Diagnostic Assessments
Accurate diagnosis is the key to accessing the proper treatment, therapy or medication you need. It is also the way to identify the correct services and sources of funding to assist you address those needs. Our clinicians doing Diagnostic Assessments for individuals across the lifespan have an average of over 15 years of experience in our specialty areas. We utilise the latest, most evidence-based assessment tools and processes to diagnose accurately and effectively to meet your needs. We comprehensively assess for:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Intellectual Disability
- Attention Deficit Disorders
- Anxiety Disorder
- Depressive Disorders
- Trauma Related Disorders
- Personality Disorders
Combined assessments
If you suspect you or your child/adolescent has symptoms of neurodiversity and you are not sure whether you need an autism or ADHD assessment, we can offer a combined assessment for both. Your psychologist will usually start by carrying out one assessment while trying to determine if the other is needed. Another clinician may be brought into the process to carry out any additional assessments, specialist questionnaires and interviews to help determine whether you or your child/adolescent meet the criteria for autism and or ADHD.
Educational and Cognitive Assessment
Cognitive and educational assessments play a central role in identifying not just ‘what’ individual challenges are but ‘why’ those challenges exist. This information directly leads to being able to design and identify intervention strategies that can lead to improvements and greater well-being.
Overseen by Dr Rachel Gallagher (Clinical, Educational and Developmental Psychologist) we conduct comprehensive assessments using the latest specialist tools, questionnaires and science to provide the level of detail and insight people need. Educational and cognitive assessments include:
- Learning disorder with impairment in Reading (also called Dyslexia)
- Learning disorder with impairment in Written Expression (also called Dysgraphia)
- Learning disorder with impairment in Math (also called Dyscalculia)
- Functional Capacity Assessments
- Specific Learning Impairment
- Executive Functioning Assessment
- Working Memory Assessment
- Educational Attainment Assessment
- IQ Assessment
Forensic Assessments
At The Charles Street Clinic, we have worked closely with the Department of Communities, the Children’s Court of Western Australia and the Family Court of Western Australia to address complex and conflictual family systems where children may be at risk. We have conducted approximately 300+ assessments of this nature, and are published in this area of family systems (See Oxford Handbook of Coercive Relationship Dynamics).
Forensic assessments conducted by our team include:
- Parent Capacity Assessments
- Fitness to plead assessments
- Cognitive functioning assessments
General Notes about Child and Adolescent Assessments at The Charles Street Clinic
All assessments for a child or adolescent will commence with an initial assessment appointment (90 minute session). At this appointment the child or adolescent as well as their parent / guardian / carer will be asked a range of questions by the Psychologist to help them understand the child or adolescents circumstances and the reason for the assessment. These questions will inform the Psychologist’s decision to select the appropriate assessment measures to meet the goals of the assessment.
All assessments will commence with an initial assessment appointment (90 minute session) to further understand the request for the child / adolescent’s assessment. The majority of assessments (eg ADHD, Autism, and Learning assessment etc) will require at least 3 appointments with the psychologist – an initial assessment and two subsequent assessment sessions.
Sometimes a parent or carer will request The Charles Street Clinic assess their child, because it has been suggested by a school teacher, or school psychologist – but the reasons for the assessment are not always clear to the parents or carer. The initial appointment also allows the Psychologist to further explore the concerns raised by other important people in the young person’s life.
General Notes about Adult Assessments at The Charles Street Clinic
Adult assessments are sometimes requested in order to support applications for special considerations at university level (such as additional time in university exams) or job applications. Assessments may also be requested to support applications for NDIS funding or support.
All assessments will commence with an initial assessment appointment (90 minute session) to further understand the reason for the assessment. The majority of assessments will require at least 3 appointments with the psychologist – an initial assessment and two subsequent assessment sessions.
Adults are requested to provide any relevant medical, psychological, therapeutic or educational information that may assist in the assessment and diagnostic process. Psychologists may request that family members, friends and or colleagues provide some information about the client’s difficulties and symptoms. Past medical and therapy reports as well as interviewing significant others in the client’s life allows for a thorough and holistic assessment so that the adult client gains a clearer understanding of their strengths and skills that require further support to reach their end goals.
