Learning & Cognitive Assessments Sunshine Coast

Many families come to us with a similar concern: their child is clearly bright and tries hard, but something isn't clicking at school. Despite effort and support from teachers, reading feels like a struggle, written work doesn't reflect what they know, or maths just won't stick. A learning and cognitive assessment helps answer why — and more importantly, what to do about it.

At Neighbourhood Psychology, our learning assessments are designed to be practical and actionable. The goal isn't just a label — it's a clear understanding of your child's individual profile that teachers, schools and families can use.

What's involved: A comprehensive learning and cognitive assessment for children and adolescents. Identifies learning difficulties including dyslexia, processing speed differences, memory profiles and intellectual ability. Reports are practical and actionable — written for families, schools, GPs, and NDIS plans. NDIS funding may be available for assessment costs.

What a learning assessment looks at

A learning and cognitive assessment explores the relationship between how your child thinks and how they perform at school. This typically includes:

Cognitive abilities — reasoning, problem-solving, processing speed, working memory and verbal comprehension
Academic achievement — reading accuracy and fluency, reading comprehension, written expression, spelling and mathematics
Processing skills — phonological processing, visual-motor integration, auditory processing
Learning profile — identifying specific strengths and areas where targeted support will make the biggest difference

What it can identify

A learning assessment can help clarify whether your child has a specific learning difficulty, an uneven cognitive profile, or simply a different learning style that needs a different approach. Common findings include:

Specific Learning Disorder (reading) — sometimes referred to as dyslexia-type difficulties, affecting reading accuracy, fluency or comprehension
Specific Learning Disorder (written expression) — difficulties with spelling, grammar, punctuation or structuring written work
Specific Learning Disorder (mathematics) — sometimes called dyscalculia-type difficulties, affecting number sense, calculations or maths reasoning
Cognitive strengths and weaknesses — for example, strong verbal reasoning alongside weak working memory or processing speed
Intellectual giftedness — identifying children whose academic needs may not be well-matched to standard classroom expectations

It's worth noting that learning difficulties can occur alongside ADHD, anxiety or autism. A learning assessment can help clarify what's primarily driving a child's difficulties, and whether a broader assessment may also be warranted.

How the results are used

This is where a learning assessment earns its value. The written report we provide can be used to:

Apply for school-based adjustments and support plans, including through NCCD (the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability)
Access additional support hours or specialist teacher time
Qualify for exam and assessment accommodations (extra time, reader/scribe, separate room)
Guide teachers on the specific strategies most likely to help your child
Inform any further referrals to speech pathology, occupational therapy or specialist tutoring

We also provide a clear feedback session where we walk you through the results in plain language — what they mean for your child day to day, and what the practical next steps are.

Who may benefit

A learning assessment may be worth considering if your child:

Is working hard but not keeping up with peers academically
Finds reading, writing or maths significantly harder than other subjects
Has been described by teachers as "underachieving relative to potential"
Avoids schoolwork, becomes frustrated or loses confidence easily
Has already been flagged by the school as needing further investigation
Needs a formal report to access support funding or exam adjustments
Is performing well academically but may be working much harder than peers to keep up

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between a learning assessment and an ADHD or autism assessment?

A learning assessment focuses on cognitive abilities and academic skills — it answers questions about how a child reads, writes, processes information and learns. An ADHD or autism assessment focuses on neurodevelopmental profile, attention, executive function and social communication. These can overlap, and combined assessments are available where multiple concerns exist. We'll discuss with you which assessment best fits your referral questions.

Can a learning assessment be done at the same time as an ADHD or autism assessment?

Yes. Combined assessment packages are available and often make sense when there are overlapping concerns. This can be more efficient and provides a more complete picture. See our assessment fees page for combined package pricing.

Do I need a referral?

No referral is required to book a learning assessment. Parents can contact us directly. If a Medicare rebate may apply to components of the assessment, we'll advise you about whether a GP referral would be helpful before you start.

Will the report be accepted by my child's school?

Yes. Reports from registered psychologists are the standard required by schools for adjustments, support plans and exam accommodations. We provide comprehensive written reports that clearly outline findings and recommendations in the format schools and funding bodies require.

My child's school suggested an assessment. Where do I start?

You're in the right place. Get in touch directly or book an initial appointment online. We'll talk through what the school has observed, what questions you want answered, and which assessment type makes the most sense.

Learning & Cognitive Assessments — Sunshine Coast