Assessment Process
There are five main steps in the assessment process. Below is information about how your child's assessment is likely to unfold, starting from your initial enquiry and finishing with the feedback session and receiving the report. The length of the assessment process from start to finish can vary, but when things go smoothly it usually spans around 4-6 weeks.
Pre-assessment
Initial Contact:
When you contact us to find out more about an assessment for your child, Linda will phone you to have a chat about your child's difficulties and to find out what you are hoping an assessment will achieve. If Linda thinks that she will be able to assist, a quote will be prepared and will be sent to you by email for your consideration. If Linda does not think she is the best person to help with your particular situation, she will refer you to more appropriate services.
Acceptance of quote and consent forms:
If you would like to accept the quote and proceed with the assessment, Linda will send some consent and release of information forms to you by email for you to sign and return.
Intake session
Upon receipt of the signed consent and release of information forms, an intake session will be scheduled. This session will be by telehealth with one or more parents or guardians. Linda will ask many questions about your child's development from when they were a baby until the present time. She will also be keen to hear about how childcare and kindergarten went (if attended) and how their school years have been. Information about your child's health will also be sought, as well as information relating to any life events that may have impacted upon your child. Linda will ask you all about your child's personality and strengths, as well as the difficulties they are having. If your child has had any previous paediatrician or allied health professional assessment or intervention (e.g. speech pathology, occupational therapy) Linda will be keen to see copies of any reports that have been written. By the conclusion of the intake session, you should have a good understanding of the plan for the assessment. Linda will ask you to provide:
Assessment sessions
Linda will make arrangements to assess your child at school and will advise you when these sessions have been scheduled. Assessment sessions are almost always in the morning, when children are least tired, and will usually last between 60 and 120 minutes, depending on how the child copes. Frequent breaks will be given. Linda will do as many sessions as it takes to complete the assessments that have been planned. Sessions will usually be weekly, but this can change depending on what other events are happening at school. Linda will be in touch after each session to let you know how it went.
If other assessments that involve the parent and/or teacher have been planned (such as a parent interview relating to an ADHD assessment, or questionnaires that are completed by the parent and teacher), these will be arranged too. Questionnaire-based assessments are usually sent as links to forms to be completed online.
The Report
Once all information has been obtained (documents requested at the end of the intake session, assessments with the child complete, parent and teacher forms completed and returned, and further parent interview if needed), Linda will analyse all data and information collected and will write a comprehensive report. The report will explain, in simple language, everything that has been done during the assessment and what it all means. Linda will clearly explain your child's areas of strength and vulnerability, and will make any formal diagnoses, if appropriate. At the end of the report, recommendations and strategies for supporting your child's learning will be made. All standard scores for all assessments will be provided in an appendix. When the report is ready, the feedback session will be scheduled.
Feedback
The feedback session generally occurs 2-3 weeks after all assessment data has been received (sessions with child completed and all information sought from parent and teacher have been received). This session will be with one or more parents or guardians via telehealth. Linda will go through everything she did and how your child scored compared with others their age or year level. She will share her observations of your child and will explain what the findings mean. If one or more formal diagnoses are being made, Linda will explain what this means. By the end of the feedback session, you should feel that Linda has 'captured' your child and you should feel confident that you know what the next steps are. The report will be sent to you by email at the conclusion of the feedback session.