Neuropsychological Assessment for Children and Adolscents
Bryden Neuropsychology can provide a range of cognitive, academic and social assessments which can help to identify a person’s underlying strengths and weaknesses. These assessments can be used to assist with diagnosis, to provide information about school accommodations, and provide information and evidence for NDIS support options.
Determining the Right Service
The service options require a comprehensive assessment as opposed to a single “test”. This is because assessment of a single area of functioning is not enough to rule out other possible causes for difficulties. It is also often useful to identify any other co-occurring difficulties. Finally, a comprehensive assessment allows us to identify a person’s area of strengths so that information can be provided about how these strengths can be used to support their weaknesses. We offer some assessments as stand-alone when you already have a medical professional involved in the person’s care. In this case, a referral from the medical professional is required.
Included in all comprehensive assessments:
- Intake interview
- Standardised questionnaires
- Intelligence Assessment
- Academic Assessment
- Other cognitive/ASD assessments (which vary based on the options)
- Report
- Feedback
Assessment Options
Comprehensive Assessment Option 1: Comprehensive neuropsychological assessment (ADOS-2 not included)
This is a comprehensive assessment of cognitive and academic skills which can be specifically tailored to answer questions about the causes of difficulties.
In most cases, this option will include an assessment of intelligence and academic functioning, along with a variety of other tests depending on the child’s situation; including attention, memory and executive functioning. The tests administered are carefully selected based on information provided about everyday difficulties and functioning on tests already administered.
This assessment is recommended if you require a comprehensive assessment of a range of cognitive skills and academic performance; or if your child has an existing diagnosis (i.e., autism).
This assessment can be used to support diagnosis for ADHD, Learning Difficulties, Paediatric Brain Injury or Intellectual Disability. It can also be used to establish the presence of intellectual disability or other difficulties in a child previously diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Comprehensive Assessment Option 2: Comprehensive neuropsychological assessment with ADOS-2
This assessment is the same as Option 1, with the addition of ADOS-2 administration and additional questionnaires for the assessment of autism.
This assessment option is recommended if you require a comprehensive assessment of cognitive and academic functioning, and would also like to assess specific symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Comprehensive Assessment Option 3: Comprehensive Autism Diagnostic Assessment
This assessment has been designed specifically for the assessment of assess Autism Spectrum Disorder; and to gain an understanding of level of intellectual, academic and oral language functioning in children suspected of having Autism.
It does not include a comprehensive assessment of other cognitive functions (such as attention/memory/executive functioning) and therefore is not the best option for people who suspect other difficulties as well as autism (specifically, ADHD).
Not Sure?
If you are not sure what service you need after reading this page, please contact us for more information. Alternatively, an assessment can be booked and a detailed discussion about what is needed can occur at the intake appointment; we can change the focus of the assessment at any time.