Assessments
At Healthy Little Minds Psychology, we provide comprehensive psychological assessment for children and adolescents to better understand their individual strengths, learning profiles, developmental needs and areas where additional support may be helpful.
Psychological assessment can provide a clearer understanding of how a child thinks, learns, communicates and experiences the world.
Assessment may help identify a child’s cognitive and learning strengths, areas of difficulty and developmental or behavioural characteristics. It can also provide practical information to guide support at home, school and in other environments.
At Healthy Little Minds Psychology, assessments are tailored to the individual child and the questions that families, schools or other professionals are seeking to understand.
Assessment Services
We offer a range of psychological and educational assessments for children and adolescents. The most appropriate assessment depends on your child’s individual needs and the questions you would like the assessment to address.
ADHD Assessment
An ADHD assessment explores attention, executive functioning, impulsivity and other characteristics associated with ADHD, while considering your child’s development, behaviour and functioning across different settings.
Autism Assessment
An autism assessment explores autistic characteristics, development, communication, social experiences, sensory experiences, strengths and support needs using a comprehensive, neuroaffirming approach.
Cognitive Assessment
A cognitive assessment provides information about a child’s cognitive abilities and individual pattern of strengths and areas of difficulty. This can contribute to understanding learning and developmental needs..
Educational & Learning Assessment
Educational & learning assessment explores academic skills such as reading, writing, spelling and mathematics to better understand learning strengths, difficulties and educational support needs. Educational & learning assessment can also help identify persistent difficulties in areas such as reading, spelling, written expression, or mathematics and may help determine whether a Specific Learning Disorder should be considered.
Which Assessment Is Right for My Child?
It is understandable to be unsure about which type of assessment may be appropriate. The right assessment depends on your child’s individual circumstances and the questions you are hoping to answer. For example, you may be seeking to understand attention and executive functioning, explore possible autism, better understand cognitive abilities, investigate learning difficulties or clarify your child’s educational profile. An initial discussion can help determine which assessment may be most appropriate.
What Does an Assessment Involve?
Every assessment is individualised. The process varies depending on the type of assessment, your child’s age and the questions being explored.
Initial Consultation
We meet with parents or caregivers to discuss your child’s development, strengths, experiences and individual needs, as well as what you would like the assessment to help you understand.
Information Gathering & Assessment
We gather relevant information about your child’s development, learning and everyday experiences. With parent or caregiver consent, this may include consultation with relevant professionals such as teachers, paediatricians, speech pathologists or other health and education professionals. Your child then completes the relevant psychological and/or educational assessment activities, tailored to their age, abilities and individual profile.
Feedback Session
Following the assessment, we meet with parents or caregivers for a feedback session to discuss the assessment findings, your child’s individual strengths and profile, and what the results may mean for their support and development.
Report & Recommendations
A comprehensive report is provided outlining the assessment findings and practical recommendations. Recommendations may support your child across home, school and other relevant environments and can be shared with appropriate professionals, with your consent.
What Can Psychological Assessment Help Us Understand?
Cognitive strengths
How your child approaches different types of thinking and problem-solving.
Learning
How your child is developing skills such as reading, writing and mathematics
Attention & Executive Functioning
How attention, working memory, planning and organisation may affect everyday functioning.
Development
Aspects of your child’s developmental profile and individual strengths.
Social & Communication
Characteristics that may be relevant when exploring autism or other developmental differences.
Educational Support
Information that can help guide practical recommendations for school and learning.
A Strengths-Based & Neuroaffirming Approach
At Healthy Little Minds Psychology, we recognise that children have different ways of thinking, learning, communicating and experiencing the world.
Our assessments aim to develop a balanced understanding of the whole child — including strengths, interests, capabilities, challenges and support needs.
We focus on providing information that is meaningful and useful to children, families and, where appropriate, schools and other professionals.
Who Are Our Assessments For?
Assessments may be helpful for children and adolescents when there are questions about learning, development, attention, behaviour, social communication or educational functioning.
Families may seek assessment following concerns raised at home, school or kindergarten, or when they would like a clearer understanding of their child’s individual profile and support needs.
Preschool & Early Childhood
Exploring developmental, learning and early support needs.
Primary School
Understanding learning, attention, cognitive and developmental profiles.
Adolescents
Exploring learning, attention, emotional, developmental and educational needs during adolescence.
Working With Families & Schools
Where appropriate, assessment may include information from parents, teachers or other professionals. Understanding how a child functions across different environments can help provide a more complete picture and support practical recommendations.
Assessment Fees
Assessment fees vary depending on the type and complexity of the assessment and the individual needs of the child. Information about assessment fees, Medicare, NDIS and other funding arrangements is available on our Fees & Funding page.
Assessment FAQs
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The most appropriate assessment depends on your child’s individual needs and the questions you are seeking to answer. If you’re unsure, you can contact us to discuss your child’s assessment needs.
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An ADHD assessment involves gathering information about attention, executive functioning, development and behaviour across relevant settings. The assessment process and conclusions will depend on the individual child and the information available.
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Healthy Little Minds Psychology provides autism assessment for children and adolescents using a comprehensive, neuroaffirming approach.
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Yes, your child will need to attend some assessment sessions. The length and amount of assessment sessions depends on the type of assessment and the child’s age and circumstances. Parents or caregivers will generally be involved in providing developmental and background information.
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School information or collaboration may be included where appropriate and with the relevant permissions.
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Assessment duration varies depending on the type of assessment, the child’s age and the questions being explored. More specific information is provided on each assessment page.
Not Sure Where to Start?
Every child has their own unique strengths, experiences and way of learning and engaging with the world. If you are considering an assessment and would like to better understand which option may be most appropriate for your child, we’re happy to talk through your needs and answer your questions.