Assessment

This page includes information about:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnostic Assessment 
• Cognitive Assessment:

-WPPSI-IV for 2 years, 6 months to 7 years, 7 months,

-WISC-V for 6 to 16 years,

– WAIS-IV for ages 17-to 90 years

(WISC-V and WAIS-IV available via qInteractive iPad administration)

• Educational Assessment/Academic Achievement Assessment (Using the WIAT-III)
• Adaptive Skills Assessment (Using the Vineland Parent/Caregiver Form, 3rd Edition, AND the Vineland Teacher Form, 3rd Edition, Vineland-3)
• Behavioural Assessment (Using Achenbach Child Behaviour Checklists (CBCL), Parent- OR Teacher-report DSM-V scoring edition) OR Conners-4 ADHD Scales
• Assessment for School Funding Purposes (for example via the Program for Students with Disabilities in government schools)   

Please scroll down to read more information. Prices are correct for 2024. Appointments phone Melbourne (03) 9808 3917 or Traralgon (03) 5176 6831.

Assessment for Autism Spectrum Disorder at Outside the Square Psychology includes:

• Comprehensive Developmental History.  (Parent interview may utilise ADI-R or MIGDAS)
• Child observation (using ADOS-2, MIGDAS or CARS-2)

and can also include:

• Cognitive assessment
• Adaptive Skills assessment
• Observation of the child at home, or in educational settings

Amaze (formerly Autism Victoria) has published standards for the assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorder by professionals in private practice. To view these standards in full, please click here.

The child’s paediatrician may also recommend a cognitive assessment. An adaptive skills assessment might also be recommended if the child is almost of school age, to assist with an application for inclusion support funding in school. Costs of these assessments in addition to the basic assessment can be found below. Considerations for funding applications are also covered separately further down the page.

A cognitive assessment is sometimes also referred to as an IQ assessment, or a psycho-educational assessment. Assessment at Outside the Square Psychology is available for:

Children aged 2 years, 6 months, to 7 years 7 months using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scales of Intelligence, Fourth Edition (WPPSI-IV Australian and New Zealand Adaptation)

Children 6 years to 16 years, 11 months using the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children, Fifth Edition (WISC-V Australian and New Zealand Adaptation).

Adults 17-90 years of age using the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scales, Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV).   

To save time and reduce costs for families, before your scheduled assessment date a Client Intake Form will be sent for you to complete. This helps gather relevant information for the cognitive assessment report about other involved professionals, prior assessments and current educational placements. In some cases, the psychologist may request an intake session to explore this information further if necessary. This consultation is separate to the cognitive assessment occurring and an additional standard session cost is charged.

An educational assessment tests an individuals’ academic achievement in specific areas in a standardised manner. Using the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test, Third Edition (WIAT-III) an individual’s achievement compared to age- or grade- peers can be determined. Comparing this information to the individual’s cognitive potential measured by an IQ test it can be determined whether they are achieving academically in line with their potential. Such a protocol is used to identify specific learning difficulties including Dyslexia (specific reading difficulties), Dyscalculia (specific mathematical difficulties), and Dysgraphia (specific written expression difficulties). Our psychologists conduct relevant parts of the WIAT-III at minimum, and may also include the Comprehensive test of Phonological Processing (CTOPP) and/or other academic achievement measures.

The cost of this assessment includes administration of an age-appropriate cognitive assessment (Cost $895), administration of the specific achievement tests related to the referral question (eg. reading/ maths/ spelling) at a cost of $895, and a written report detailing results and recommendations.

If a cognitive assessment has been conducted in the past two years and the report detailing IQ Index Standard Scores can be provided to our psychologists, an achievement test only will be conducted at a cost of $895 to complete the Educational assessment.

An adaptive skills assessment compares a child’s skills in the areas of communication, social interaction, motor skills and self-care skills to the level of skill expected for their age. The purpose of the assessment is to determine whether a child is showing age-appropriate development in skills needed for everyday life.

The adaptive skills assessment available at Outside the Square Psychology utilises the Vineland Scales of Adaptive Behaviour- Third Edition (Vineland-III), Teacher Edition. This assessment is completed by the child’s  teacher at creche, kindergarten or school. A questionnaire is completed and scored, and a formal report with assessment results and recommendations is prepared.

If a child has never been in a formal learning program outside the home, a Vineland Scales of Adaptive Behaviour, Third Edition  (Vineland-III) Parent Report Form will be administered instead.

An adaptive behaviour assessment is required for some types of funding applications for additional assistance at school. More information about school funding assessments can be found below.

Screening for some psychological conditions, such as mood disorders, and behavioural disorders, such as Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Attention Deficit Disorder can be undertaken with a formal behaviour assessment. This involves a parent interview of approximately one hour. The assessment is then scored, the scores compared to diagnostic criteria from the DSM-5 and a formal report with assessment results and recommendations is prepared.

One type of formal behavioural assessment available at Outside the Square Psychology utilises the Achenbach Child Behaviour Checklists (ASEBA; CBCL). These parent- and teacher-rated assessments are for children aged from eighteen months to eighteen years.

Another type of formal behavioural assessment available with our team is the Conners-4 ADHD Scales, measuring the probability a child has ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disoroder or Conduct Disorder. This assessment is for children from six to eighteen years of age. The Conners-4 Adult ADHD Rating Scale is also available for ages 18 plus.

A formal behaviour assessment is useful for school funding applications under the criteria of Severe Behaviour Disorder. More information about school funding assessments can be found below.

Outside the Square Psychology can assist you with documentation required for applications for integration support funding through the Program for Students with Disabilities (PSD), and the equivalent programs in non-government schools. 

More specifically, the required assessments can be completed to apply for funding under the criteria of:

• Intellectual Disability OR
• Autism Spectrum Disorder OR
• Severe Behaviour Disorder      

To read more about the PSD program, what can be funded and which assessments are needed to show a student meets the criteria , click here

Funding Applications for Intellectual Disability 

The required assessments are:

• A cognitive assessment completed in the last two years, showing an Full Scale IQ score (FSIQ) of 70 or below
• An adaptive skills assessment completed in the last 12 months, showing an Adaptive Behaviour Composite score of 70 or below
• Recent hearing and vision assessments
• An overall report compiled showing a history and evidence of difficulties, and stating the expectation of ongoing difficulties

Contact the administration team to make an initial appointment (cost $222.99),  and during the consultation, your psychologist will talk with you about the elements required for the application; which you have already completed and which the psychologist will need to assist with. A cost will then be determined depending on which of the following is required:

• A cognitive assessment
• A Vineland-II Adaptive Behaviour Skills Assessment
• Preparation of the report for submission to DEECD

(note: hearing and vision assessments must be arranged with other appropriate professionals and paid for separately)

The required assessments are:

• A multi-disciplinary team assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorder
• An adaptive skills assessment completed in the last 12 months, showing an Adaptive Behaviour Composite score of 70 or below
• Recent hearing and vision assessments
• A speech pathology report completed in the last 12 months, showing Expressive and Receptive skills scores at least two standard deviations below the mean (report must be completed by a speech pathologist)
• An overall report compiled showing a history and evidence of difficulties, and stating the expectation of ongoing difficulties

Contact the administration team to make an initial appointment (cost $222.99),  and during the consultation, your psychologist will talk with you about the elements required for the application; which you have already completed and which the psychologist will need to assist with. A cost will then be determined depending on which of the following is required:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnostic Assessment and report
• A Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Skills Assessment
• Preparation of the report for submission to DEECD

(note: speech, hearing and vision assessments must be arranged with other appropriate professionals and paid for separately)

The required assessments are:

• A cognitive assessment completed in the last two years, showing an Full Scale IQ score in the average range (score at least 80)
• A formal behavioural assessment completed in the last 12 months, showing scores in the clinical range for problem behaviours
• A formal language assessment conducted in the last 12 months, showing language skills in the average range
• Recent hearing and vision assessments
• An overall report compiled showing a history and evidence of difficulties, and stating the expectation of ongoing difficulties

Contact the administration team to make an initial appointment (cost $222.99),  and during the consultation, your psychologist will talk with you about the elements required for the application; which you have already completed and which the psychologist will need to assist with. A cost will then be determined depending on which of the following is required:

• A cognitive assessment
• A formal behaviour assessment using the  Child Behaviour Checklist
• Preparation of the report for submission to DEECD

(note: speech, hearing and vision assessments must be arranged with other appropriate professionals and paid for separately)

For state government schools in Victoria, applications for children already attending school, such as the compulsory year 6 funding review are usually required to be lodged by the child’s school by July. Applications for children commencing Prep in 2025 usually need to be lodged the child’s school by end of term 3, 2024 to ensure funding from the start of the 2025 school year. For Catholic schools, the program of support is the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD) model overseen by the Catholic Education Office (CEO). Round one funding applications need to be lodged in October, and round two applications need to be lodged by the start of February. For Independent schools, the support program is called Students with Disability, overseen by Association of Independent Schools Victoria (AISV), and also following the NCCD model guidelines. Contact your child’s independent school to find out the closing date for applications.