What is a psychometric assessment?
A psychometric assessment is a process of evaluating an individual’s current ability levels across different domains of functioning.
The information gathered from the assessment is used in the diagnosis of childhood disorders as well as behavioural and learning disorders. This information is helpful for determining an individual’s support needs and allows clinicians to make the appropriate recommendations.
Psychometric tests are standardised testing tools. This means that the test has been developed to have uniformity in administration, scoring and interpretation. When a test is ‘standardised, all participants have required to answer the same questions in the same order and with the same testing conditions. This way clinicians are able to compare an individuals performance relative to their age-matched peers.
Who would benefit from a psychometric assessment?
Individuals who are referred for psychometric assessment often report difficulties in a range of areas including learning, behaviour and daily functioning. Clients who may benefit from a psychometric assessment include children who present with the following difficulties:
- Difficulties with paying attention, concentrating, and starting/finishing tasks in time
- Distractibility, forgetfulness, lack of organisation, difficulties following multi-step instructions
- Hyperactivity, restlessness, fidgetiness; difficulties with impulse control
- Difficulties with reading, spelling, or doing math; falling behind at school
- Lack of interest/engagement or motivation at school
What Age?
We offer psychometric assessments to children/teens aged between 6 and 16 years of age.
What do we assess for?
We assess for:
- Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Specific learning disorders (i.e., dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia)
- Language difficulties
- Intellectual disability
- Giftedness
What is the assessment process?
What type of assessments are used?
To assess cognitive functioning, we use the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children – 5th Edition (WISC-V) – the latest version of a commonly-used test of intellectual ability with ample normative data. Subtests of this assessment battery tap into acquired knowledge, novel problem-solving, visuo-spatial abilities, working memory, and processing speed.
The Wechsler Individual Achievement Test – Australian and New Zealand Standardised, Third Edition (WIAT-III) is used to assess academic performance and whether a child is performing at a grade-appropriate level across areas of reading, comprehension, spelling, writing, and mathematics.
If appropriate, our conclusions may also be informed by results of questionnaires completed by the parents, teachers, and/or the teen. These questionnaires have sound psychometric properties and are used to assess symptoms of ADHD, including inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity, and difficulties with higher-level cognitive abilities.
Who can administer these psychometric assessments?
Only registered psychologists (i.e., clinical psychology registrars, some school psychologists, some clinical psychologists, and neuropsychologists) are professionally trained to administer both the WISC-V and WIAT-III and to interpret the results of these assessments in the context of presenting concerns, background information, and behavioural observations during testing. Along with medical practitioners (e.g., doctors, paediatricians), registered psychologists are also the only other professionals who are trained to administer and interpret the results of the psychometric questionnaires we use to assess for ADHD symptoms.
