When concerns span learning, attention and social communication, one comprehensive assessment covers the full picture — cognitive ability, academic profile, ADHD and autism in a single, integrated process.
When a child is struggling across multiple areas — at school, at home and socially — it can be hard to know where to start, or whether one diagnosis explains it all. A comprehensive neurodevelopmental assessment is designed for exactly this situation. Rather than booking separate assessments for learning, ADHD and autism concerns, this package looks at all three areas together in a single, coordinated process.
What's involved: A comprehensive three-part neurodevelopmental assessment covering cognitive ability and learning, ADHD and attention, and autism features. One integrated process, one report, one feedback session. Suitable for NDIS applications, school support plans and GP or specialist referrals.
The comprehensive assessment brings together three areas of assessment in a single coordinated process:
Cognitive and learning profile
Cognitive reasoning, processing speed, working memory, verbal comprehension, academic achievement in reading, writing and mathematics, and specific learning profiles including dyslexia-type patterns.
ADHD and attention
Attention, concentration, impulsivity, hyperactivity, executive functioning, organisation and the functional impact of attention differences across home and school.
Autism features
Social communication and interaction, restricted or repetitive patterns, sensory sensitivities, and how autism features present and interact with other aspects of the individual's profile.
A comprehensive neurodevelopmental assessment may be appropriate when:
The comprehensive assessment follows the same structured five-stage process, with testing across all three domains.
A detailed clinical interview with parents or caregivers covering developmental history, current concerns and the child's functioning across school, home and social settings. This helps prioritise the assessment and ensures all referral questions are addressed.
Due to the scope of testing, assessment activities are typically conducted across 2–4 sessions. Sessions are adapted to the child's age, pace and comfort level. Standardised tools cover cognitive ability (including the WISC or equivalent), academic achievement, autism screening measures such as the SRS-2, ADHD measures including the Conners rating scales, and emotional wellbeing measures such as the DASS-21 and RCADS. Information from parents, teachers and school reports is also gathered.
Once all assessment sessions are complete, questionnaires are finalised, school information is reviewed, and all data across the three domains is scored, interpreted and clinically integrated. The full process typically takes around 4–6 weeks from the initial intake session. The exact timeframe depends on the complexity of the presentation and how quickly background information is returned.
Dean prepares a single, comprehensive written report integrating findings across all three domains — with a unified diagnostic formulation and practical recommendations. The report is written in plain language for families, while meeting the documentation standards required by schools, NDIS, GPs and specialist referrers.
We meet with parents or caregivers to walk through the full report — explaining findings across all domains, how they connect, and what the practical next steps look like for home, school and any additional supports.
You receive a single comprehensive written report and a dedicated feedback session with Dean. The report provides an integrated picture across all three assessment domains, including:
The goal is a report that answers the big question: what's actually going on, and what will genuinely help?
This assessment suits children and adolescents where concerns span multiple areas — academic struggles alongside attention difficulties, social differences, or emotional and behavioural challenges that don't fit neatly into a single diagnosis. It's also useful when a previous partial assessment left questions unanswered, or when a full picture is needed for NDIS or school support planning.
Booking three separate assessments means three separate processes, three separate reports and a fragmented picture. The comprehensive assessment integrates all three areas from the start — findings from each domain inform the others, and you receive one report that explains how everything connects. It's also more cost-effective than booking each assessment individually.
Due to the scope, a comprehensive assessment typically requires 2–4 sessions. The full process — from initial intake through to the written report — is usually around 4–6 weeks. We'll give you a clearer timeframe at the initial consultation.
An MHCP is not required to book an assessment. However, a GP referral may support a Medicare rebate for some parts of the process.
In most cases, a parent or caregiver will need to be present — particularly for younger children. This can be flexible depending on age and circumstances, and some background information can be gathered via questionnaire or Telehealth. Please contact us to discuss your child's specific situation.
Yes. Reports from registered psychologists are the standard required by schools for adjustments, support plans and exam accommodations. Comprehensive reports are also suitable for NDIS applications, GP referrals and specialist reviews.
A comprehensive assessment is the most thorough way to understand a child's profile — cognitive, learning, attention and social communication all in one integrated process. Get in touch to find out if it's the right fit.
