A cognitive assessment is a formal evaluation of how you think, learn and process information. It typically includes areas such as verbal comprehension, visual spatial reasoning, fluid reasoning, working memory and processing speed. It can help answer questions like "Is this difficulty due to effort, anxiety or an actual cognitive difference" and "What supports would help me function more independently".

People seek cognitive assessment for different reasons, for example:

• Clarifying general intellectual functioning for school placement, education planning or giftedness screening

• Investigating possible cognitive impacts of a condition, injury or neurological history

• Supporting applications that require evidence of functional capacity in daily living tasks

• Understanding why problem solving, attention or memory has changed over time

• Documenting strengths for career and vocational planning

Parents also seek cognitive assessment for older children or teenagers who are struggling or excelling in certain areas and need clarity for school planning.

The process usually has several steps:

1. Clinical and developmental interview
   
   We discuss developmental and educational history, health background, daily functioning, support needs and referral questions. For younger clients we also gather caregiver input.

2. Standardised questionnaires
   
   You and, where appropriate, a parent, caregiver or partner complete validated questionnaires about your current wellbeing and functioning.

3. Cognitive testing
   
   We administer well established cognitive measures that assess reasoning, memory and speed of mental work, and more. These tests produce standard scores that can be compared with others your age.

4. Report writing
   

   Over the next few weeks, all the information is then summarised into a detailed and comprehensive report.

5. Feedback
   
   We then have a final session wherein we go through the report together in detail, discuss whether diagnostic criteria was met, discuss recommendations to help you thrive (regardless of diagnoses), and identify next steps.

Often yes.

Cognitive assessments are frequently used to support school planning, disability or learning support services, workplace adjustments, and applications that require evidence of cognitive functioning and daily living capacity.

While the testing does indeed identify your full-scale IQ, this number by itself does not tell the whole story. We also look at your specific strengths and weaknesses across memory, attention, processing speed, verbal comprehension, visual-spatial reasoning, and more. We also look at your problem solving style, emotional factors such as anxiety, and real world functioning. Two people with the same overall full-scale IQ score can function very differently in day to day life.

These assessments are structured, but they are carried out in a supportive way. You are encouraged to try your best, but you are not punished for not knowing an answer. Breaks are available. You can ask for clarification if you do not understand a question. The aim is to capture your typical level of functioning, not to "catch you out."

You receive a written report summarising cognitive strengths and areas of difficulty, and what these mean for real world functioning. Where appropriate, the report will indicate whether criteria are met for intellectual disability or gifted range abilities, and what that implies for supports and expectations. You also receive practical recommendations for learning, work and daily living. We then meet for a feedback session so you can ask questions.

Cognitive assessment can reduce self blame on both ends of the spectrum. For some people it helps explain why tasks that seem "simple" for others actually require a lot of effort and support. For others it validates that they are under challenged and need extension. It can guide realistic expectations at school, at work and in independent living.

We discuss next steps that are tailored to you and your situation. These are recommendations that you can choose to follow up on at your discretion. For instance, these could include educational planning, workplace adjustments, psychological therapy, occupational therapy input for daily living skills, or referral to a GP or specialist if further medical investigation is appropriate.

You can get in touch to request a cognitive assessment using the email form on this page (or our homepage). That’s a great chance to ask any burning questions as well. From there, we can then book the initial interview at a time and date that works for you.