ADHD Assessment
We assesses for Adhd in both children and adults.
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Clinical Intake
The purpose of the clinical intake is for your psychologist to collect background information and history and discuss any essential behavioural, medical, or psychological concerns. This is also a chance for you to ask questions and ensure that the correct assessment has been booked for you or your child. This assists your psychologist in already screening for neurodivergence and indicators of ADHD. This intake is usually conducted over the phone with your psychologist (with parents only if this is a child assessment - little ears being present can be challenging when discussing a list of difficulties or differences).
Cost: A$270.00 (A$96.65 claimable rebate with a referral from a GP or paediatrician).
Next Steps: You will complete the ASRS screener (adults) or the Vanderbilt Assessment Scales (parent form) if your child is being assessed. The screeners are designed to assess Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder traits and are a good ‘baseline’ screener. Your child's teacher may be sent a screener if this is thought to be beneficial.
Assessment Session
This session can be conducted via telehealth or in the Miranda or Oran Park clinic for adults. Children are generally seen in the clinic. During the first session, you will be given feedback on the initial screener, and your psychologist will answer any questions you may have. You will then be sent links to the following assessments:
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Adults:
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Conners’ Adult ADHD Rating Scales, Second Edition (CAARS-2 Self- and Observer Reports): The CAARS-2 scales measure the presence and severity of ADHD traits.
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Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Function, Adult Version (BRIEF-A) – Evaluates executive function from multiple perspectives.
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Adaptive Behaviour Assessment System, Third Edition (ABAS-3) – Assesses skill areas of daily living.
Children:
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Conners-4 Assessment for Adhd
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Conners Behaviour Rating Scale (CBRS) - assists in identifying Adhd and other possibly co-occurring difficulties (such as anxiety, depression, autism, etc.)
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BRIEF-2 - Evaluates executive function from multiple perspectives.
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Adaptive Behaviour Assessment System, Third Edition (ABAS-3) – Assesses skill areas of daily living.
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During the assessment session, you will be provided with feedback from the assessments completed thus far. Furthermore, the Diagnostic Interview for ADHD, Fifth Edition (DIVA-5) is completed (for adults or children over 10 years). This interview-based assessment uses the DSM-5 (the fancy diagnostic manual that professionals use to diagnose) to confirm a diagnosis of ADHD by determining the presence of ADHD presentations during childhood and adulthood. This assessment is helpful in that it allows for the discussion of Adhd traits but allows personalisation! We discuss how these traits present specifically for you, how presentations can differ between observable and internal, how hyperactivity and impulsivity can present differently in men vs. women (or those AFAB), and it allows you to provide concrete examples depending on contexts, energy levels, strategies put in place etc. This assessment will enable us to explore nuances that multiple-choice assessments cannot. A neurotype (diagnosis) is confirmed at this appointment. A play-based assessment, utilising different activities and observations, is used for younger children instead of the DIVA-5.
The assessment is charged at $1075.00 for adults and $1250.00 for children and teens (A$96.65 claimable rebate), and once this is made in full, the report writing process will commence. The report is generally completed within 6 weeks of your final assessment. You will also be mailed an information booklet on your newly identified neurotype and assistance on “where to from the assessment?”.
If further assessment sessions are needed to explore things in more depth, these will be booked at no extra charge to you.
Medication
Psychologists are unable to prescribe medication. If medication is your only goal, stop reading and make a booking with a Psychiatrist OR Paediatrician! It is a cheaper and quicker option (although waitlists are long!) Psychologists specialise in more in-depth assessments. We assist in helping you to understand the Adhd brain more, to look at specific difficulties and strengths, as well as to assess for any differential or co-occurring diagnoses (other things that look like Adhd but aren’t - e.g. anxiety). The goal is more self-awareness, understanding, and guidance on the way forward. Also, we generally are more thorough and able to identify those presentations of Adhd that may not be as observable or clean-cut (think your high-achieving 10-year-old daughter who is a star student, with lots of friends and no academic concerns at school, who then falls apart on you at home or the highly driven business woman perceived as having it all together, who after having her first child, is unable to manage with the simplest of tasks and presents with severe depression). After diagnosis, we refer to a team of psychiatrists with whom we have a collaborative relationship. They happily accept our report, and while you will not be required to complete further assessments, a thorough intake with them is still needed.
Ongoing Support
Jess is our fabulous counsellor, who can assist you after your assessment. She offers after-school and work-hour sessions via telehealth.