Assessments

Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) assessment

Ages 5+

An ADHD assessment may be useful where you suspect you have ADHD or if you are not performing well at school, work or with life tasks despite knowing what you need to do.

The assessment is done in 3 sessions:

• Initial interview (with parent/carer(s) for clients under 18), approximately 50 minutes
• Structured assessment interview  (with parent/carer(s) for clients under 18), approximately 50 minutes, prior to which you/someone close to you will need to complete some questionnaires (typically a parent and a teacher if you are a child; and, you and a parent if you are an adult)
• Feedback session (with parent/carer(s) for clients under 18), approximately 50 minutes scheduled 2 weeks after administering the assessment(s).

Note, as psychologists we do not prescribe medication, though we do provide therapeutic interventions for ADHD. If you would like to discuss the medication options, your GP can refer you to a psychiatrist, paediatric psychiatrist or paediatrician to confirm your diagnosis. Some doctors also provide ADHD assessments, though they don’t provide cognitive assessments.

Assessment Fee:  ADHD Assessments (Children) $1,100–$2,000
10% GST will be added when assessments are not part of ongoing therapeutic treatment.

The cost of the assessment is $1100 alone or $2000 combined with cognitive assessment. A combined assessment is recommended for children as both cognitive ability and ADHD (if applicable) will impact performance at school and the combined assessment will provide a more complete picture of how you think and process information.

Autism Spectrum Disorder Assessment (coming in 2025, waitlist open)

Ages 2+

An autism assessment may be useful if you suspect you are autistic or perhaps someone close to you has raised this possibility, e.g. a parent, health professional or educator who knows you well. Exploring your neurotype can help you and others understand your strengths better, and can help you get the support you need to thrive. An autism assessment at Vida Psychology is neuro-affirming.

The psychological assessment is done in 3 sessions:

• Initial interview (with parent/carer(s) for clients under 18), approximately 50 minutes
• Administering the assessment (the MIGDAS), approximately 90 minutes
• Feedback session (with parent/carer(s) for clients under 18), approximately 50 minutes scheduled 2 weeks after administering the assessment.

It is best practice for an autism assessment to be done by a multidisciplinary team. At Vida Psychology we provide assessments as well as therapeutic interventions for autism. We prefer to work with your psychiatrist, paediatric psychiatrist or paediatrician to confirm your diagnosis. In some cases we will also need the opinion of a speech pathologist or occupational therapist to confirm your diagnosis.

Assessment Fee:  ASD Assessments (Children) $1,800
10% GST will be added when assessments are not part of ongoing therapeutic treatment.

Some rebate may be available from Medicare if you are 25 and under and are referred by your GP. Evidence from a psychologist is accepted by the NDIS.

Cognitive Assessments

Ages 6-17

Cognitive assessments identify underlying cognitive ability, including your unique pattern of strengths and difficulties. They can be used, in conjunction with other assessments to identify intellectual difficulties, giftedness and learning difficulty. They provide information about how you best learn. They can be useful if you are having difficulty at school or work, perhaps not able to do the required work or finding it boring.

The assessment is done in 3 sessions:

• Initial interview with parent/carer(s), approximately 50 minutes
• Administering the assessment (either the WISC or WAIS), approximately 90 minutes
• Feedback session with parent/carer(s), approximately 50 minutes scheduled 2 weeks after administering the assessment.

Assessment Fee: Cognitive Assessments  $1,400
10% GST will be added when assessments are not part of ongoing therapeutic treatment.

Educational Assessments

Ages 4+ (school age)

Educational assessments assess the academic skills you have attained relative to what is typical for your age or year level. They can be used in conjunction with a cognitive assessment to diagnose learning disabilities, including dyslexia and dyscalculia. They can help to identify your academic strengths and weaknesses and work out if any particular adjustments (e.g. scaffolding, extension) need to be made to help you perform your best.

The assessment is done in 3-4 sessions:

• Initial interview with parent/carer(s), approximately 50 minutes
• Administering the assessment (the WIAT) – this will be done in 1 x 75 min or 2x 75 mins sessions depending on whether part or all subtests to be administered
• Feedback session with parent/carer(s), approximately 50 minutes scheduled 2 weeks after administering the assessment(s).

Typically part of the assessment will be administered to assess a suspected learning disorder. In this a recent or updated cognitive assessment will also be required*. The full assessment is used to assess how far “behind/ahead” a student is across all areas, which can be used to make a highly individualised learning plan.

Assessment Fee:  Educational Assessments $1,200–$1,700
10% GST will be added when assessments are not part of ongoing therapeutic treatment.

The cost of the assessment is $1200 or $1700 depending on whether part or all subtests to be administered. If the assessment is done concurrently with a cognitive assessment, the fee is reduced by $500.

Adaptive Behaviour Assessments

An adaptive behaviour assessment can be used:

• in conjunction with a cognitive assessment to diagnose intellectual difficulty.
• to evidence functional impairment for NDIS applications and school support funding (including for early intervention, intellectual difficulty and autism).
• To assess behavioural and emotional readiness to start school (e.g. if your child is December to April born and has the option to start either earlier or later).

The assessment is done in 2 sessions:

• Initial interview (with parent/carer(s) for clients under 18), approximately 50 minutes. Following the session you will be asked to complete an online assessment.
• Feedback session (with parent/carer(s) for clients under 18), approximately 50 minutes scheduled 2 weeks after administering the assessment.

Assessment Fee:  Adaptive Behaviour Assessments $400–$800
10% GST will be added when assessments are not part of ongoing therapeutic treatment.

The cost of the assessment is $800. A reduced fee of $400 applies if combined with a cognitive or autism assessment.