The following assessments are provided at this practice:
Autism Spectrum Disorder Assessment
An assessment to investigate the presence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has several different parts. Children and adults can be assessed for ASD.
The assessments available include:
Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2), for 12 months through adulthood. Considered the gold standard in assessing and diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorder.
An ASD assessment for children usually includes:
- Parent interview to gather the necessary background information about your child and their developmental history (1-2 sessions). Some additional questionnaires to be completed outside of the session.
- Cognitive assessment (1 session)
- Assessment of communication, social interaction, and play (1 session)
- Optional – discussion with your child’s school teacher
- Parent feedback session, including a detailed assessment report which states a diagnosis of ASD if DSM-V criteria are met
An ASD assessment for an adult usually includes:
- Clinical interview with the adult to gather necessary background information about the adult and their developmental history (1-2 sessions) or parent/caregiver interview if the adult is unable to provide this information. Some additional questionnaires to be completed outside of the session.
- Assessment of communication, social interaction, interests, and adaptive functioning
- Feedback session, including a detailed assessment report which states a diagnosis of ASD if DSM-V criteria are met
Cognitive Assessment
Cognitive assessments, or IQ tests, are specialised measures of intellectual ability. They measure a broad range of skills, including verbal comprehension and reasoning, visual-spatial reasoning, working memory, and processing speed. They are completed without the need for reading or writing.
They can be helpful to:
- Identify intellectual disabilities (in combination with an adaptive functioning assessment)
- Identify learning disabilities (in combination with an educational assessment)
- Determine individual strengths and weaknesses
- Assess for giftedness
The assessments that are available include:
- Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (Bayley-4), for aged 16 days to 42 months old. BAYLEY assessment is through the use of manipulatives.
- Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-IV), for pre-schoolers and young children aged 2:6 years to 7:7 years. WPPSI assessment is through the use of manipulatives and engaging tasks.
- Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC), for children aged 6 to 16 years. The WISC is now entirely on the iPad, and most kids find it pretty fun!
- Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), for adolescents and adults aged 16 to 90 years. The WAIS is also conducted mostly on the iPad.
A cognitive assessment usually includes:
- Parent interview to gather the necessary background information about your child and their developmental history (1-2 sessions). Some additional questionnaires might be emailed for you to complete outside of the session.
- Optional – discussion with your child’s school teacher
- The assessment (1-2 sessions)
- Parent feedback session, including a detailed assessment report
Behavioural and Emotional Assessment
Behavioural and emotional assessments help to understand the behaviours and emotions of children and adolescents, and screen for clinical disorders including mood disorders, anxiety, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, among others.
The Behaviour Assessment System for Children (BASC) is commonly used for children and adolescents aged 2 to 21 years. It can be completed by:
- Parent
- Teacher
- Self-report (older children/adolescents)
A behavioural and emotional assessment usually includes:
- Parent interview to gather the necessary background information about your child and their development. Some additional questionnaires to be completed outside of the session.
- Optional – discussion with your child’s school teacher
- Assessment with the child (1-2 sessions)
- Parent feedback session, including a detailed assessment report
Educational Assessment
An educational assessment involves both a cognitive assessment and an academic (achievement) assessment. Academic assessment investigates strengths and weaknesses in academic areas such as reading, writing, spelling, mathematics, and oral language.
Unless another assessment is indicated, the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (WIAT) is usually conducted. The WIAT is for children 4 years and older. It can be helpful to:
- Identify the academic strengths and weaknesses of a student
- Contribute to decisions about educational placement
- Inform diagnosis of a specific learning disability, such as dyslexia or dyscalculia
- Design interventions and individual learning plans
An educational assessment usually includes:
- Parent interview to gather the necessary background information about your child and their developmental history (1-2 sessions). Some additional questionnaires to be completed outside of the session.
- Optional – discussion with your child’s school teacher
- The assessment/s (2-3 sessions)
- Parent feedback session, including a detailed assessment report which states a diagnosis of learning difficulties (e.g. Dyslexia) if DSM-V criteria are met
Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Assessment
An assessment to investigate the presence of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has several different parts. Children and adults can be assessed for ADHD.
An ADHD assessment for children usually includes:
- Parent interview to gather the necessary background information about your child and their developmental history (1-2 sessions). Some additional questionnaires to be completed outside of the session.
- Assessment of child’s hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsiveness (1 session)
- Optional – discussion with your child’s school teacher
- Parent feedback session, including a detailed assessment report which states a diagnosis of AD/HD if DSM-V criteria are met
An ADHD assessment for an adult usually includes:
- Clinical interview with the adult to gather necessary background information about the adult and their developmental history (1-2 sessions) or parent/caregiver interview if the adult is unable to provide this information. Some additional questionnaires to be completed outside of the session.
- Assessment of adult’s hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsiveness (1 session)
- Feedback session, including a detailed assessment report which states a diagnosis of AD/HD if DSM-V criteria are met
Functional Assessment
Adaptive Behaviour Assessment System (ABAS-3), for Birth to 89:11 years. Assesses adaptive skills. Questionnaires typically completed by parent, caregivers, and/or teachers and self-rating option for adults.
Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales (Vineland-3), for Birth to 90 years. Leading instrument for supporting the diagnosis of intellectual and developmental disabilities. Questionnaires typically completed by parent, caregivers, and/or teachers.