Why Get an Assessment?
Whether you’ve always felt “different,” struggled with focus, social communication, or emotional regulation, or recently related to others' experiences, a formal assessment can:
- Help explain lifelong patterns of behaviour or challenges
- Open doors to accommodations, supports, and services (e.g. NDIS, school/uni support, workplace flexibility)
- Validate your experience and reduce self-blame
- Guide therapy, educational planning, or parenting strategies
What Happens During the Assessment?
Every person is a little different, but most psychological assessments follow a structured process over a few sessions:
1. Initial Interview / History Taking
You’ll talk through your experiences—early development, education, relationships, work, and mental health. For children, this often involves interviews with caregivers and teachers.
2. Standardised Questionnaires
You (and sometimes others close to you) will complete forms assessing symptoms, behaviour patterns, executive functioning, and sensory preferences.
3. Cognitive & Neuropsychological Testing
We may assess cognitive processes, attention, memory, or processing speed to explore learning profiles and rule out other explanations for difficulties.
4. Observation & Social/Communication Profiling
In autism assessments, we may use structured tools like the MIGDAS-2 or detailed behavioural observations to assess social and communication skills.
5. Feedback Session & Written Report
You’ll receive a written report and sit down with our psychologist to go over findings, diagnoses (if any), and next steps.
ADHD and Autism: Can You Have Both?
Yes. Many people are diagnosed with both ADHD and autism. While they are distinct conditions, they often overlap—especially in traits like sensory sensitivities, emotional regulation difficulties, and social challenges. We will work together to assess for both where appropriate..
