Assessment Service

Speld Qld conducts the following assessments for members, to identify a student’s learning strengths and weaknesses and evaluate whether an identifiable learning difference exists:

  • Psychoeducational
  • Attention Screener
  • Academic
  • Speech and Language
  • Review of Provisional Diagnosis

To enquire about an assessment and availability, please complete the Student Assessment Information Form using the button below. To find out more about assessments and associated fees, please continue to read the information below.

Complete the Student Assessment Information Form here

Once we receive your Student Assessment Information Form you will receive a confirmation email.  If you do not receive an email from us, we have not received your form.


Psychoeducational Assessment

A Psychoeducational Assessment can provide a diagnosis of learning difficulties. These include, dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia.

A Psychoeducational Assessment is conducted by a qualified Psychologist and includes:

  • Interview with Parent/Carer: to discuss student and family’s background/history, details and results of any previous assessments.
  • IQ/Cognitive Test: to investigate a student’s cognitive potentials and strengths and weaknesses.
  • Achievement Testing: testing in literacy, numeracy, working memory, phonological awareness and/or auditory processing to provide a profile of the student’s strengths and weaknesses.
  • A comprehensive report: listing the assessments conducted, the assessment findings and an analysis of a student’s strengths and weaknesses, including age equivalent scores and percentiles.
  • Recommendations: practical recommendations, specific to the student’s needs will be given as part of the comprehensive report. These will include details of suitable resources to support the student’s learning and modifications to classroom learning where necessary.
  • Follow up phone call/email to discuss results (Limited to 20 minutes).
  • Following the assessment, the psychologist will analyse the findings and write the assessment report, which will contain appropriate, individualised recommendations which can be implemented by classroom teachers and parents.  Most reports are received within 4 to 6 weeks of the assessment. Occasionally, complexities with a report or assessor workloads can cause delays outside this timeframe.

Important Note: Our psychologists focus on learning difficulties however, sometimes it may be necessary to administer a Conners-4 test or Adaptive Behaviour test. The Conners-4 is a tool used to screen for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. The Adaptive Behaviour Assessment System (ABAS) may be used to screen for an Intellectual Developmental Disorder. These items are an additional cost and Psychologists will seek parent permission before they are administered. 

Price: See Assessment Fees


Attention Screener 

Difficulties with attention, focus, impulsivity and/or hyperactivity can also impact learning. Psychologists at Speld Qld can conduct assessment to screen for challenges in these areas. Screening for attentional difficulties includes:  

  • Interview with Parent/Carer: to discuss student and family’s background/history, details and results of any previous assessments. 
  • IQ/Cognitive Test: to investigate a student’s cognitive potentials and strengths and weaknesses. 
  • Questionnaires exploring attention, focus, hyperactivity, impulsivity and behaviour. 
  • A comprehensive report: listing the assessments conducted, assessment findings, and whether the results are consistent with an attentional disorder. 
  • Recommendations: practical recommendations, including environmental strategies specific to the individual’s needs, will be given as part of the comprehensive report. A recommendation for paediatric or psychiatric review may be made if appropriate.  
  • Follow up phone call/email to discuss results (Limited to 20 minutes).

Please note: this assessment does not provide a formal diagnosis for ADHD. However, it can inform a paediatrician who may be able to provide a diagnosis.

Price: See Assessment Fees


Academic Assessment

An Academic Assessment is an introductory assessment and will not provide a diagnosis. This assessment is recommended for students in lower primary years who generally have received no targeted intervention.

An Academic Assessment is an introductory assessment conducted by a Specialist Teacher and includes:

  • Interview with Parent/Carer: to discuss student and family’s background/history, details and results of any previous assessments.
  • Achievement Testing: testing in literacy, numeracy, working memory, phonological awareness and/or auditory processing to provide a profile of the student’s strengths and weaknesses.
  • The Dyslexia Portfolio: can provide indicators of dyslexia, if they are present but is not a formal diagnosis. 
  • A comprehensive report: listing the assessments conducted, the assessment findings and an analysis of a student’s strengths and weaknesses, including age equivalent scores and percentiles.
  • Recommendations: practical recommendations, specific to the student’s needs will be given as part of the comprehensive report. These will include details of suitable resources to support the student’s learning and modifications to classroom learning where necessary.
  • Follow up phone call/email to discuss results (Limited to 20 minutes).
  • Following the assessment, the assessor will analyse the findings and write the assessment report, which will contain appropriate, individualised recommendations which can be implemented by classroom teachers and parents.  Most reports are received within 4 to 6 weeks of the assessment. Occasionally, complexities with a report or assessor workloads can cause delays outside this timeframe.

Price: See Assessment Fees


Speech Language Assessment

A Speech Language Assessment is conducted by a qualified Speech Pathologist and includes:

  • Interview with Parent/Carer: to discuss student and family’s background/history, details and results of any previous assessments.
  • Assessment of receptive and expressive language skills including sentence comprehension, linguistic concepts, word structure, semantics, grammar, recall and the ability to act upon spoken directions, make inference and predictions, receptive and expressive vocabulary.
  • Assessment of articulation (speech skills).
  • A comprehensive report: listing the assessments conducted, the assessment findings and an analysis of a student’s strengths and weaknesses, including age equivalent scores and percentiles.
  • Recommendations: practical recommendations, specific to the student’s needs will be given as part of the comprehensive report. These will include details of suitable resources to support the student’s learning and modifications to classroom learning where necessary.
  • Follow up phone call/email to discuss results. (Limited to 20 minutes)

Price: See Assessment Fees


Review of a Provisional Diagnosis

When a provisional diagnosis is given by a Speld Qld psychologist, the recommendation is to have 6-12 months of intensive intervention in the targeted areas. This assessment will take approx. 1.5 hours.

A review to change a provisional to a formal diagnosis is provided by a qualified psychologist and includes:

  • A brief re-assessment to ensure student still meets the criteria despite the targeted intervention.
  • An updated report is provided.

Price: See Assessment Fees


Why go to Speld Qld for an Assessment?

The purpose of the assessment is not only to gain an insight into the strengths and weaknesses a child is experiencing, but of most benefit is the knowledge of what to do with this information, which is comprehensively detailed in the reports. Our team of psychologists can spend at least 8 hours analysing the findings and writing the assessment report, which contains around eight pages of recommendations which can be implemented by classroom teachers and parents, following the assessment. These reports are valued by classroom teachers who find the recommendations practical and easy to implement, when modifying a child's program in the classroom.

A typical Psychoeducational assessment takes approx. 3-4 hours to administer. During this time the student works one-on-one with the psychologist and short breaks are given in between tests as required. A typical Speech and Language Assessment takes approx. 1 hour. 

Parents/Carers of anxious students are welcome to remain with their child in the assessment room or in the waiting area until they are settled and comfortable. 

Download our fact sheet for more information about what to expect.

FACT SHEET: PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL ASSESSMENT - WHAT TO EXPECT


Enquiries and Bookings

To enquire or to book an assessment, please complete the online Student Assessment Information Form. This will provide the Assessment Coordinator with you/your child's education history and other crucial information before they contact you to:

  • talk further about you/your child and answer any questions/concerns.
  • confirm if an assessment is required.
  • discuss the type of assessment that is required.
  • arrange a suitable assessment time and location.

Assessment Locations

Psychoeducaitonal assessments are conducted in:

  • Woolloongabba - 141 Merton Road, Woolloongabba, Qld 4102
  • Dayboro - 4/1 McKenzie Street, Dayboro, QLD 4521
  • Benowa - Benowa Early Learning Centre, 15 Sapium Road, Southport, QLD 4215
  • Bundaberg - Stacey Slean Speech Pathology, 2C/123 Bargara Road, Bundaberg East, QLD 4670
  • Online assessments can be conducted for rural and remote students. 

Please note: Speech and Language assessments and Academic assessments are only conducted in the Woolloongabba office.


 

Click here to access the Student Assessment Information Form