How do I know if my child needs a cognitive assessment?

I am often asked the question: "How do I know if my child needs an assessment?". It can be difficult to know whether assessment is warranted and the process may be quite in-depth. So it's important to be sure that a cognitive or learning assessment is the right thing for your child.

Cognitive assessments (sometimes called neuropsychological assessment or IQ testing) should help us to understand an individual's intellectual strengths and weaknesses, and highlight areas of impairment. This is important because it can help us to explain why an individual might be having problems at school or work. When we know why, then we can start to address the problem with evidence-based strategies and solutions. 
Cognitive assessments typically examine the following things:

• Language skills 
• Perceptual or visual reasoning
• Memory
• Processing Speed

The cognitive assessment process may also include a formal educational assessment in order to examine academic performance and learning. A comprehensive report should always be provided so that this information can be shared with your family, GP, teachers and any other involved professionals that you would like to keep informed.

Intellectual Disability
Cognitive assessment enables us to identify when an individual is experiencing a significant intellectual disability. With proper diagnosis, individuals with intellectual disabilities may then gain access to extra funding, resources and support at both home and school. Accurate diagnosis in these cases is critical when it comes to assisting teachers and families to understand and meet a young person's individual needs.

Learning Disorders
Cognitive assessment is also important in the accurate detection of learning difficulties and disorders, such as dyslexia. With accurate diagnosis, your psychologist can then make practical recommendations and clearly outline what strategies can be used to address any learning difficulties. 

How do I know if my child needs an assessment?
So, what are the key signs that your child might benefit from a cognitive assessment?

• Struggling at school

If your child seems to be struggling to keep up with their schoolwork, particularly in the areas of literacy or maths, it's important to find out why. If your child's teacher expresses concern or advises that your child's performance is significantly behind his/her peers, this is a red flag.

• Poor memory/attention

If your child seems quite forgetful, has difficulty following instructions or organising themselves, or seems very 'dreamy' in class, this could point to a possible memory or attention issue. These types of issues often underpin learning difficulties, so it is important for us to identify the cognitive problem in order to effectively address it.

• Behavioural problems

Some children with cognitive issues also have behavioural issues at home and / or school. They may find it difficult to control anger, inhibit their behaviour and act appropriately. Children with cognitive problems may seem 'immature' compared to their peers and may struggle to fit in socially. These types of problems often become more apparent as a child gets older. Again, it is important for children with behavioural problems to undergo comprehensive clinical assessment; cognitive assessment may be an important part of this process.

• Difficulty with basic skills and self-care

Individuals with cognitive impairments may need more assistance with tasks and independent living. It is very normal for small children to need help with tasks like getting dressed, eating, etc. However, as children grow older we expect them to be able to do more tasks independently. Everybody develops at different rates, but if you or your family doctor have concerns regarding your child's skill level or whether they are meeting appropriate developmental milestones, it is certainly important to seek assessment.


What if my child is gifted?
Just as children with intellectual impairments need to be understood and supported, so do children who are intellectually gifted. Gifted children may be at risk of becoming bored or disengaged at school if they are not properly challenged and stimulated. Cognitive assessment can establish whether a child is gifted and what their particular strengths are. This information can then be provided to teachers to assist them in developing individual learning plans that are specially tailored to the gifted child's needs.

Is this type of assessment right for us?
Some people worry that seeking an assessment may result in their child being labelled. This is a valid concern; a diagnosis may not always be what a family is seeking. It is important that psychologists and other health practitioners consider the possible benefits and downfalls of diagnosis for each individual. Ultimately, we all want what is best for the child and it is crucial for families and clinicians to work together to get the best possible outcomes. If a diagnosis is going to assist a family or a child to access increased resourcing, funding and result in better understanding of that child's needs, then it may well be in the child's best interests to receive a diagnosis. Accurate diagnosis can help us to select the most effective type of intervention, ensuring that your child receives the best possible care. However, if a diagnosis does not help us to understand and better meet a child's needs, then we need to question whether it is appropriate to apply such a label. Sometimes it is enough to simply understand a child's pattern of strengths and weaknesses, regardless of what labels could be applied. These are important discussions for families to have with any psychologist or medical professional involved in their child's assessment and care. 

For more information, or if you would like to know more about how to obtain a cognitive or learning assessment for yourself or someone you love, click here. Alternatively, leave us a message here and we will try to answer your query as soon as possible


Dr Rosalind Case
PhD, PGDipPsych(Clin), MSocSc, BSocSc(Hons), MAPS
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST