Assessments FAQs
Your questions about assessments, answered.
At Aperture Psychology, we understand that seeking an assessment - whether for yourself or a child or another adult - can bring up lots of questions.
Below you’ll find answers to some of the most common queries we get from clients.
If you still have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
General Assessment FAQs
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No, you don’t need a referral to book an assessment with us. However, we recommend a referral from a doctor, teacher or mental health professional as this can validate the need for an assessment and provide us with very helpful information about your situation. A referral for an autism assessment from a psychiatrist or paediatrician for <25 year olds will enable you to claim a Medicare rebate.
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Most neuropsychological assessments are not covered by Medicare. Some neuropsychological assessments for autism in children and adults under 25 years of age with a referral from a paediatrician or psychiatrist can claim a rebate. We’ll clarify all fees and any available rebates upfront before you begin.
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Fees vary depending on the type of assessment required. We’ll discuss your specific situation and provide you with a full breakdown of costs - including any sessions, questionnaires, and reports - before we begin.
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Yes, we assess both adults and children 6+ years of age. The type of assessment and process may vary depending on age and presenting concerns. We recommend discussion with your GP or other health professional prior to requesting an assessment and obtaining a referral where possible. Referrals can validate the need for an assessment and provide us with very helpful information about your situation. A referral for an autism assessment from a psychiatrist or paediatrician for <25 year olds will enable you to claim a Medicare rebate.
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The process usually spans several sessions over a few weeks. For children this usually involves a parent-only interview, followed by a separate testing session with the child. For adults, usually the interview and testing occur in a single, longer session. Duration and testing requirements will vary depending on assessment type and specific case details. All assessments include a final feedback session.
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Yes. All our assessments come with a comprehensive written report outlining the findings, diagnosis (if applicable), and personalised recommendations.
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If a clinical diagnosis is supported by the results, this will be clearly documented in your report. In some cases, the assessment may be inconclusive and recommend a 'wait and see' approach not common and usually only in very young children), or require confirmation from another health professional, such as a paediatrician or psychiatrist. Additional observation or information may be needed before confirming a diagnosis.
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Yes. If appropriate, we can refer you to one of our in-house clinicians for therapy or connect you with trusted providers externally.
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Some parts of the assessment process may be completed remotely, but most assessments are conducted in person.
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We’ll send you intake forms and may request previous reports. Get a good night’s sleep, have something to eat beforehand, and arrive on time. For children, please bring any relevant school documents, e.g. school reports, NAPLAN results, and any assistive technologies, e.g. glasses, hearing aids, etc.
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Your information remains confidential and the finalised report is only shared with the referring psychiatrist, GP or paediatrician. It may be shared with others (e.g. school, doctor, treating clinician) if you give consent.
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Yes. When paying by instalments please note that the assessment report will not be released until final payment is received.
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We understand that sometimes support is needed sooner rather than later. While we’re not always able to offer immediate appointments, you’re welcome to join our waitlist and we’ll do our best to accommodate you as soon as possible. Our team reviews availability regularly, and if a cancellation comes up, we’ll prioritise those on the waitlist. We appreciate your patience and understanding - our commitment is to provide quality care to every client we see.
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Your report will include personalised and specific recommendations for you to enact. We can provide details of other professionals from our trusted referral partner network, and talk to schools to clarify school/classroom support. The report provides full details of other recommended next steps, e.g. how to apply to NDIS for funding, etc.
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Clinical psychologists and clinical neuropsychologists complete different Masters level post-graduate training. Typically, clinical psychologists focus on mental and emotional wellbeing through therapy, however, are also trained to conduct neurodevelopmental assessments.
Neuropsychologists are specifically trained to assess how brain function affects behaviour and cognition, often using specialised tools to diagnose conditions like ADHD, autism or learning difficulties, dementia and cognitive functioning following brain injury.
Ready to book your assessment?
ADHD Assessment FAQs
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We assess both adults and children 6+ years of age. The process is tailored to suit the age and developmental stage of each client.
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Our ADHD assessments include a clinical interview, standardised questionnaires, cognitive testing, and a detailed report with diagnosis (if applicable) and recommendations regarding treatment and other supports, e.g. school or workplace.
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You’ll be asked to complete questionnaires and may be asked to supply school reports, NAPLAN results, relevant medical reports and consent for us to contact people who know you well (e.g. classroom teacher, parents or partners).
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Yes. Many other conditions - like anxiety, learning disorders, or trauma-responses sleep issues - can mimic ADHD symptoms. That’s why we conduct a comprehensive, evidence-based assessment to understand the full picture.
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Yes. Our assessments consider differential diagnoses. If we suspect your difficulties are related to a separate condition (e.g., autism) or co-occurring conditions are present, we will recommend this be formally assessed.
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Yes. Our reports are formal and include recommendations that can support academic and workplace.
Autism Assessment FAQs
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Yes. We provide autism assessments for adults as well as children 6+ years of age, using gold-standard tools and clinical interviews. The type of assessment and process may vary depending on age and presenting concerns. We recommend discussion with your GP or other health professional prior to requesting an assessment and obtaining a referral where possible. Referrals can validate the need for an assessment and provide us with very helpful information about your situation. A referral for an autism assessment from a psychiatrist or paediatrician for <25 year olds will enable you to claim a Medicare rebate.
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Autism assessments involve a more detailed exploration of developmental history, social communication, sensory processing, and behavioural patterns. We use standardised tools such as the ADI-R and ADOS, as well as clinical judgement.
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Yes. If a diagnosis is made, the report can be used to support NDIS applications and other formal supports.
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Parents must accompany children to the appointment to assist with making the child comfortable, and remain close by and available during the assessment. However, the assessment will be with the child alone as having a parent present can be quite distracting. Similarly, adults may wish to bring someone for the interview portion of the assessment to provide additional information, but not necessary as informants can be contacted via phone later, and testing occurs alone. Bringing a support person to the feedback session can be helpful if feeling anxious about the outcomes.
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Every situation is different and will be treated accordingly. We will discuss this with you when booking your assessment. As a guideline, on average:
Parent interviews take approximately 2 hours each.
Child testing takes approximately 3-4 hours.
Adult interviews and testing take approximately 5 hours.
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If you receive a diagnosis, we’ll talk you through what it means and what your options are. You may choose to begin therapy here with one of our clinicians, or we can connect you with trusted referral partners if a different type of support is more appropriate. We’ll also provide information about helpful resources, including advocacy organisations and support groups, so you feel informed and supported beyond the assessment process.
Psychoeducational Assessment FAQs
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It’s a comprehensive evaluation of a child or adult’s cognitive abilities, learning profile, and academic performance. It helps identify strengths, weaknesses, and learning difficulties like dyslexia or dyscalculia, dysgraphia.
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We can assess children 6+ years of age.
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Yes, working closely with your child’s school is an important part of the assessment process. With your consent, we can request school reports and NAPLAN results, and we’re happy to liaise with teachers or support staff to ensure our recommendations are reflected in their learning plan. This collaboration helps create a more consistent and supportive experience overall.
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We use a range of gold-standard tools like the WISC-V, WIAT-III, and other assessments depending on the age and presenting concerns.
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Yes. Our reports include detailed strategies tailored to your child’s profile and can be used to inform classroom accommodations and supports or learning plans.
