Neuropsychological and Educational Assessments at Attuned Psychology
There are many reasons for seeking a neuropsychological assessment at Attuned Psychology. A neuropsychological assessment will assess aspects of cognitive functioning such as memory, concentration or the ability to plan and organise following illness or brain injury etc. Educational assessments will assess IQ and also conduct other educational achievement testing as a means of identifying learning difficulties such as dyslexia, in addition to identifying giftedness. This process may also help understand patterns of strengths and weaknesses and help identify a plan to support learning and functioning.
There is more information about the assessments we offer, below.
Our Clinical Neuropsychologist and Clinical Psychologist, Catherine Cheetham, has been endorsed by the Psychology Board of Australia, which means she has qualifications and supervised experience in two advanced areas of practice, in addition to the minimum level of training required for general registration.
Our Clinical Neuropsychologist will talk with you to understand the symptoms or concerns that lead you to seek support. And when you do complete the assessment, you will recieve not only a thorough report but verbal feedback to make sure you understand her opinion and recommendations for future management. She takes pride in providing a thorough approach to all of her assessments and ensures her assessment is tailored to your specific referral questions.
Learn more about our Neuropsychological and Educational assessments at Attuned Psychology
At Attuned Psychology, specific scientifically validated assessment tools will be used to objectively identify IQ, areas of strength and weakness, memory and any areas where your brain may not be functioning so well and affecting your functioning in everyday life.
Neuropsychological Assessments plot your current brain function performance against a model based on a lot of clinical data. This provides an accurate understanding of the gap between how your brain is performing compared to how it should be performing.
The tests are either “pencil and paper” and many such as most of the IQ test are administered on an iPad.
Our neuropsychologist is not a medical doctor and cannot order blood tests or medical imaging such as MRI/CT scans. However, the results of these tests, if your doctor has organised them, can be compared and contrasted with your neuropsychological test results to provide very useful information.
The goal is to arrive at a confident opinion (or diagnosis in the case of learning difficulties and giftedness) following a comprehensive assessment, consultation and gathering of relevant reports and medical information so an effective treatment or management pathway can be mapped out for you.
Similarly, our Educational Assessments tests are designed to equip you with clarity so that the resulting report and feedback can be used with an educational institution to map out an optimal program of education.
Neuropsychological Assessments
Neuropsychology is the branch of psychology that explores how different thinking processes affect our emotional and behavioral functioning.
You would typically seek this kind of assessment if you (or someone you're responsible for) have noticed:
- Attentional issues (getting distracted more easily than usual)
- It is taking longer than usual to think things through
- Memory issues like forgetting things more than usual
- Changes in the ability to organise tasks, plan things, conduct abstract reasoning, or control impulses
- Changes in personality like a shift in a sense of humour or social skills, or increased irritability
Our neuropsychologist’s knowledge of how the brain can be affected by events like accidents, serious illness, strokes, or the effects of long term heavy alcohol use, can help with adapting to changes while still functioning to the best potential possible.
Educational Assessments
A thorough educational assessment will help identify why learning might be difficult for your child or adolescent, identifying their clear pattern of strengths and weaknesses, so that strategies may be implemented immediately to help your child achieve success more easily and reach their potential.
These assessments may identify any of the the following issues, which may then be addressed, including:
- Problems with memory – verbal or visual
- Problems with concentration and attention
- Problems that may indicate a learning disorder such as dyslexia
- Underlying behavioural or emotional issues that are affecting learning e.g. motivation, anxiety or depression
- Giftedness and the need for additional stimulation to prevent boredom
Older adults often present for neuropsychological assessments when they begin to doubt their brains aren’t working as sharply as they used to. With fears about dementia and falls, older people benefit from neuropsychology because it can find links in family or personal history that might predispose them to issues with brain function. It is very common for these clients to want decisive insights so they can manage the changes that lie ahead, instead of waiting until it is too late to take effective action.
Younger adults and adolescents present for neuropsychological assessments when they become concerned that their memory is performing at an abnormally low level. The good news is that when younger people get a sound diagnosis through neuropsychology, their “documented condition” can unlock extra support resources at school and university, as well as in some workplaces.
Who benefits from clinical neuropsychological assessments?
Articles we've written about neuropsychological assessments
Evidenced Based Exam Preparation Tips From A Psychologist
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3 Small Steps For Understanding And Responding To Adolescent Anxiety
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