Assessments

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ASSESSMENTS

Arduna provides several types of assessments and these are carried out by qualified psychologists. These assessments are:

ADHD/ADD ASSESSMENTS

We carry out ADHD/ADD assessments for both children (age 6+) and adults.

For children (age 6+):

A child has to be in primary education for minimum 18 months in order to be assessed for ADHD. Children who have difficulties with attention, impulsivity or over-activity can experience problems in their academic development and have low self-esteem. The effects of such difficulties can be seen in how the person thinks, feels, behaves and relates to others. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the name given to pervasive problems of attention, which may or may not, included additional difficulties in impulsivity or over-activity. It is important to recognise these difficulties in order to ensure that the person is receiving the appropriate academic, emotional and behavioural supports to address current problems and prevent the emergence of future issues.

For Adults:

Adults who have difficulties with attention, impulsivity or over-activity can experience problems in their academic development and relationships or have low self-esteem. The effects of such difficulties can be seen in how the person thinks, feels, behaves and relates to others. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the name given to pervasive problems of attention, which may or may not, included additional difficulties in impulsivity or over-activity. It is important to recognise these difficulties in order to ensure that the person is receiving the appropriate academic, emotional and behavioural supports to address current problems and prevent the emergence of future issues.

ASD ASSESSMENTS

We carry out ASD assessments for both children (age 2+) and adults.

Autism is described as a “spectrum disorder”. This means that the symptoms and characteristics of autism can present themselves in a wide variety of combinations and can range from mild to severe. Two people with the same diagnosis can act very differently from one another and have varying skills. Autism Spectrum Disorder is also referred to as ASD.

For Children:

A child who has difficulty communicating and forming relationships with people around them may benefit from being assessed for autism. Other common features include sensitivity to noise or crowded places, repetitive play or lack of imaginative play, limited eye contact, frequent tantrums of behavioural outbursts and difficulty interpreting social cues.

In order to assess ASD, the psychologist will carry out a detailed interview with parents regarding their child’s developmental history and current areas of difficulty. If the child attends school or pre-school, if necessary, the psychologist may want to see the child in this setting and may speak to the child’s teacher. Following this, the psychologist will meet the child to carry out assessments of cognitive and social functioning. Once the child’s primary needs have been identified, parents and child will be invited to return to receive a full written report during a detailed feedback session with the psychologist, with clear recommendations as to how their child can be best supported.

Aims of the Assessment for Children/Adolescents:

Understand your child/adolescent’s intellectual ability and any relative strengths of weaknesses.
Gain an understanding of what underlies your child/adolescent’s social difficulties.
Identify any additional supports for your child/adolescent into the future, such as school resources or clinical supports.

For Adults:

In order to assess ASD, the psychologist will carry out an initial consultation with the client (which can include input from parents or older siblings) regarding their developmental history and current areas of difficulty. Following this, if an assessment is indicated, the psychologist will meet the client again to carry out assessments of cognitive and social functioning. Once the client’s primary needs have been identified, they will be invited to return to receive a full written report during a detailed feedback session with the psychologist, with clear recommendations as to how they can be best supported.

COGNITIVE ASSESSMENT

Where a child is showing difficulty in learning or developing other skills, a cognitive assessment may help to clarify whether the child has an underlying intellectual disability. A cognitive assessment will also show where the child’s individual cognitive strengths and weakness lie. A cognitive assessment involves a single session with the psychologist where a number of different tests are administered in a supportive and child-friendly atmosphere. On completion of the assessment, parents and child will be invited to return to receive a full written report during a detailed feedback session with the psychologist, with clear recommendations as to how their child can be best supported.

BEHAVIOURAL ASSESSMENT

All children go through phases of pushing boundaries and asserting their independence. This often appears as behavioural outbursts or other difficulties. However, at times such behavioural problems may be a sign of an underlying difficulty. A behavioural assessment may benefit parents who are concerned about a particular behaviour. A behavioural assessment involves a detailed interview between the psychologist and the parents. The psychologist may ask the parents to complete some questionnaires and may wish to see the child in a familiar environment, such as at home or in school. If the behaviour is one that happens a lot in school, then the psychologist may want to speak to the child’s teacher also. On completion of the assessment, parents and child will be invited to return to receive a full written report during a detailed feedback session with the psychologist, with clear recommendations as to how their child can be best supported.

We also offer a 1 hour parent consultation for children aged 1-10 years which is a tailored educational session designed to address specific parenting questions, problems, or challenges. The overall purpose is to enhance the knowledge, skills, and confidence of parents

The consultation focuses on positive parenting strategies that aim to improve parent-child relationships, create effective routines and promote social and emotional development. Topics for parent consultation work include but are not limited to: handling tantrums, separation anxiety, fears, sibling conflict, family transitions such as moving, loss, divorce, starting school, and preparing for and adjusting to a new sibling.

During the session parents will learn to understand behaviours in the context of their family and will gain concrete interventions to apply in their home. The overarching goal is to strengthen parent-child relationships, improve behavioural concerns, and provide families with thoughtful approaches to handle life transitions.

EDUCATIONAL ASSESSMENT

For information on Educational Assessments please click here

CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS WHO SPECIALISE IN THESE AREAS: