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Assessments We Offer
At Cognitive Assessments Australia, we offer a comprehensive range of psychological assessments for children and adults - providing the clarity, answers, and practical insights that make a real difference in people's lives.
Whether you are seeking a diagnosis, trying to understand your own mind or your child's, or looking for the documentation you need to access support at school, work, or through the NDIS - our experienced team is here to guide you every step of the way.
Our assessments include:
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Autism Assessments Using the gold-standard ADOS-2 observational tool, we conduct thorough autism assessments for children and adults across the lifespan. Whether you are seeking answers for your child or pursuing a long-overdue diagnosis as an adult, our neuro-affirming approach ensures the process is supportive, respectful, and comprehensive.
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Neuropsychological Assessments Our neuropsychological assessments evaluate how the brain is functioning across key cognitive domains including attention, memory, language, executive functioning, and processing speed. They are used to assess the cognitive impact of conditions such as traumatic brain injury, stroke, dementia, multiple sclerosis, and neurodevelopmental disorders.
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ADHD Assessments Our ADHD assessments combine standardised testing, validated rating scales, and detailed clinical interviews to provide an accurate evaluation for children, adolescents, and adults - including inattentive and late-identified presentations that are commonly missed.
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Cognitive Assessments Using tools including the WAIS-V (adults) and WISC-V (children), our cognitive assessments evaluate intellectual abilities including reasoning, memory, processing speed, and problem-solving. Results support educational planning, NDIS applications, vocational decisions, and understanding changes in cognitive functioning.
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Learning Disorder Assessments We assess for specific learning disorders including dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia across children and adults. Our reports include clear, practical recommendations for schools, universities, workplaces, and exam providers.
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Educational Assessments Educational assessments provide a broad evaluation of a student's cognitive, academic, behavioural, and emotional functioning - measuring strengths alongside challenges to build a comprehensive picture of how a child is learning and developing. Results directly support Individual Education Plans, exam provision applications, and school support planning.
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Behavioural Assessments Our behavioural assessments help identify the underlying factors contributing to challenging or concerning behaviour in children and adolescents. Rather than viewing behaviour as a problem to be managed, we seek to understand what it is communicating — whether that is an unmet need, a neurodevelopmental difference, or an emotional difficulty.
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Forensic Assessments Kerrin brings extensive experience across forensic settings, providing specialist psychological assessments for legal and court-related purposes. All forensic assessments are conducted to the rigorous standards required for use in legal proceedings.
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Personality and Diagnostic Testing We offer a range of standardised personality and diagnostic assessments to evaluate mental health presentations, personality traits, and emotional functioning - providing valuable insights for treatment planning and clinical decision-making.
Understanding the different types of assessments
Our assessment process includes the administration of specialised tests and a thorough clinical interview. These evaluations are designed to determine whether a variety of conditions may be impacting daily life.
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AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER (ASPERGERS SYNDROME)
Autism is a lifelong neurological difference that affects how a person experiences and interacts with the world. For many children and adults, an autism assessment is the beginning of a journey toward genuine self-understanding - and access to the support they have always needed but never been able to name.
At CAA, we use the gold-standard ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition) - an internationally recognised observational assessment tool that involves a series of structured and semi-structured activities allowing our clinician to observe social communication, interaction, and behavioural patterns. The ADOS-2 is considered best practice for autism assessment and is used alongside a detailed clinical interview, developmental history, and validated rating scales.
We conduct autism assessments for children, adolescents, and adults. We are experienced in identifying presentations that are commonly missed - including autism in women and girls, who have often spent years masking their difficulties and may not present in the ways traditionally associated with autism. Our neuro-affirming approach means every person is assessed with curiosity and respect, not a checklist of deficits.
Who is this assessment for? Children, adolescents, or adults where autism may be contributing to difficulties in social communication, sensory processing, emotional regulation, learning, or daily functioning - or where a formal diagnosis is needed for school support, NDIS access, or personal clarity.
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Neuropsychological assessments evaluate the relationship between brain function and behaviour - examining how neurological conditions, injuries, or neurodevelopmental differences affect thinking, learning, memory, and everyday functioning. They are among the most comprehensive assessments available and provide a detailed understanding of cognitive strengths and weaknesses across multiple domains.
At CAA, our neuropsychological assessments evaluate key cognitive areas including attention and concentration, memory and learning, language and communication, executive functioning, processing speed, and visuospatial abilities. For adults, they are used to assess the cognitive impact of conditions such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke, acquired brain injury (ABI), dementia, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and other neurological conditions. For children, they can uncover challenges affecting learning, attention, and development that may not be identified through standard educational or cognitive testing.
The results of a neuropsychological assessment provide a comprehensive picture of how the brain is functioning, guide appropriate interventions and support strategies, and are used to inform medical management, NDIS applications, return-to-work planning, and legal proceedings.
Who is this assessment for? Children or adults where a detailed evaluation of cognitive functioning is needed - including following traumatic brain injury, stroke, or acquired brain injury, where dementia or cognitive decline is a concern, or where a comprehensive neuropsychological profile is required for clinical, educational, or legal purposes.
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ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) is one of the most commonly occurring and most frequently misunderstood neurodevelopmental conditions. It is not simply about being hyperactive or struggling to sit still - ADHD affects attention regulation, executive functioning, emotional regulation, impulse control, and much more. For many people, it has been present their entire lives without ever being identified.
Our ADHD assessments combine standardised cognitive testing, validated rating scales completed by the individual and relevant others (such as a parent, teacher, or partner), and a detailed clinical interview covering developmental history, current functioning, and the impact of symptoms across multiple settings. For adults, we are experienced in identifying the inattentive and late-identified presentations that are particularly common in women and are frequently mistaken for anxiety, depression, or simply being disorganised.
A comprehensive ADHD assessment at CAA results in a detailed written report including a clear diagnostic conclusion and practical, tailored recommendations for home, school, work, and treatment - giving you not just a diagnosis, but a genuine roadmap forward.
Who is this assessment for? Children, adolescents, or adults where ADHD may be contributing to difficulties with attention, organisation, impulse control, emotional regulation, academic or work performance, or relationships - or where a formal diagnosis is needed for school support, medication, or NDIS access.
For more information on ADHD coaching for adolescents and adults click here
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Cognitive assessments evaluate an individual's intellectual abilities across key areas including verbal reasoning, visual spatial reasoning, working memory, and processing speed. Using the WISC-V for children and the WAIS-V for adults - the most widely used and respected cognitive assessment tools available - our clinicians build a detailed and accurate picture of how an individual's mind works.
Cognitive assessments are used for a wide range of purposes including identifying intellectual giftedness, assessing for intellectual disability, supporting NDIS applications, informing educational planning, evaluating cognitive changes associated with ageing or neurological conditions, and providing the baseline data needed to support vocational or academic decisions.
For children, cognitive assessments can reveal important discrepancies between ability and performance - helping to explain why a bright child may be struggling unexpectedly in certain areas. For adults, they provide valuable insights that can guide decisions about study, work, and accessing appropriate support.
Who is this assessment for? Children or adults where a comprehensive evaluation of intellectual functioning is needed - for educational planning, giftedness identification, NDIS applications, vocational assessment, or understanding cognitive strengths and difficulties.
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Specific learning disorders are neurological in origin and affect an individual's ability to acquire and use academic skills - despite adequate intelligence, instruction, and opportunity to learn. They are not a reflection of effort, motivation, or capability. Many children and adults with learning disorders are bright, creative, and highly capable - and yet have struggled for years in ways that have affected their confidence, their self-esteem, and their relationship with learning.
Our learning disorder assessments identify specific difficulties in reading, writing, and mathematics, including dyslexia (reading), dysgraphia (written expression), and dyscalculia (mathematics). Assessments involve a combination of standardised cognitive and academic testing, clinical interview, and review of relevant background information. We assess both children and adults - including those who have reached adulthood without ever receiving a formal diagnosis.
Our reports are written with practical application in mind. They include clear diagnostic conclusions and specific recommendations for schools, universities, workplaces, and exam providers - including adjustments, accommodations, and strategies that can be implemented immediately.
Who is this assessment for? Children or adults where a specific learning disorder may be contributing to difficulties with reading, writing, spelling, or maths - or where formal documentation of a learning disorder is needed for school support, exam provisions, university access, or workplace accommodations.
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Educational assessments provide a broad and holistic evaluation of a student's cognitive, academic, behavioural, and emotional functioning - building a comprehensive picture of how a child is learning, developing, and experiencing school. Unlike learning disorder assessments, which focus specifically on identifying conditions such as dyslexia or dyscalculia, educational assessments take a wider view - measuring strengths alongside challenges, and capturing the emotional and behavioural factors that shape a child's experience in the classroom.
Our educational assessments draw on a range of standardised tools to evaluate intellectual ability, academic achievement, behavioural functioning, and emotional wellbeing. They are particularly valuable where a student is underperforming relative to their potential, where a teacher or parent has concerns that are difficult to pinpoint, or where a comprehensive evaluation is needed to inform school-based planning.
Results directly support the development of Individual Education Plans (IEPs), applications for exam provisions, and recommendations for classroom adjustments, learning support strategies, and referrals to other services where appropriate. We are also happy to liaise with school learning support teams following the assessment, with family consent.
Who is this assessment for? School-aged children where a comprehensive evaluation of academic, cognitive, behavioural, and emotional functioning is needed - particularly to inform school support planning, IEP development, or exam provision applications.
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Behavioural assessments help identify the underlying factors contributing to challenging, concerning, or difficult-to-understand behaviour in children and adolescents. At CAA, we approach behaviour not as a problem to be managed, but as a form of communication - an expression of something the child needs, feels, or is experiencing that has not yet been understood or addressed.
Our behavioural assessments involve a detailed clinical interview with parents and carers, standardised rating scales and questionnaires, behavioural observations where appropriate, and a review of relevant background information including school reports, previous assessments, and medical history. We consider the full context of a child's life - their home environment, school experience, developmental history, and neurological profile - in forming our understanding of their behaviour.
Results provide parents, schools, and allied health teams with a clear picture of what is driving the behaviour and what is most likely to help - including practical strategies, environmental adjustments, and recommendations for further support or intervention.
Who is this assessment for? Children or adolescents where challenging, concerning, or difficult-to-understand behaviour is present - including aggressive or oppositional behaviour, emotional outbursts, school refusal, withdrawal, or behaviour that may reflect an unmet need, neurodevelopmental difference, or emotional difficulty.
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Forensic assessments are specialist psychological evaluations conducted for legal and court-related purposes. They require a specific combination of clinical expertise, thorough methodology, and a clear understanding of the legal context in which the assessment will be used. At CAA, our forensic assessments are conducted or supervised by Kerrin Danswan, who brings extensive experience across forensic settings including government and justice system work.
Forensic assessments at CAA may include cognitive and neuropsychological evaluations, diagnostic assessments, risk assessments, capacity assessments, and other specialist evaluations as required by legal proceedings. All assessments are conducted to the rigorous professional and ethical standards required for use in legal contexts, and reports are written to meet the requirements of courts, tribunals, and legal professionals.
All enquiries regarding forensic assessments are handled directly and confidentially. Please contact our team to discuss your specific requirements.
Who is this assessment for? Individuals, legal representatives, courts, or tribunals requiring a specialist psychological assessment for legal or court-related purposes - including cognitive evaluations, diagnostic assessments, capacity assessments, or other medico-legal evaluations.
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Standardised personality and diagnostic assessments provide valuable insights into an individual's personality structure, emotional functioning, mental health presentation, and psychological strengths and vulnerabilities. At CAA, these assessments are used to support clinical formulation, inform treatment planning, and provide the diagnostic clarity needed to guide meaningful and effective support.
Our clinicians use a range of validated and widely respected assessment tools depending on the specific needs of the individual and the purpose of the assessment. Results are always interpreted within the broader clinical context of the person's history, current functioning, and goals - rather than in isolation.
Personality and diagnostic testing is used across a range of contexts including clinical treatment planning, forensic assessment, medico-legal evaluations, occupational assessment, and situations where a comprehensive psychological profile is required. All testing is conducted and interpreted by qualified psychologists.
Who is this assessment for? Adults or adolescents where a comprehensive evaluation of personality structure, emotional functioning, or mental health presentation is needed — for clinical treatment planning, forensic purposes, medico-legal evaluations, or occupational assessment.
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