Assessments for Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia & more
Assessments for ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia & more
Neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism, ADHD and dyslexia commonly occur together.
Completing an assessment with a psychologist, speech pathologist or occupational therapist can help to understand all aspects of your child’s presentation and how to best support them.
Psychologists can assess for autism and ADHD along with other common co-occurring conditions such as Dyslexia, Dsygraphia and Dyscalculia.
They complete comprehensive assessments and provide detailed reports with recommendations for supporting your child at home and school.
These reports can help you understand your child’s strengths and areas that may require additional support such as time management, getting started on or finishing a task or considering consequences of an action.
Reports can be helpful in requesting reasonable adjustments for the school environment and assessments.
Autism Assessments
The current requirements for autism assessments are complicated by differing requirements for Medicare, Department of Education and NDIS. Read the full breakdown on what is required and availability of assessments here.
ADHD Assessments
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has three presentations: Inattentive, Hyperactive and Combined. Psychologists can assess for ADHD.
GPs can prescribe non-stimulant medications, however only paediatricians, psychiatrists and neurologists can prescribe stimulant medications.
If you wish to explore stimulant medication options for ADHD you will need to see either a paediatrician or a child and adolescent psychiatrist. Wait lists are extremely long in both the public and private systems. You can read more on availability of paediatricians here.
Specific Learning Disorders (SLDs) Assessments
Children must have completed six months of intervention before they can receive a diagnosis of a Specific Learning Disorder (SLD).
Specific Learning Disorder with Impairment in Reading (Dyslexia)
Children with dyslexia often have difficultyconnecting letters they see on a page with the sounds they make. Reading is slow and effortful.
Specific Learning Disorder with Impairment in Written Expression (Dysgraphia)
Difficulties with putting your thoughts onto paper. Often described by children as knowing what they want to say but not being able to get it out onto paper. They may have excellent verbal skills and tell you great stories but there is a mismatch between this and their written output. This assessment is completed by a psychologist.
This is different to Motor Dysgraphia, which can be indicated by challenges in coordinating the movements required to produce legible written letters and numbers.
Specific Learning Disorder with Impairment in Mathematics (Dyscalculia)
A wide range of difficulties with maths, including weaknesses in understanding the meaning of numbers, and difficulty applying mathematical principles to solve problems.
Intellectual Disability
Intellectual disability is a developmental disability that affects people’s abilities in learning, processing information, communicating, socialising and sometimes physical skills.
Intellectual Giftedness
The posession and use of outstanding natural abilities or aptitudes, in at least one ability domain to a degree that places an individual at last among the top 10% of age peers.
Motor Dysgraphia
DCD affects a person’s ability to learn and execute motor skills. This makes it difficult to perform common, everyday tasks like doing up buttons, writing, catching a ball or riding a bike. It is assessed by an Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist.
Developmental Coordination Disorder
A wide range of difficulties with maths, including weaknesses in understanding the meaning of numbers, and difficulty applying mathematical principles to solve problems.
