition to resist doing something that is requested or expected. Demand Avoidance is a natural human trait that everyone of us has experienced and all of us display this to some degree in our day-to-day lives.

In this infographic, I have listed some of the strategies that can help reduce demand avoidance behaiour.

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28/06/2025

Warning Signs of ADHD in Children

ADD/ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder / Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is a common neurodevelopmental condition seen in children. It is often marked by higher-than-expected levels of inattention, impulsiveness, and hyperactivity for their age.
In this video, I’ve shared some key warning signs of ADHD that parents should look out for. Recognizing these early signs can make a big difference in how children are supported.

13/03/2025

🏆 Honoured to Receive the I Want Great Care Certificate of Excellence 2025!

I am truly humbled to be awarded this recognition for the fifth consecutive year in acknowledgment of consistently outstanding care. I Want Great Care is the world's largest independent patient experience platform, and this award is a testament to the trust and feedback shared by incredible parents.

A heartfelt thank you to every parent who takes the time to share their experiences. Your kind words and trust continue to inspire my commitment to providing the best possible care for children and their families.

📢 Press Release: Dr. Srinivas Gada has been awarded the I Want Great Care Certificate of Excellence 2025 Read more here 👉 https://www.drsrigada.co.uk/iwgc-press-release/

09/02/2025

If every request with your child feels like a battle, what’s really going on? Many neurodivergent children experience demand avoidance—not as defiance, but as a deep, overwhelming need for autonomy and control.
From anxiety to executive dysfunction, there’s often more beneath the surface than meets the eye. So how can you help?

This article breaks down why demand avoidance happens and shares practical strategies to ease anxiety, build trust, and encourage cooperation—without constant standoffs. Even small shifts can make a big difference. Read now for simple ways to make everyday life smoother for you and your child.

https://www.drsrigada.co.uk/demand-avoidance-and-10-strategies-to-address-avoidant-behaviours/

15/09/2024

https://www.drsrigada.co.uk/if-this-isnt-adhd-then-what-is-it-a-dozen-conditions-that-can-mimic-adhd/

Explore the conditions that can mimic ADHD and complicate its diagnosis. Dr. Srinivas Gada outlines a dozen alternative diagnoses, shedding light on the importance of accurate assessment for effective treatment. Learn more about these conditions and their symptoms.

15/09/2024

Understanding the Diagnosis of ADHD

Diagnosing Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) involves a detailed evaluation, as there is no single, definitive test for the condition. This video explores the essential steps in the diagnostic process, including the exclusion of other possible causes for ADHD-like symptoms and the importance of clinical judgment in reaching a conclusion. Accurate diagnosis requires a comprehensive approach to ensure the best outcomes for individuals displaying ADHD symptoms.

02/09/2024

I was delighted to join a fantastic team of Scannappeal supporters to complete the 'William Baxter Memorial Hadrian Walk Challenge' and contributed to raising over £38,000 as a team, for Scannappeal, from this Marathon Challenge. Scannappeal is a lovely charity that raises funds to purchase life-saving and life-changing revolutionary medical equipment for Amersham, Stoke Mandeville, Wycombe and Community hospitals, which serve people living in Buckinghamshire and parts of Berkshire, Hertfordshire and Oxfordshire. They take great pride in fundraising to provide equipment for local NHS hospitals; equipment which the NHS budget alone would not be able to fund. The equipment they fund allows specialist departments to be enhanced, new services to be introduced and patients to be cared for close to home. Equipment purchased by Scannappeal now benefits 1 in 4 of the local population and is used every 10 minutes by patients living in Buckinghamshire and parts of the surrounding counties of Berkshire, Hertfordshire and Oxfordshire.

13/04/2024

I felt privileged and humbled in equal measure, when the Editorial Team at the British Association of Community Child Health (BACCH) approached me in Jan 2024, to interview me for the ''Spotlight On'' section of the Spring Quarterly Newsletter. I feel very grateful, and I would like to thank the BACCH committee for this opportunity. I am delighted to share the extract of this interview that appeared in the March 2024 BACCH journal, here with you.