Intellectual and Cognitive Assessments for Children and Adults in Brisbane
At Redefini, an intellectual and cognitive assessment helps develop a clearer understanding of a person’s thinking, learning, problem-solving and everyday functioning. Depending on the purpose of the assessment, it may include measures of intellectual ability, cognitive skills and adaptive functioning.
Diagnostic Assessment $2,795
Fees and Funding
Private fee: $2,795
The fee covers the clinical intake, psychometric assessment, scoring and interpretation, preparation of the written psychological report and feedback session.
Payment plan
A payment plan of four equal instalments of $698.75 may be available on application. Payment dates and conditions will be confirmed before the assessment begins.
Possible rebates
Medicare or private health insurance rebates may apply depending on your eligibility, referral and level of cover. Please confirm this with your referring practitioner, Medicare or health insurer before booking.
Possible NDIS funding
NDIS funding may be available for eligible assessment or reporting services when these supports are included in the participant’s plan and meet current funding requirements. Diagnostic assessments are not automatically funded. Please confirm eligibility with your plan manager, support coordinator or the NDIA before booking.
Psychometric Measures Used at Redefini
At Redefini, we use standardised psychometric measures selected according to the person’s age, circumstances and the purpose of the assessment. We frequently use the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS).
The WISC helps assess intellectual and cognitive abilities in children, while the WAIS is designed for adolescents and adults within its applicable age range. These measures can provide information about areas such as verbal comprehension, visual-spatial skills, reasoning, working memory, and processing speed.
Other psychometric measures, interviews, questionnaires, and assessments of adaptive functioning may also be used when clinically appropriate. The psychologist determines which measures are suitable after considering the referral questions, developmental history, communication needs, and relevant background information.
Assessment findings are never based on a single score. Redefini considers the person’s complete pattern of results, behaviour during assessment, background information, everyday functioning, strengths, and support needs.
Pearson describes the Australian and New Zealand WISC-V as a measure for children aged 6 years to 16 years and 11 months. WISC-V information
What We Consider During Cognitive Assessments
Cognitive assessment results are interpreted as a profile rather than a single score. Redefini psychologists consider patterns across areas such as verbal reasoning, visual-spatial reasoning, working memory and processing speed.
Where intellectual disability is being considered, cognitive results are interpreted alongside adaptive functioning and relevant developmental and contextual information. An IQ score alone does not determine whether a person meets diagnostic criteria.
We also consider factors that may affect participation, including communication, attention, anxiety, fatigue, sensory needs, cultural and language background, and previous assessment experiences.
What Can an Intellectual and Cognitive Assessment Help Identify?
An assessment may help Redefini understand:
The person’s individual cognitive strengths and areas requiring support
Verbal comprehension and communication-related reasoning
Visual-spatial and nonverbal reasoning skills
Working memory and processing speed
Whether further assessment of learning, attention, or development may be appropriate
Whether the person’s intellectual and adaptive functioning should be considered in relation to intellectual disability
Whether a child may require additional academic support or extension
Practical recommendations for home, education, employment, or community participation
Frequently Asked Questions About Intellectual and Cognitive Assessments
What is an intellectual and cognitive assessment?
An intellectual and cognitive assessment helps develop an understanding of how a person processes information, reasons, solves problems, remembers information, and completes different types of tasks. At Redefini, the results are interpreted alongside the person’s history, everyday functioning, strengths, and support needs.
How does Redefini approach intellectual and cognitive assessments?
Intellectual and cognitive assessments are undertaken by members of Redefini’s psychology team with relevant professional expertise. In our clinical work, we help each client engage at a suitable pace and adapt communication, the sensory environment and breaks where appropriate. We select measures such as the WISC or WAIS according to the person’s age, referral question and individual circumstances, and interpret results alongside developmental, educational, functional and contextual information. Our team includes registered psychologists and provisional psychologists practicing under supervision.
Who can have an intellectual and cognitive assessment at Redefini?
Redefini provides intellectual and cognitive assessments for children, adolescents, and adults. The psychologist selects measures appropriate to the person’s age, communication needs, developmental level, and reason for assessment.
Which psychometric measures does Redefini use?
Redefini frequently uses the WISC for children and the WAIS for adolescents or adults within the applicable age ranges. Other cognitive, developmental, and adaptive-functioning measures may also be selected when appropriate. The assessment tools used will depend on the person and the questions the assessment needs to address.
What is the WISC?
The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, commonly called the WISC, is a standardised measure of intellectual and cognitive abilities in children. It provides information about several areas of cognitive functioning rather than relying on a single overall score.
What is the WAIS?
The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, commonly called the WAIS, is a standardised measure of intellectual and cognitive abilities for adolescents and adults within its applicable age range. It can help identify the person’s pattern of cognitive strengths and areas in which additional support may be helpful.
Will the assessment provide an IQ score?
The assessment may provide an overall intellectual score when the score can be validly calculated and interpreted. It may also provide scores for different areas of cognitive functioning. Redefini focuses on the complete pattern of results because an overall score does not always capture meaningful differences between a person’s abilities.
Can this assessment diagnose an intellectual disability?
Assessing possible intellectual disability generally requires consideration of both intellectual functioning and adaptive functioning. Adaptive functioning relates to how a person manages conceptual, social, and practical activities in everyday life. A diagnosis is not made from an IQ score alone.
Redefini will select the appropriate measures and consider developmental history, everyday functioning, and information from relevant people or settings.
Can the assessment identify giftedness?
An intellectual and cognitive assessment may help identify patterns of advanced cognitive ability. However, giftedness decisions may also require educational information, academic achievement measures, observations, and consideration of the criteria used by a particular school or program.
Can the assessment diagnose ADHD or a specific learning disorder?
A cognitive assessment may identify patterns that suggest further investigation would be helpful, but it does not diagnose ADHD or a specific learning disorder on its own. A broader assessment may require clinical interviews, behavioural questionnaires, academic achievement testing and information from home, school or work.
How long does the assessment take?
The assessment usually involves an intake interview, psychometric testing, scoring, interpretation and preparation of a written report. Testing may occur across multiple sessions depending on the person’s age, stamina, support needs and the measures required. Redefini will explain the anticipated process before the assessment begins.
How should I prepare for the assessment?
Aim to have a good night’s sleep and eat before the appointment. Please bring a water bottle, a snack and any items that help you or your child feel comfortable. Please provide relevant medical, psychological, developmental, occupational or school reports through Redefini’s secure intake process.
Do parents, teachers, or other people need to provide information?
When clinically relevant and with consent, Redefini may request information from parents, carers, teachers, partners, support people or other professionals. This can help the psychologist understand how the person functions across different environments.
Will I receive a written report?
Yes. Redefini provides a written psychological assessment report explaining the results, conclusions, and practical recommendations. A feedback session is also provided to explain the findings and discuss questions.
How much does an intellectual and cognitive assessment cost?
The current fee is $2,795. Payment arrangements and possible Medicare or private health insurance rebates depend on individual eligibility and level of cover. Please confirm the current fee, inclusions, and possible rebates with Redefini before booking.
Can NDIS funding be used for the assessment?
NDIS funding may be available for eligible assessment or reporting services when the support is included in the participant’s plan and meets current funding requirements. Diagnostic assessments are not automatically funded. Please confirm eligibility with your plan manager, support coordinator or the NDIA before booking.
How do I book an assessment with Redefini?
Select Book an Intellectual and Cognitive Assessment to request an appointment. If you are unsure which assessment is suitable, contact Redefini to discuss your circumstances and available options.