Psycho-educational Assessment
Psycho-educational assessment (also referred to as psychometric assessment or cognitive & achievement assessment) for the diagnosis of learning disorders, intellectual disability and giftedness in children, adolescents and adults.
This may also form part of a broader assessment in some cases.
This typically involves two 2 hour or one 3 hour assessment session. Parents are provided a report detailing the findings of the assessment.
We utilise the “gold standard” Wechsler assessments including:
- The Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, Fourth Edition, Australian and New Zealand Standardised Edition (WPPSI-IV A&NZ) for children aged between 2 years 6 months and 7 years 7 months;
- the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fifth Edition, Australian and New Zealand Standardised Edition (WISC-V A&NZ) for children aged between 6 years to 16 years 11 months;
- the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Fourth Edition, Australian and New Zealand Language Adapted Edition (WAIS-IV A&NZ Language Adapted Edition) for adolescents and adults aged 16 years and up;
- and the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test, Australian and New Zealand Standardised, Third Edition (WIAT-III A&NZ) for children, adolescents and adults aged from 4 years and up.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Diagnostic Assessment
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) assessment for diagnosis.
This usually involves cognitive and achievement assessment in addition to a clinical interview and the administration of a screening questionnaires (for example, the Conners 3rd Edition (Conners-3) questionnaire among others to identify co-occurring and differential diagnoses and capture information about behaviour in a range of settings (generally home and school).
There is no medically based test that provides diagnostic information, however a thorough assessment such as this can ensure that all potential explanations for behaviour are being considered in order to reduce the possibility of misdiagnosis or overlooking other co-occurring factors that contribute to the presentation. Diagnosis usually requires complex clinical judgements which weigh up information from many sources.
Autism Assessment
Autism assessment for diagnosis.
This usually utilises a range of instruments including the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2) and the Autism Diagnostic Interview Schedule, Revised (ADI-R).
These are considered the “gold standard” assessment tools often required for official funding for the school and community (National Disability Insurance Scheme; NDIS).
The assessment also includes an adaptive behaviour assessment to determine functional capacity. Other rating scales may be utilised to assist in making recommendations or to determine co-occurring conditions.