Call 07 3532 7628 Click here to email

Assessments

specialising in conducting comprehensive psycho-educational assessments

Child’s Play Qld, where our team of dedicated Psychologists specialise in conducting comprehensive psycho-educational assessments.

With a focus on identifying intelligence levels, learning differences such as learning disorders and giftedness, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), our experienced professionals utilise a wide range of assessment tools. These assessments provide invaluable insights into an individual’s psychological and cognitive functioning, shedding light on how they think, feel, behave, and react.

We offer the following assessments:

Cognitive Assessment
Click here
Learning/Educational Assessment
Click here
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Assessment
Click here
Access Arrangements and Reasonable Adjustments (AARA)
Click here

Phone our admin team on (07) 3532 7628 for booking and further information

Unsure which assessment is right for your child? Answer these screening questions and we’ll be in touch.

New Assessment Enquiry

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • MM slash DD slash YYYY
We are ready to continue our work with children and families...

Cognitive Assessment

What is a cognitive assessment?

A cognitive assessment is used to determine an individual’s general thinking and reasoning abilities, also known as intellectual functioning or IQ.  In Australia the most common intelligence tests for children is the Wechsler Intelligence Test for Children (WISC-V), designed for ages 6 to 17 years, and the Wechsler Preschool & Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-IV), suited for ages 2.5 to 7 years.  Administration of the intelligence test usually takes approximately 1 to 2 hours, depending on the age and ability of the child.

Other terms used for a cognitive assessment may include; intelligence testing or IQ test.

Purpose:

  • Cognitive Reasons for Learning Difficulties
  • Intellectually Advanced (gifted)
  • Intellectual Disability

If an intellectual disability is suspected, an adaptive functioning assessment will also need to be completed (this is a questionnaire completed by the parent and teacher).

  • Diagnostic Assessment

In some instances, a cognitive assessment provides helpful information in the diagnostic assessment of a possible neurodevelopmental disorder e.g., ADHD or ASD.

Cognitive Assessment process:

  • A comprehensive developmental intake form is completed by the parent prior to attendance
  • A 30-minute parent interview to gather background information about the child and their development.
  • Approx. 1-2 hours of testing, conducted on iPads, which may be done over 2 sessions.
  • Detailed assessment report of findings with behavioural and educational recommendations specific to the child.
  • A 30 minute feedback session completed with the parent to discuss assessment outcomes and recommendations.

Learning/Educational Assessment

What is a Learning/Educational Assessment?

If a child is experiencing academic difficulties, a learning assessment (Wechsler Intelligence Test for Children (WISC-V) and Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (WIAT-III)) is often recommended to determine the child’s intellectual ability, cognitive and academic strengths and weaknesses. The purpose of the assessment is to ascertain what the barriers to learning might be.  In many instances, the difficulties can be explained by an underlying specific learning disorder e.g., Dyslexia (reading disorder) or Dyscalculia (math disorder), which is identified through the assessment process.  

Data from the assessment can help to inform the most appropriate adjustments and accommodations in the classroom and provide targeted intervention strategies.  With understanding, knowledge and needs specific support, children with academic challenges can have a positive educational journey where strengths are acknowledged and areas of difficulty, addressed.

Other terms used for a learning/educational assessment may be: Achievement testing or academic assessment.

Learning Assessment Process:

  • A comprehensive developmental intake form is completed by the parent prior to attendance.
  • A 30 minute parent interview is completed to gather background information about the child and their development.
  • Approx 1-2 hours of testing with the WISC-V assessment, conducted on iPad, which may be done over 2 sessions.
  • Approx. 2 hours of testing with the WIAT-III, conducted on iPads, which may be done over 2 sessions.
  • Detailed assessment report of findings with behavioural and educational recommendations specific to the child.
  • A 60 minute feedback session is completed with the parent to discuss assessment outcomes and recommendations.

ADHD Assessments

What is an ADHD Assessment?

If a child is displaying behaviours that may be indicative of ADHD, an assessment is often recommended to determine whether the underlying neurological difficulties associated with this condition are causing impairment in the child’s social and/or academic functioning.  To be diagnosed with ADHD, the indicators above need to be evident before the age of twelve years old, must be present in at least two environments (e.g., home and school) and are not better explained by another mental disorder.

Results from the assessment help to inform whether referral to a Paediatrician or psychiatrist is warranted for verification of ADHD.  The assessment also helps to ensure that the most appropriate adjustments and accommodations in the classroom and intervention strategies are implemented.

At CPQ, we offer a screening process for the family to undertake prior to undergoing a full comprehensive assessment.

ADHD Assessment process

Screening Process:

  • Completion of an ADHD screening questionnaire form completed by the parent and teacher (depending on the child’s age, they may also complete the questionnaire).
  • Dependent on the outcomes of the questionnaire. The psychologist will recommend either further comprehensive ADHD testing or the psychologist will provide the parents with the outcomes of the questionnaire and no further testing will be warranted.

Comprehensive ADHD Testing Process:

  • A comprehensive developmental intake form is completed by the parent prior to attendance
  • Approx. 1-2 hours of testing (WISC-V Assessment), conducted on iPads, which may be done over 2 sessions.
  • A one-hour parent interview to gain qualitative information on potential ADHD traits.
  • A questionnaire form will be sent to the teacher to complete. 
  • Detailed assessment report of findings with diagnostic outcomes.
  • A 30 minute feedback session completed with the parent to discuss assessment outcomes and recommendations.

Access Arrangements and Reasonable Adjustments (AARA)

What is AARA?

Queensland Curriculum Assessment Authority (QCAA) defines AARA as actions taken to minimise barriers for students whose disability, impairment, medical condition, or other circumstances may affect their ability to respond or participate in assessment.  Students in Years 11 and 12 with a disability, impairment, medical condition, or other circumstances may be eligible for AARA.  The possible types of AARA available depend on a student’s individual circumstances and the assessment task.

​

Some common AARA include:

  • Providing alternative exam conditions, e.g., extra time, rest breaks and/or separate venues
  • Providing alternative-format papers, e.g. A4 to A3 enlargement, black-and-white materials
  • Providing assistive technology, e.g., screen reader and speech recognition application, magnification application
  • Providing a reader and/or scribe
  • Making illness and misadventure arrangements for examinations

​

Depending on a student’s individual circumstances, required documentation may include:

  • A school statement
  • A student statement (optional)
  • A medical report
  • Evidence of a verified disability
  • Other relevant evidence such as teacher observations, results from standardised academic testing, and where the condition is not medical other relevant official documentation, e.g., police reports, official notices.

Process for AARA

  • A 1-hour meeting with parent and student
  • If testing has already been conducted, review and analysis of assessment report
  • If necessary, Adaptive functioning assessment to be completed
  • Correspondence with key school personnel
  • Completion of Confidential Medical Form