Psychometric Testing

Intelligence testing is a method used by psychologists to measure an individual's intellectual capabilities. Intellectual assessment is a good indicator of a individual's academic potential. The results of an IQ test rank an individual against a very large sample of people the same age.

We use the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fourth Edition, Australian Standardisation (WISC-V). This is an individually administered instrument for assessing the cognitive ability of children aged 6 years to 16 years. 

To assess older adolescents and adults, we use the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Fourth Edition, Australian Standardisation (WAIS-IV). This battery was designed to parallel the WISC for those aged 16 years to 90 years.

The WISC-V and WAIS-IV are some of the most reliable and valid IQ testing instruments available and are the most widely used measures of IQ. Both batteries provide scores that represent intellectual functioning in four specified cognitive domains: Verbal Comprehension, Perceptual Reasoning, Processing Speed and Working Memory. The WISC-V and WAIS-IV also provide a Full Scale IQ score measuring general intellectual ability. During the testing session the individual is asked to solve problems and puzzles and to answer a range of questions. Most people enjoy the testing session as it is an engaging process involving novel and fun tasks.

Academic testing provides an overview of a child’s current performance across a range of academic domains. We use the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (WIAT-III; 4-50 years) with subtests including: 

• Oral Expression
• Listening Comprehension
• Written Expression
• Spelling
• Pseudoword Decoding
• Word Reading
• Reading Comprehension
• Numerical Operations
• Maths Reasoning

The assessment provides a rich source of information about an individual's achievement skills, allowing the assessment of problem-solving ability by evaluating processing skills. This enables curriculum and intervention decisions to be made with confidence. Testing also allows a direct comparison of an individual's intellectual capabilities with his/her academic performance. 

Attention is a vital component of the learning process, and different types of attentional difficulties have different implications for learning and intervention strategies. 

Executive Function skills are the mental processes that enable us to plan, focus attention, remember instructions, and juggle multiple tasks successfully.

Our clinicians select from a range of available tests to provide a comprehensive evaluation of different aspects of attentional and executive functioning. Click here to read more about the range of available tests.

Due to demand, the Autism Spectrum assessment is only available for current psychology and/or psychiatry clients at Southside. We are not able to accept new external assessment referrals at this time.

Autism is a lifelong developmental condition characterised by difficulties in social interaction, communication, restricted and repetitive interests and behaviours, and sensory sensitivities. The word ‘spectrum’ reflects the wide range of challenges that people can experience and the extent to which they may be affected. An estimated 1 in 70 Australians are on the autism spectrum. The quality of life for many children and adults can be significantly improved by an early diagnosis and appropriate evidence informed treatment. 

Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2)  

Age range: 12 months to adulthood. Administered with the individual. 

The ADOS-2 is a semi-structured, standardised assessment of communication, social interaction, play, and restricted and repetitive behaviours. The assessment presents various activities that elicit behaviours directly related to a diagnosis of ASD which the examiner will observe and code. 

If recommended, additional psychometric testing options (e.g., IQ testing, academic performance, and ADHD) can be combined with this assessment, which will be associated with a higher fee and will depend on the test battery. 

Medicare Information

To obtain a Medicare rebate for the purpose of assistance with diagnosis or to contribute to the treatment and management plan for a Complex Neurodevelopmental Disorder, a referral must be made by a paediatrician or psychiatrist. You can claim approximately $89.65 per session, across a maximum of four assessment sessions if the referred person is under the age of 25.