Psychological Assessments

The Psychologists at Regional and Rural Mental Health Services are highly experienced in the field of Psychological Assessment. Our Psychologists take a holistic approach by getting to know your specific personal circumstances and situation. Combined with scientifically proven Psychological Assessment Measures, our psychologists fully investigate your psychological profile to provide you with valuable insight into your thoughts, behaviours and psychological well-being. Everybody experiences unhelpful thoughts and feelings from time to time. For some people these thoughts and feelings can start to negatively impact their day to day lives. A comprehensive Psychological Assessment performed by a qualified Psychologist is the first step to understanding the root causes of the way we feel, behave and think. If there are underlying mental health issues, a Psychological Assessment can help you obtain a useful diagnosis which is imperative when determining an effective course of treatment. If you have any questions regarding Psychological Assessments please feel free to contact us.

The Psychologists at Regional and Rural Mental Health Services can perform Psychometric Testing on both adults and children. Psychometric testing provides a standardized and objective way of measuring an individual’s behavioural and/or mental characteristics. Our Psychologists understand the science which underlies the Psychometric Tests they administer giving you peace of mind and ensuring that the correct tests are being utilized for your particular situation.

Psychometric Testing for Children

Psychometric testing can offer valuable insight into the way children learn and relate to their parents, teachers and peers. If your child is finding learning and/or socializing at school difficult, Psychometric Testing will enable you, as a parent, to better understand your child’s strengths and weaknesses in these areas. Strategies can then be formulated by our Psychologists which will help your child to improve both academically and socially. Our Psychologists often work closely with schools, advising teachers and support staff about ways to best help your child by building on their strengths.

Psychometric Testing for Adults

Our Psychology Practice offers a full range of Psychometric Testing services for adults. The testing carried out is tailored to your specific needs and is administered by our highly trained clinical staff. If you would like to learn more about the Psychometric Testing services available at Regional and Rural Mental Health Services please feel free to contact our friendly staff.

The Psychologists at Regional and Rural Mental Health Services are qualified to perform Cognitive Assessments for both adults and children. Cognitive Assessments should only be carried out by professionals specifically trained in the use of the specific testing materials. Likewise, scoring and interpreting the results obtained from the testing needs to be performed correctly if meaningful results are to be obtained.

Cognitive Assessments for Children

The testing process for children involves a series of different activities which are designed to identify a child’s specific learning style and shed light on their strengths and weaknesses. Cognitive Assessments are often carried out if a child is experiencing difficulties at school and helps parents and teachers by giving them useful insight into the way a child learns. The testing generates two types of results, an index and a general IQ score. Clinical observation is an important part of the testing process and gives Psychologists valuable insight into why the child is struggling, their anxiety levels, behaviour and ability to concentrate. Our psychologist’s will spend the first session with both the parent/care giver and child, gathering background information, including past reports and developmental history. The testing itself is administered by our Psychologists in either a single block of testing or spread out over the course of no more than a week, depending on the age and personality of the child. A fully detailed report can be requested for an additional fee. This report is a useful tool for helping teachers and learning support staff gain a deeper understanding of a child’s learning style and hence helps them achieve the best possible learning outcomes.

Cognitive Assessments for Adults

The testing process for adults involves a series of different tests and activities designed to measure cognitive functioning. Cognitive Assessments are carried out to determine a person’s strengths and weaknesses in areas such as problem solving, attention, learning and memory. Our Psychologist’s will spend the first session with you gathering background information and explaining the testing process and what can be expected. The testing is usually done in a single two hour block. Your Psychologist will administer the test and gain further insight through clinical observation. This observation is a vital part of the process which contributes to the accuracy of the testing results. A fully detailed report can be requested for an additional fee. If you have any questions regarding Cognitive Assessments or any of the other services offered by our clinic please feel free to contact our friendly and knowledgeable staff.

What is a Neuropsychological Assessment?

A Neuropsychological Assessment is a sophisticated procedure that measures and identifies cognitive impairment and functioning in individuals. Neuropsychological assessment tools are highly accurate, standardized instruments, with predictive accuracy in the 80-95% range. They are validated through clinical trials, adhering to stringent, objective measures. These assessments provide quantifiable results that indicate the amount of deviation from base-line norms. Through a comparison of an individual’s responses with established norms, the clinician can determine the scope and severity of cognitive difficulties. Psychologists and Neuropsychologists use batteries of standardized assessment tools to answer specific referral questions. A typical battery consists of more than a dozen standardized tests and provides very specific data on an individual’s cognitive functioning. This includes quantifiable data about the following cognitive functioning:

·        Aspects of Short-term and long-term memory

·        Ability to learn new skills and solve problems

·        Attention, concentration, and distractibility

·        Logical and abstract reasoning functions

·        Ability to understand and express language

·        Visual-spatial organization Visual-motor coordination

·        Planning, synthesizing and organizing abilities

This data is used to inform accurate clinical diagnoses and a grading of clinical severity. An important component of a Neuropsychological assessment is the provision of feedback regarding how any identified cognitive anomalies may impact on an individual’s life, as well as how to improve functioning in a range of circumstances including:

·        Children who are not achieving appropriate developmental milestones

·        Learning problems

·        Infants exposed to drugs, alcohol or illness in-utero

·        People with head injuries

·        People with Parkinson’s Disease, or other neurological diseases

·        People exposed to chemicals or toxins

·        People with substance abuse problems

·        Stroke victims

·        People with dementia.

What does a Neuropsychological Assessment involve?

The person being assessed will be asked to complete a range of tasks, which may involve listening or reading material and following directions, recalling specific verbal or visual information, writing or organizing things etc. Assessment can take from 3 to 5 hours, depending on the referral question. At least a further three to five hours is then taken to score the assessment tools and write a comprehensive report outlining various areas of cognitive functioning including global cognitive functioning, verbal and visuospatial functioning and their specific components, verbal and visual memory and their components, speed of processing, as well as attention and executive functioning. The report will also include information on how any cognitive difficulties will impact on functioning and provide recommendations to accommodate or compensate for identified cognitive problems. Neuropsychological assessments can also be used to assess and guide decisions regarding specific competencies.

Cost?

The cost of a Neuropsychological assessment is determined by the referral question, which will guide determination of the number of hours needed to complete the assessment and provide a report. Thus, the cost of a Neuropsychological assessment and report will vary between clients. Please contact us for further information regarding your individual needs and costs.