Cognitive assessments in Melbourne
Sometimes, a child can be putting in plenty of effort at school but still finding certain things harder than expected. Other times, they might be doing well academically but seem bored, disengaged, or ready for more challenging work. As a parent, it isn’t always easy to understand what’s happening beneath the surface.
At Vida Psychology, we provide cognitive assessments in Melbourne for children and adolescents aged 6–17. Our psychologists take a thoughtful,
neuro-affirming approach to understanding how your child thinks and learns, helping you recognise their strengths, explore areas where extra support may help, and make informed decisions about their education and development.
We’re located in North Melbourne, just minutes from the CBD, and you don’t need a referral to book an assessment.
What is a cognitive assessment?
A cognitive assessment is a structured way of understanding how a person thinks, processes information, and solves problems. Rather than looking only at school results, it explores the underlying cognitive difficulties and abilities that influence how someone learns and manages different tasks.
A comprehensive assessment can provide insight into several areas, including:
Verbal comprehension
How your child understands and uses language to explain ideas and solve problems.
Visual spatial skills
How they understand visual information, patterns and the relationships between objects.
Reasoning skills
How they recognise patterns, make connections and work through unfamiliar problems.
Working memory
How they hold information in mind and use it, such as remembering instructions while completing a task.
Processing speed
How efficiently they take in and respond to simple visual information.
At Vida Psychology, we use the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC V), a standardised assessment designed to explore different aspects of cognitive functioning.
The results help us understand your child’s individual cognitive profile, including areas of strength and those where additional support may be useful. It’s not simply about an IQ score, but about what the pattern of results tells us about how your child thinks and learns.
Cognitive and educational assessments – what's the difference?
Although cognitive and educational assessments are closely related, they explore different aspects of learning.
A cognitive assessment looks at the thinking skills that support learning, such as reasoning, working memory, and processing speed. It helps explain how a child approaches information and problem-solving.
An educational assessment, sometimes called a learning assessment, looks more closely at academic achievement. It explores skills such as reading, spelling, writing and mathematics, comparing performance with what’s typically expected for a child’s age or year level.
Educational assessments can be undertaken from around seven years of age, depending on the assessment and the child’s developmental needs.
When used together, cognitive and educational testing can provide a more complete picture of why a child might be finding certain aspects of school challenging. They may help identify specific learning difficulties, including dyslexia and dyscalculia, or contribute to a comprehensive evaluation for specific learning
Difficulties.
They can also help identify giftedness, including children who are twice-exceptional. This describes children who demonstrate advanced abilities in some areas while also experiencing learning or neurodevelopmental differences. Understanding both sides of this picture can help families and teachers provide support that recognises a child’s strengths without overlooking their difficulties.
When might a cognitive assessment help?
There isn’t one particular reason families seek a cognitive assessment. Sometimes a teacher has raised concerns about learning or academic progress. Other times, parents have noticed differences at home that aren’t reflected in school reports.
An assessment may be helpful if your child:
Finds reading, writing, or mathematics difficult despite consistent effort and support.
Takes longer than expected to complete schoolwork or follow multi-step instructions.
Appears capable but struggles to demonstrate what they know in tests or assignments.
Becomes frustrated, anxious, or disengaged when learning feels difficult.
Finds classroom activities too easy and may benefit from more challenging work.
Shows signs of giftedness alongside possible learning difficulties.
Needs a clearer understanding of their learning profile to inform school adjustments.
Cognitive testing may also form part of a broader neurodevelopmental assessment where ADHD, autism spectrum disorder or other developmental differences are being explored. If attention, organisation or executive functioning are among your concerns, you can learn more about our ADHD assessments here.
An assessment doesn’t always lead to a formal diagnosis, and that’s not necessarily its purpose. For many families, the most valuable outcome is understanding what’s happening and knowing what might help.
Child and adolescent cognitive assessments
Every child has their own way of learning, and those differences aren’t always obvious from their school results.
Our child cognitive assessments in Melbourne are available for children and adolescents aged 6–17. We work collaboratively with parents and carers throughout the process, taking the time to understand your child’s developmental history, experiences at school and any concerns that have led you to seek an assessment.
We know that psychological assessments can feel unfamiliar, particularly for a young child who may be unsure what to expect. Our psychologists aim to create a calm, supportive environment where children feel comfortable asking questions, taking their time and approaching tasks without feeling judged.
Our approach to paediatric cognitive assessments in Melbourne is neuro-affirming, which means we recognise different ways of thinking and learning without automatically viewing those differences as problems to be corrected.
We consider your child’s strengths alongside their challenges, with recommendations that reflect who they are, what they need and the educational settings they’re part of.
Understanding your child's results and next steps
Following the assessment, you’ll receive a comprehensive written report outlining your child’s cognitive profile, assessment findings and practical recommendations.
These recommendations may help inform conversations with your child’s teacher or school about appropriate learning adjustments. For example, a child who finds working memory tasks difficult may benefit from instructions being broken into smaller steps, while a gifted child may need extension activities that provide greater intellectual challenge.
The report may also help identify whether further educational testing, psychological support or consultation with other health professionals would be useful.
At Vida Psychology, support doesn’t have to end with the assessment. Where appropriate, families can continue working with our team through counselling or other assessment services.
Cognitive assessment fees and rebates
Fee is $1650 + GST (Total of $1815)
We understand that cost is an important consideration when planning an assessment for your child.
Additional fees may apply where further services are required, such as a school observation, case conference or second testing session. We’ll discuss any recommended additional services and associated costs with you beforehand.
Medicare rebates are only available if the client is being assessed for complex neurodivergence with a valid referral.
You don’t need a GP referral to book a private cognitive assessment with Vida Psychology.
Our cognitive assessment process
At Vida Psychology, cognitive assessments are generally completed across three sessions. Each stage helps us build a clearer understanding of your child’s cognitive abilities, learning experiences and support needs.
STEP 1
Initial interview – approximately 50 minutes
We begin with a conversation with parents or carers about your child’s developmental history, education, strengths and any concerns you’ve noticed. This is an opportunity to discuss what prompted the assessment, whether that’s learning difficulties, suspected giftedness, or questions about your child’s progress at school.
Please bring any previous cognitive or speech pathology assessments, recent school reports and NAPLAN results, where available. These help us understand your child’s learning history and determine the most appropriate assessment pathway.
STEP 2
Cognitive testing – approximately 120 minutes
Your child will complete a series of structured activities using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children. These activities explore different thinking skills, such as reasoning, working memory and processing speed. Some tasks involve answering questions, while others use pictures, patterns, or problem-solving activities.
Our psychologists explain the activities in age-appropriate language and support your child through the session. Depending on your child’s individual needs and the scope of the assessment, an additional testing session may sometimes be recommended.
STEP 3
Feedback session – approximately 50 minutes
Around two weeks after testing, we’ll meet with you to discuss the findings and what they mean for your child. We’ll explain their cognitive strengths, areas where they may need additional support, and practical recommendations for home and/or school.
You’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss any further assessments or support that may be appropriate.
Why choose Vida Psychology for a cognitive assessment?
Vida Psychology has been supporting North Melbourne families since 2007, providing psychological assessments and counselling in a welcoming, inclusive environment.
When you work with our team, you can expect:
A neuro-affirming approach
We recognise that children think and learn in different ways. Our assessments consider cognitive strengths alongside difficulties, with a focus on understanding your child rather than defining them by a score or diagnosis.
Care that starts with understanding
Our intake session helps us understand your child and what you’re hoping to learn from the assessment. We take the time to hear about your child’s experiences, your concerns, and the questions you’d like the assessment to answer, so we can plan an assessment that suits your family’s needs.
Practical recommendations for everyday life
Our reports go beyond test results. We explain what the findings mean and provide recommendations that can help guide learning adjustments, conversations with teachers and decisions about further support.
A culturally responsive team
We understand that language, culture and family experiences can influence how children engage with assessments. Our multicultural team includes psychologists such as Rujvi Patel, who speaks Hindi and Marathi.
Assessments and ongoing therapy in one practice
Alongside cognitive and educational assessments, Vida Psychology offers ADHD and autism assessments, as well as psychological counselling. Where additional support is recommended, our team can help you explore the next steps.
A convenient North Melbourne location
Our practice is located close to Melbourne’s CBD, supporting families from North Melbourne, Carlton, Parkville, Brunswick, Fitzroy and surrounding suburbs.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cognitive assessment cost in Melbourne?
The cost depends on the assessment required and whether additional testing or services are recommended. At Vida Psychology, our cognitive assessment process generally includes an initial interview, cognitive testing, a feedback session, and a written report.
What does a cognitive assessment show?
A cognitive assessment explores different thinking skills, including reasoning, working memory, verbal comprehension and processing speed. The results provide insight into your child’s cognitive strengths and areas where additional support may help, rather than relying on a single measure of intelligence.
How long does a cognitive assessment take?
Our assessment process generally involves three appointments: a 50-minute initial interview, a 120-minute testing session, and a 50-minute feedback session. Feedback is usually scheduled around two weeks after testing to allow time for scoring, interpretation, and report preparation.
What age can my child have a cognitive assessment?
Vida Psychology provides cognitive assessments for children and adolescents aged 6–17. Educational assessments may be available from around seven years of age, depending on the child’s needs and the assessment being considered. Our team can help you understand which approach may be appropriate.
Can a cognitive assessment identify dyslexia or dyscalculia?
Cognitive assessments can contribute to identifying learning difficulties, but cognitive testing alone doesn’t establish a diagnosis of dyslexia or dyscalculia. An educational assessment of academic skills, together with developmental and learning history, may also be needed to determine whether a child meets the diagnostic criteria for a specific learning disorder.
Can assessment results help my child access support at school?
Yes. Assessment findings can help teachers understand your child’s learning profile and consider appropriate educational adjustments. These might include additional scaffolding, modified instructions, or extension activities. Recommendations can support discussions with your child’s school, although individual adjustments are determined by the school in consultation with families.
Can a cognitive assessment help with NDIS funding?
A cognitive assessment may provide useful supporting information about a child’s cognitive functioning and support needs. However, an assessment or diagnosis doesn’t automatically establish NDIS eligibility or guarantee funding. Eligibility depends on the NDIS criteria and the evidence required for the individual’s circumstances.
Do I need a referral for a cognitive assessment?
No. You can contact Vida Psychology directly to arrange a private cognitive assessment for your child. If you’re unsure whether a cognitive or educational assessment is the right starting point, our team can discuss your concerns and help you explore the available options.
How can I prepare my child for a cognitive assessment?
You can explain that they’ll be meeting with a psychologist to complete different thinking and problem-solving activities. Reassure them that it’s not a school exam, and they don’t need to study or practise beforehand. A good night’s sleep, a meal beforehand and a calm explanation of what to expect can help them feel more comfortable.
Can adults have a cognitive assessment?
Yes, cognitive assessments can also be helpful for adults who want to better understand how they think, learn and process information. An adult cognitive assessment in Melbourne may explore areas such as memory, reasoning, processing speed and working memory using standardised tools such as the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS).
For some adults, an assessment can help make sense of longstanding learning difficulties, identify cognitive strengths or inform practical strategies for work, study and everyday life. Cognitive testing may also form part of a broader ADHD or psychological assessment.
Book a cognitive assessment today
If you’re looking for a supportive, neuro-affirming cognitive assessment in Melbourne, we’re here to help. Whether you’re concerned about your child’s learning or simply want to better understand their abilities, our psychologists can help you explore what’s happening and identify practical next steps.
Meet our team or get in touch to discuss an assessment for your child.