Perhaps your child's teacher has mentioned concerns about reading, writing, attention, organisation, or mathematics, or you may have noticed that some areas of learning seem more challenging than others. Sometimes children work very hard to keep up at school, while in other cases their learning profile may be uneven, with clear strengths in some areas and difficulties in others.

Cognitive and academic assessments help us better understand how a young person thinks, learns, and processes information. At Attuned Mental Health, we take a strengths-based approach, recognising and celebrating each child's unique abilities alongside any areas of difficulty.

A cognitive assessment explores how a young person learns and processes information. It provides an understanding of intellectual functioning and cognitive strengths and challenges across areas such as reasoning, problem-solving, memory, processing speed, and language skills. Common assessments include the WPPSI (Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence) and WISC-V (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fifth Edition).

An academic assessment examines achievement in key learning areas such as reading, written expression, spelling, and mathematics. These assessments help identify whether a young person's academic skills are developing as expected for their age and cognitive abilities. Common assessments include the WIAT (Wechsler Individual Achievement Test) and Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement.

Assessment may help identify:

• Specific Learning Disorders (Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia)

• Intellectual Disability

• Giftedness and twice-exceptionality

• Learning strengths and areas requiring support

• The impact of ADHD, anxiety, autism, or other factors on learning

Following assessment, we provide a comprehensive report outlining findings, recommendations, and practical strategies to support learning and development. Where helpful, we are also happy to collaborate with schools, including speaking with teachers, attending Student Support Group (SSG) meetings, or providing consultation by phone to help ensure recommendations are implemented effectively across settings.