ASSESSMENT GUIDE
What else can be assessed?
Neurodiversity is not a single diagnosis. Different assessments answer different questions, and a person may need more than one kind.
Diagnostic questions
Autism and ADHD assessments explore whether diagnostic criteria are met. A combined package should explicitly assess both; offering them separately does not necessarily mean a clinic offers a combined assessment.
Learning and educational assessment
These can explore reading, writing or mathematics difficulties, sometimes described as dyslexia, dysgraphia or dyscalculia. Ask whether the service provides a formal diagnostic opinion, an educational profile, recommendations, or all three.
Cognitive and intellectual assessment
Cognitive testing explores patterns of abilities. It is not automatically an autism or ADHD diagnosis. Assessment for intellectual disability involves more than an IQ score, so ask about adaptive functioning and the full assessment pathway.
Communication and everyday functioning
Speech and language assessment and functional or adaptive-skills assessment can describe communication, daily living and support needs. A functional assessment is not interchangeable with a diagnostic report.
Giftedness and twice-exceptionality
Some services explore high ability alongside learning or developmental differences. Giftedness is not itself a disorder, and a giftedness profile does not rule out support needs.
Other specialist pathways
Questions about motor coordination, developmental delay, tics, or fetal alcohol spectrum disorder may need a different specialist service or team. These are not yet covered by verified categories in this pilot. Discuss the referral question with your GP or treating clinician.
Do not assume more tests always mean a better assessment. The Australian ADHD guideline explains that cognitive testing is not required for every ADHD diagnosis, although it can help answer additional learning or cognitive questions. The autism assessment guideline distinguishes assessment of needs from diagnostic evaluation.