Welcome to The Whole Self Psychology & Assessment Clinic
Cognitive & Learning Assessments
Understanding How Your Child Thinks, Learns & Thrives
Our cognitive and academic learning assessments help build a clear understanding of your child's thinking, learning, and academic skills. Whether there are concerns about learning difficulties, dyslexia, giftedness, or intellectual development, our assessments provide practical recommendations to support your child's success at home and school.
Cognitive Assessments
(6+ years)
Cognitive assessments explore how your child thinks, learns, and processes information, including areas such as reasoning, problem-solving, memory, attention, and processing skills. They can help build a deeper understanding of your child's cognitive profile, assess for intellectual delay or giftedness where appropriate, and identify both strengths and areas where additional support may be helpful. An adaptive functioning assessment may also be recommended where appropriate to understand how your child applies their skills in everyday life and to provide a comprehensive picture of their functioning.
What does this involve?
1. Parent Interview We begin with a comprehensive interview to understand your child's developmental history, strengths, learning profile, and the concerns that have led you to seek an assessment. 2. Teacher/Educator Input Where appropriate, information is gathered from your child's teacher or educator to understand how they learn, engage, and function within the school environment. 3. Cognitive Assessment Session Your child will complete a cognitive assessment, usually in the clinic. Where appropriate and with school agreement, this assessment can also be completed at school. (Travel fees apply for school-based assessments.) 4. Adaptive Functioning Assessment (where appropriate) Standardised adaptive functioning questionnaires may be completed by parents and educators to understand how your child applies their skills in everyday life, including communication, daily living skills, socialisation, and independence. 5. Comprehensive Report & Feedback Session All assessment findings are integrated into a comprehensive report outlining your child's cognitive profile, strengths, and areas of need. Where appropriate, the report will include diagnostic outcomes, such as intellectual disability or giftedness, along with practical recommendations for home, school, and ongoing support. A feedback session is then provided to discuss the findings, answer your questions, and explore the recommended next steps.
Comprehensive Academic Learning Assessment
Academic learning assessments explore your child's skills in areas such as reading, writing, spelling, and mathematics to build a comprehensive understanding of how they learn. These assessments help identify your child's learning strengths, areas where they may benefit from additional support, and, where appropriate, assess for Specific Learning Disorders, including difficulties in reading (dyslexia), written expression (dysgraphia), and mathematics (dyscalculia). The goal is to better understand your child's learning profile and provide practical recommendations to support their learning and success at home and school.
What does this involve?
1. Parent Interview We begin with a comprehensive clinical interview to understand your child's developmental history, learning journey, strengths, and the concerns that have led you to seek an assessment. 2. Teacher Input Information is gathered from your child's teacher and school to understand their classroom learning, academic progress, current supports, and any ongoing concerns. 3. Cognitive Assessment Your child will complete a cognitive assessment to explore how they think, learn, reason, and process information. This helps us understand their learning profile and provides important context for interpreting their academic performance. 4. Academic Achievement Assessment Your child will complete a standardised academic assessment exploring skills such as reading, spelling, written expression, and mathematics. This helps identify learning strengths and determine whether there is evidence of a Specific Learning Disorder, such as dyslexia, where appropriate. 5. Comprehensive Report & Feedback Session All assessment findings are integrated into a detailed assessment report outlining your child's cognitive and academic profile, strengths, areas of need, and diagnostic outcomes where appropriate. A feedback session is then provided to explain the results, answer your questions, and discuss practical recommendations and supports for home and school.