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Assessments

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Psychological Assessments

Our comprehensive range of psychological assessments will give you a clear picture of yours or your child’s functioning in specific areas. Assessments are designed to identify needs, strengths and challenges and your psychologist will give a clear and detailed report and a treatment plan going forwards. Where appropriate, a diagnosis is formed.

Assessments can play a key role in helping you, your child or a family member progress with therapy and understand the struggles you or they have been having.

Where do you start? Everyone’s needs are different, and we are guided by this and, through the help of your psychologist, will discuss which assessment is right. The first step is to contact our friendly reception team who can help guide you through the process.

We don’t believe in having an assessment for the sake of it, so it’s important to establish the goal of the assessment with your psychologist. We will take the time to work through this with you and ensure you are on the right path.

Assessments We Do

  • Autism
  • ADHD
  • Educational Assessment
  • Parenting Capacity
  • Child Psychiatric Assessment
  • NDIS Functional Capacity

Autism

Our autism assessment utilises the dual assessment approach. Our talented psychologists and speech pathologists work together to come to a consensus in diagnosing autism. The dual assessment approach is necessary to access support through Autism SA. Our assessors have many years’ experience in the assessment of children, teenagers, and adults across a wide range of behavioural and developmental areas. Additionally, they have undergone extensive training through Autism SA to be able to offer diagnostic services to both children and adults.

We assess all aspects of behaviour, development and history to determine whether an individual meets the criteria for a diagnosis of autism or if there are any other alternative explanations for the presenting behaviours. Our clinicians do this through structured interviews, direct observation of behaviour, and by using standardised clinical assessment tools. In some cases it may also be necessary to conduct observations at a childcare or school.

You will be provided with a comprehensive report which will outline how the person meets the criteria for autism and includes a range of recommendations to support the person depending on their needs. These recommendations include a range of services such as psychology, speech pathology, occupational therapy and other services as identified. Where someone is eligible for NDIS funding, these services may be funded through NDIS.

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ADHD

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental health disorder that includes a combination of persistent problems, such as difficulty paying attention, hyperactivity and impulsive behaviour. ADHD can lead to unstable relationships, poor work or school performance, low self-esteem, and many other problems.

Some people with ADHD have fewer symptoms as they age, but some adults continue to have major symptoms that interfere with their daily lives. In adults, the main features of ADHD may include difficulty paying attention, impulsiveness and restlessness. Symptoms can range from mild to severe.

Symptoms can start in early childhood and continue into adulthood. As an adult, ADHD symptoms may not be as clear as symptoms in children. In adults, hyperactivity may decrease, but struggles with impulsiveness, restlessness and difficulty paying attention may continue.

We offer ADHD assessments for children, teens and adults. Once a diagnosis has been formed, you will be provided with a comprehensive written report and your psychologist will provide a recommended treatment plan which may include further therapy with one of our highly trained psychologists, medication and treatment for other psychological conditions that may occur along with ADHD. This psychological treatment will provide you with strategies to better cope with the daily challenges that have caused you to query whether you have ADHD.

If medication has been recommended, psychologists are unable to prescribe. You will need to see your GP to discuss medication through them or with a psychiatrist if needed.

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Educational Assessment

A psycho-educational assessment is used to identify an adult or child’s individual strengths and challenges. This comprehensive, age-specific assessment will identify yours or your child’s cognitive functioning, intellectual capacity and current level of academic attainment.

During the assessment process, your psychologist will identify any problems with verbal comprehension, working memory, visual-spatial ability, the ability to think flexibly, problem solving and mental processing speed.

The assessment also helps to assess an individual’s academic ability including spelling, maths, reading, comprehension and writing skills. Developing the understanding of yours or your child’s strengths and challenges can help to best support their needs within the home, school, work and social environment.

This assessment can identify if there are any difficulties associated with reading, writing, or mathematics and whether these difficulties are significant enough to be considered specific learning disorders such as; Dyslexia, Dyscalculia and Dysgraphia, giftedness and intellectual disabilities.

The Psycho-educational assessment will take up to approximately 6 hours, which includes gathering a comprehensive history, 2 hours cognitive assessment, 2 hours academic assessment, providing feedback and a written report.

Once your assessment has been completed, your psychologist will provide you with a written report during your feedback session which will include any relevant diagnosis and a recommended treatment plan for onward psychological therapy. You can also discuss appropriate assistance in the classroom or workplace, and may be eligible for NDIS funding to assist you.

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Parenting Capacity

Parents who are involved in a dispute about access to their child/children may be asked by a court to provide an independent assessment of their parenting capacity. A request for an assessment might be made if there is evidence that a parent presents an acknowledged risk issue. Acknowledged risk issues may include; a parent that has a significant mental illness; parental trauma; children who have been exposed to domestic violence; a parent that misuses substances; and a parent that struggles to prioritise the needs of their child. Requests for an assessment of parenting capacity can be made by a Family Court or a Child Protection Court.

Dr Tustin has 20 years’ experience in assessing parenting capacity of parents with a significant mental health issue and associated difficulties. When he worked in the South Australian Community Mental Health Service, Dr Tustin received a grant from the Department of Health to develop an instrument to assess parenting capacity that is based on current research. The instrument guides parents towards effective therapies, and is the foundation of reports about parenting capacity that is submitted to a court.

There are four different types of parenting capacity assessments. The process starts with an initial consultation with Dr Tustin where he will assess your individual circumstances and recommend the appropriate assessment.

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Child Psychiatric Assessment

Dr Yara Khedr provides comprehensive paediatric assessments via video telehealth consults which comprises of four sessions. She will work slightly differently depending on the age of your child. Children are seen initially with their parents/carers and then separately if they feel comfortable. Dr Khedr will also take the time separately with the parent/caregiver to allow for all relevant perspectives to be shared and a full medical history will be taken.

Dr Khedr may request further assessments such as a speech and language, cognitive and/or academic assessment in order to confirm a diagnosis. These assessments are available and recommended to be taken here at Adelaide Psychological Services with our team of psychologists and Speech and Language Pathologist. Please note, this would be at an additional cost to the psychiatric assessment.

When your assessment is completed you will be able to discuss options for follow-up. These may include medication reviews with Dr Khedr, or a plan for the involvement of other clinicians and allied health practitioners, or both.

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NDIS Functional Capacity

A functional capacity assessment is for an NDIS participant to ensure they have the right level of funding to help them achieve their goals, allowing you to get the most out of your daily lives.

Psychologists are in the best position to provide you with a functional capacity assessment for people whose primary disability is a psychiatric condition, as well as those with co-occurring physical and psycho-social disabilities.

The assessment process involves a face-to-face interview with one of our specially trained psychologists, in-depth communication with involved parties, with the participant’s consent after which a comprehensive written report is provided to you, the participant and to NDIS. This is all designed to ensure your needs and level of support are constantly reviewed accurately to keep your plan up to date with your tailored needs and goals at the front of mind.

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Whether you’re continuing your journey or just beginning, we’re here for you.

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In 2022 we expanded into a brand new second practice to meet the ever-growing demand for mental health support in South Australia. We are delighted to say that we welcome new clients with no waitlist. New to the practice? Just pick up the phone and get your therapy journey started today.

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