Psychological Assessments

 

Newport Counselling & Psychology Service offers a range of Psychological and Cognitive Assessments for children, adolescents and adults. Psychological assessments are tools used by clinicians to determine specific aspects of an individual's mental health, cognitive abilities, and personality. They play a vital role in diagnosing mental health disorders, guiding treatment plans, and helping professionals understand more about their clients. The Australian Psychological Society provides a terrific guide on helping you understand the various facets of psychological testing and what it entails. For more information, visit the APS website here.

 

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder characterized by difficulties with social interaction and communication, as well as by restricted and repetitive behavior. Early and accurate diagnosis can provide the foundation for effective interventions and support.

There are two assessments we offer for ASD:

  1. Standard

  2. Comprehensive

The standard assessment involves a developmental history (usually done by a parent - 1 hour), client assessment (1 hour), development of report (2 hours) and feedback session (1 hour). The client assessment involves use of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2) and the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS).

The comprehensive assessment involves the same as the standard assessment with the addition of a cognitive (intelligence) test, which is typically of 2 hours duration. This report takes 3-4 hours.

For more information on ASD, please click here.


Cognitive (Intelligence) Assessments

A cognitive psychological assessment evaluates an individual's mental processes, including memory, attention, perception, reasoning, problem-solving, and decision-making. Such assessments are vital for understanding cognitive strengths and weaknesses, informing diagnoses, and guiding interventions.

There are two cognitive assessments we offer at NCPS:

  1. Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-V)

  2. Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-IV)

These assessments involves a client assessment (2-3 hours), development of report (2-3 hours) and feedback session (1 hour). The WISC-V is valid for children aged 6-16 and the WAIS-IV is for those aged 17 and above. These assessments are conducted using iPads.

For more information on cognitive assessments, please click here.

 

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that interfere with functioning or development. Accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective management and intervention.

There are two assessments we offer for ADHD:

  1. Standard

  2. Comprehensive

The standard assessment involves a developmental history (semi-structured clinical interview and client assessment - 1 hour), development of report (2 hours) and feedback session (1 hour). The client assessment involves use of the Conners 4 (for clients aged 6-18) or the Conners’ Adult ADHD Rating Scales (CAARS).

The comprehensive assessment involves the same as the standard assessment with the addition of a cognitive (intelligence) test, which is typically of 2 hours duration. This report takes 3-4 hours.

For more information on ADHD, please click here.

Learning Disorder Assessments

A learning disorder assessment evaluates an individual's difficulties and strengths in areas such as reading, writing and mathematics to understand their educational needs. These assessments are often used to diagnose learning disabilities, guide academic interventions, and recommend classroom accommodations.

We offer the following psychoeducational assessments at NCPS:

  • Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (WIAT-III)

  • Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS-IV)

  • California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT-3)

  • Delis Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS)

  • Executive Vocabulary Test (EVT-3)

  • NEPSY-II

  • WRAT-5

For more information on learning disorder assessments, please click here.