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Assessment instruments
The instruments we use, explained
Psychological assessment comes with a lot of acronyms, and most families meet them for the first time in a referral letter. These pages explain what each instrument measures, what happens during testing, and what the results can and cannot tell you.
Which instruments are used in a given assessment depends on the person's age and the question being asked. A psychologist selects them after an intake consultation rather than in advance, and most assessments draw on several.
Cognitive assessment
Measures of reasoning, memory and processing. Used in giftedness, intellectual disability, learning and ADHD assessments.
Academic achievement
Measures of learned academic skill, used to investigate specific learning disorder.
Behaviour and attention
Standardised rating scales completed by parents, teachers and young people.
Autism assessment
Structured observation and interview processes used within autism assessments.
Adaptive functioning
Measures of how a person manages the practical demands of daily life.
Therapy programs
Structured, evidence-based intervention programs.
Not sure which assessment you need?
Our assessment pathway tool asks a few questions and points you to the right starting place. Or speak with our team about what would answer your question.
These pages are general information and are not clinical advice. Whether a particular assessment is appropriate depends on the individual and the question being asked. Ask us about our reduced fee options. We are committed to making psychological therapy and assessment accessible.