”It is easier to build strong children than it is to repair broken adults …”

Childhood Psychological Assessments & Diagnosis

The Centre for Perinatal Health & Parenting (CPH&P) provides comprehensive paediatric psychological assessments, by fully qualified and experienced psychologists, to investigate suspected childhood psychological disorders.

Educational & Cognitive Assessment ~ over 6 years of age

The tests that will be used include:

  • Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children – 5th Edition (WISC – V)

Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children – 5th Edition (WISC – V)

The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - Fifth Edition (WISC-V) assesses the cognitive abilities of children. The test provides information on five main areas including:

  • Verbal Comprehension Score - understanding verbal information, thinking, and reasoning with words, and expressing thoughts as words.

  • Visual Spatial Score - non-verbal problem-solving skills and working quickly and efficiently with visual information.

  • Fluid Reasoning Score - ability to work with missing information and “fill in the gaps” to solve a problem. 

  • Working Memory Score - ability to understand, retain and immediately use information from memory to complete a task.  

  • Processing Speed Score - speed of mental problem-solving, attention, and eye-hand coordination.

An overall score is given to represent overall general thinking and reasoning skills which is called a Full-Scale IQ.

ADHD Assessment

The tests that will be used include:

Under 6 years of age

·       Vineland – 3

·       Behaviour Assessment Scale for Children – 3rd Edition

·       Brown Executive Function/Attention Scales

Over 6 years of age

  • Vineland – 3

  • Behaviour Assessment Scale for Children – 3rd Edition

  • Conners – 4

  • Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children – 5th Edition (WISC – V)

Vineland - 3

The Vineland - 3 measures adaptive behaviours, which are the things that people need to do to function in their everyday lives. These important everyday behaviours can be grouped into the broad areas of communication, practical daily living skills, and relationship skills. The specific adaptive behaviours that are needed change as a child grows older, as the child depends less on the help of others. Learning about a child's adaptive behaviours and skills is part of a process that can help in planning for their education and for any home interventions.  

Behaviour Assessment Scale for Children – 3rd Edition

The BASC-3 is a comprehensive set of rating scales and forms including the Teacher Rating Scales (TRS), Parent Rating Scales (PRS), Self-Report of Personality (SRP). Together, they help you understand the behaviours and emotions of children and adolescents. The BASC – 3 is ideally suited for use in identifying behaviour problems related to DSM 5 and for developing individual behavioural plans. The BASC-3 applies a triangulation method for gathering information. By analysing the child's behaviour from three perspectives—Self, Teacher, and Parent—you get a more complete and balanced picture.

About the Conners 4

The Conners – 4th Edition is a commonly used tool to assess for Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Parents and teachers can complete this questionnaire to provide insight to the child’s behaviour in different environments aged 6 – 18 years old. When used in combination with other information, results from the Conners 4 can provide valuable information for guiding assessment decisions. The Conners 4 measure impairments related to ADHD symptoms in the school, social, and family domains. It allows clinicians to evaluate common co-occurring problems such as emotional dysregulation, depressed mood, and anxious thoughts. The Conners 4 also applies scores to the DSM – 5 criteria for ADHD, allowing accurate diagnostics. 

ASD Assessment

The tests that will be used include:

  • Vineland – 3

  • Behaviour Assessment Scale for Children – 3rd Edition (BASC – 3)

  • Gilliam Autism Rating Scale (GARS - 2)

  • Children's Communication Checklist -2 (CCC - 2) 

  • Wescheler Intelligence Scale for Children – 5th Edition (WISC – V)

  • Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS)

Gilliam Autism Rating Scale (GARS-3)

The Gilliam Autism Rating Scale - 3 (GARS - 3) is used to screen for behaviours commonly associated with Autism. The GARS-3 gathers information about specific characteristics typically noted in children with autism spectrum disorder in several areas:

  • Restricted/ Repetitive Behaviours

  • Social Interaction, 

  • Social Communication

  • Emotional Responses

  • Cognitive Style

  • Maladaptive Speech

Children’s Communication Checklist - 2 (CCC-2)

The Children’s Communication Checklist – 2nd Edition (CCC-2) is a measure designed to assess the communication skills of children. The CCC-2 can assist in identifying pragmatic language impairments, screening of receptive and expressive language difficulties, and provide assistance in screening for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule – 2nd Edition

The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS – 2) accurately assesses and diagnoses autism spectrum disorders across age, developmental level, and language skills. The ADOS-2 investigates a child’s:

  • Communication

  • Social interaction

  • Play

  • Restricted and repetitive behaviours

The assessment presents various activities that elicit behaviours directly related to a diagnosis of ASD. By observing these behaviours, we can obtain information that informs diagnosis, treatment planning, and educational placement. The ADOS-2 requires just 40 to 60 minutes to administer.

Please call our reception staff  on 03 5324 2900 or email reception@perinatalhealth.com.au for further information, or to make a booking for your child’s psychological assessment.