Comprehensive ADHD Assessments for Children & Adolescents
Unlocking your child’s potential through a deep understanding of their unique brain profile.
At Steps and Stones Psychology, we know that seeking an assessment is a significant step. You may see your child struggling to focus, acting impulsively, or facing challenges with learning that don’t seem to match their intelligence.
Located in Blackwood, South Australia, our clinic offers a rigorous, evidence-based assessment process. We utilise a comprehensive range of gold-standard clinical tools to provide a complete picture of your child’s cognitive strengths and attention profile.
Which Assessment Does Your Child Need?
Because attention and learning often overlap, we offer two distinct assessment pathways.
1. Standard ADHD Assessment
Investment: $1,450
Best for: Children where the primary concern is focus, impulsivity, or emotional regulation, and academic grades are generally okay. Includes:
- Clinical Interview: Including the Young DIVA-5 (Diagnostic Interview for ADHD).
- Cognitive Testing: Full WISC-V (IQ test) to assess processing speed and working memory.
- Attention Testing: Conners CPT 3 (Computerised attention task).
- Behavioural Analysis: Conners 4 and BASC-3 or Vineland-3 (depending on needs).
- Academic Screening: Selected subtests of the WIAT-III to check for ‘red flags’ in reading, writing, or maths.
2. Combined ADHD & Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) Assessment
Investment: $1,750
Best for: Children who struggle with focus AND have significant difficulties with reading, writing, spelling, or maths (suspected Dyslexia/Dysgraphia/Dyscalculia). Includes:
- Everything in the Standard ADHD Assessment.
- PLUS Full Academic Testing: Administration of the full WIAT-III and phonological processing tools (like the CTOPP-2 depending on needs).
- Outcome: This allows us to diagnose both ADHD and Specific Learning Disorders in a single comprehensive report.
Our Assessment Process (Standard ADHD)
If you choose the Standard ADHD Assessment, here is what the journey looks like:
1. Initial Intake
We begin with a comprehensive session with parents or caregivers to discuss developmental history and medical background. This ensures we select the right pathway for your child.
2. Gathering Data (Home & School)
We utilise a suite of gold-standard questionnaires completed by parents and teachers. Depending on your child’s presentation, we select the most appropriate tools, such as the Conners 4 (for ADHD symptoms) and either the BASC-3 (for emotional screening) or Vineland-3 (for adaptive functioning). We also conduct a detailed clinical interview with your child’s teacher.
3. Face-to-Face Testing
Your child will attend our clinic for engaging testing sessions. We administer the WISC-V to map their cognitive profile and the Conners CPT 3 to objectively measure attention span and impulsivity. We also run a brief academic screen to ensure no learning gaps are missed.
4. The Feedback Session & Roadmap
Once all data is analysed, we compile a detailed diagnostic report. We then meet with you to discuss the results, confirm if a diagnosis is appropriate, and provide a clear plan for the future.
The Report: Your Tool for Advocacy
Our reports are designed to be practical documents used to support your child’s growth. Every report includes tailored recommendations for home and school, covering:
- Classroom Accommodations: Specific adjustments to help your child learn.
- Home Strategies: Practical ways to manage routines and emotional regulation.
Our comprehensive reports are designed to meet the clinical standards required by paediatricians, psychiatrists, and schools for Individual Education Plan (IEP) development.
Why Choose Steps and Stones Psychology?
Comprehensive Assessment Approach
Our ADHD assessments include academic screening as a standard component. This allows us to consider whether learning factors may also be contributing to your child’s presentation. Where indicated, we can progress to a Combined ADHD & Learning Disorder Assessment to provide a more complete understanding.
Neuro-Affirming Approach
We view ADHD as a difference, not a defect. Our goal is to help your child understand their own brain, building self-advocacy and confidence.
Local Expertise
Based in the Adelaide Hills, we understand the local school systems and can guide you on how to implement our recommendations within South Australian schools.
Frequently Asked Questions
If your child is significantly behind in reading, spelling, or maths despite good effort, the Combined Assessment is usually the best choice. If you are unsure, book the Standard ADHD Assessment; our academic screening will tell us if we need to investigate further.
You do not need a referral to book a private assessment. However, if you wish to discuss Medicare rebates for assessment services (which are limited and have specific criteria), you can consult your GP or contact our clinic on +61 494 025 200.
Yes. While the WISC-V (IQ test) is part of our ADHD assessment, a specific assessment for Intellectual Disability requires a different focus on adaptive functioning. We offer a dedicated IQ / Intellectual Disability Assessment service for this purpose.
Ready to Find Answers?
Whether it’s ADHD, a learning difficulty, or a mix of both, we are here to help you find the right path.
Not sure if you are ready for a full assessment? Click here to view our ADHD Screener options.