Child Assessment

Cognitive Assessment

A comprehensive cognitive assessment is a process that involves psychometric testing to obtain statistical results regarding the child’s overall intellectual functioning. These results are interpreted collaboratively with a qualitative assessment of the child’s adaptive functioning and clinical observations to determine their general cognitive ability, and whether they meet DSM-V criteria for an Intellectual Development Disorder.

This service includes:

• An initial consultation with the parents to understand a detailed background of the Child’s developmental history

• Administration of the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children - fifth edition (WISC-V)

• Individual parent and teacher interviews to collect qualitative data using Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales - third edition

• Clinical observations of the child’s functioning

• A comprehensive report of the assessment findings, diagnostic conclusions and support recommendations.

• A feedback session is offered to parents to present the assessment outcomes.

Learning Assessment

A learning assessment is appropriate when a child’s learning difficulties cannot be explained by their overall cognitive ability and further assessment is recommended to explore the possibility of a Specific Learning Disorder. This assessment process will involve a comprehensive Cognitive Assessment and additional Academic Performance testing. The assessment results are analysed collaboratively to determine whether there is a statistically significantly difference between the child’s intellectual ability and their academic performance in relation to their reading, spelling, written expression or numeracy. A Behavioural Assessment may also be recommended to evaluate the child’s executive functioning to examine their impulsivity, attention, organisation skills, emotional regulation and reactive behaviours, which can regularly impact learning capacity.

This service includes:

• An initial consultation with the parents to understand a detailed background of the Child’s developmental history

• Administration of the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children - fifth edition (WISC-V)

• Administration of the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test - third edition (WIAT-3)

• Individual parent and teacher questionnaires to collect qualitative data using the Conner’s Comprehensive Behavioural Rating Scales (CBRS)

• Clinical observations of the child’s functioning

• A comprehensive report of the assessment findings, diagnostic conclusions and support recommendations.

Behavioural Assessment

A behavioural assessment is recommended when it appears that a child’s executive functioning capacity is impacting their learning and behaviour. This generally presents with problems relating to attentiveness, reactive behaviours, emotional regulation, organisation, impulsivity and relational difficulties. This assessment will involve the collection of qualitative behavioural information regarding the child’s functioning within their school and home contexts. A clinical assessment of the child’s behaviour is used to consider whether they may be experiencing a behavioural or psychological disorder, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder or other stress and anxiety-related disorders.

The service provided will be tailored to the child’s presentation and needs, but will generally include:

• An initial consultation with the parents to understand a detailed background of the Child’s developmental history and presenting behaviours

• Individual parent and teacher questionnaires to collect qualitative data using the Conner’s Comprehensive Behavioural Rating Scales

• Clinical observations of the child’s functioning and behaviour

• A comprehensive report of the assessment findings, diagnostic conclusions and support recommendations

• A feedback session is provided to parents to present the assessment outcomes.