Assessments and tools to aid in diagnosis

Leading edge services

 

Family Talks Clinic goal is to be at the leading edge when it comes to providing services to aid in the diagnosis and ongoing treatment of mental health in children and adolescents. We understand the need to encompass the full spectrum of tools available from laboratories, to clinical trials, to science-based technology. As such we provide a range of services from around the world, some of which are unique to Family Talks Clinic in Australia.

Neuro-psychometric Online Assessment

Conners 4 and CAARS Assessment

This is an online assessment tool designed to measure a range of behaviours in children from 8-18 years and the adult version, CAARS is for adults 18+. It is a thorough assessment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The scores obtained inform intervention and treatment strategies by identifying specific challenge areas to work on.

The Conners typically takes 20 minutes to complete. The content scales that are assessed are:

  • Inattention
  • Hyperactivity/Impulsivity
  • Learning problems
  • Executive Functioning
  • Defiance/Aggression
  • Peer/Family Relations

The online assessment involves responding to a series of predetermined questions by allocating a rating scale between 0-3 to each question. From each assessment a report is developed to compare and analyse the results. This process then helps the doctor create a more accurate diagnosis. Once the assessments have been completed, it will take approximately 3 to 4 days to generate the report. This report will then provide a baseline to guide treatment and medication.

Conners 3
Interactive Online Conners Comprehensive Behaviour Rating Scale

The Conners Comprehensive Behaviour Rating Scale (CBRS) is a in-depth assessment designed to provide you an overview of a child’s or adolescent’s disorders and concerns. It helps psychology professionals identify each youth’s specific needs and areas that require attention and focus. The assessment features multiple content scales that assess emotional distress, aggressive behaviours, academic difficulties, hyperactivity/impulsivity, social problems, separation fears, perfectionistic and compulsive behaviours, violence potential, and physical symptoms.

The online assessment involves responding to a series of predetermined questions by allocating a rating scale between -3 to +3 to each question.

The online assessment involves a series of assessments being completed by the child, parent, and teacher.  Each assessment takes approximately 30 uninterrupted minutes to complete. From each assessment a report is developed to compare and analyse the results, this process then helps the doctor create a more accurate diagnosis. Once the assessments have been completed, it will take approximately 3 to 4 days to generate the report. This report will then provide a baseline to guide treatment and medication.

Scoring for the Conners rating scale is designed to be comprehensive, and measures many behavioural markers, including signs of:

  • hyperactivity
  • aggressive behaviour
  • potential for violence
  • compulsive behaviours
  • perfectionism
  • difficulty in class
  • extra trouble with math
  • difficulty with language
  • social issues
  • emotional distress
  • separation anxiety
  • depression
  • dyslexia
  • emotional disturbance
Interactive Online Autism Spectrum Rating Scale

The ASRS provides the first nationally standardized Rating Scale. This measure is designed to help identify symptoms, behaviours, and associated features of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) in children and adolescents ages 2 to 18.

The online assessments have been designed for two distinctive age groups: Ages 2-5years and 6-18 years. Parents and Teachers complete the online assessment based on their observations of specific behaviours.

From each assessment a report is developed to compare and analyse the results. Once the assessments have been completed, it will take approximately 3 to 4 days to generate the report. This report will then enable a measurement of social communication, usual behaviours, peer and adult socialisation, atypical language, and Stereotypy.

Scoring of the ASRS is designed to be comprehensive and enables the Doctor to:

 

  • Support the diagnostic process
  • Guide the development of intervention and treatment strategies
  • Monitor responses to intervention and its effectiveness
  • Behavioural Rigidity
  • Sensory Sensitivity
  • Attention/Self-Regulation (Full form for ages 2–5)
  • Attention (Full form for ages 6–18)
  • Social/Emotional Reciprocity

Adaptive Behavior Assessment System

ABAS-3

abas3

The ABAS is an online assessment is used to review adaptive skills across 3 areas: Conceptual, Social, and Practical, to assist in developing a treatment plan and training goals.
It is particularly useful for evaluating those with developmental delays, autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, learning disabilities, neuropsychological disorders, and sensory or physical impairments.

The assessment is used to:

  • Assess adaptive skills.
  • Assist in diagnosing and classifying various developmental, learning, and behavioural disabilities and disorders.
  • Identify strengths and weaknesses.
  • Document and monitor progress over time
Neuro-psychometric

Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children

WISC-V

The face-to-face assessment for children aged 6-16 years. It is used to:

  • Identify intellectual disabilities, 
  • Identify and diagnose learning disabilities/disorders,
  • Evaluate cognitive processing strengths and weaknesses,
  • Assess for giftedness, and
  • Assess the impact of brain injuries.

Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale

WAIS-IV

waisiv

WAIS is an administrated online assessment, done in rooms with the psychologist.
It is an intelligence test for adults 16years plus.
The online interactive test considers age and provides norms for comparison with individuals of the same age range. WAIS provides an overall score, as well as scores for specific cognitive domains, to give a comprehensive assessment of an individual’s cognitive abilities. It is used in clinical and research settings as a tool for testing intelligence and cognitive functioning.

There are four index scores representing major components of intelligence:

  • Verbal Comprehension
  • Perceptual Reasoning
  • Working Memory
  • Processing Speed

The results provide information relating to typical childhood disorders, which can lead to accurate diagnosis and intervention planning for success in school and at home.

waisiv

Wechsler Individual Achievement Test

WIAT-III

A neuropsychological face to face assessment to measure specific cognitive abilities for ages 4 to 50 years. An assessment used to:

  • Identify the academic strengths and weaknesses of a student.
  • Inform decisions regarding eligibility for educational services, educational placement, or diagnosis of a specific learning disability.
  • Design instructional objectives and plan interventions

A Neuro-psychological Cognitive Assessment

NEPSY

nepsy

A neuropsychological face to face assessment to measure specific cognitive abilities for ages 3 to 16 years.

The NEPSY–II allows the clinician to create a tailored assessment across the following domains:

  • Executive functioning
  • Attention
  • Language
  • Memory and learning
  • Sensorimotor functioning
  • Social perception
  • Visuospatial processing

The results provide information relating to typical childhood disorders, which can lead to accurate diagnosis and intervention planning for success in school and at home.

Neuro-psychological Autism Assessments

ADI-R and ADOS

ADI-R is a structured interview with parents/carer used for diagnosing autism, planning treatment, and distinguishing autism from other developmental disorders.

 

ADOS is an interview with the child to assess and diagnose autism spectrum disorders. The assessment presents various activities that elicit behaviours directly related to a diagnosis of ASD.  By observing and coding these behaviours, you can obtain information that informs diagnosis, treatment planning, and educational placement.

Interactive Online Cognitive Assessment

Creyos Assessment

Creyos is an online program consisting of fun, interactive games designed to measure how your mind works.

Creyos is an online program consisting of fun, interactive games designed to measure how your mind works.

Mental health and mood disorders are intrinsically linked to areas of cognitive function that are key to your quality of life. As part of our standard practices at Family Talks Clinic, we use a scientifically validated and objective cognitive assessment service called Creyos to measure and monitor core aspects of cognition, such as memory, reasoning, verbal ability, and concentration. Taking an assessment is simple, fun, and engaging for patients.

The assessment involves a series of series of quick cognitive tasks that have been validated to measure your memory, concentration, reasoning, and verbal abilities—all core areas of cognition that may be affected by a mental health condition. Tasks are short (1.5 – 3 mins each) and gamified and include engaging tutorials that you can replay as many times as you wish to ensure you’ve understood the instructions.

Click here to trial on how it works.

Upon completion, a comprehensive report is created for your domain and age group.  Over time, and as you progress through treatment, you’ll begin to see performance trends so that you can objectively evaluate how treatment is affecting you. Your doctor will use this information to ensure they target the right areas during treatment, and then re-assess periodically to measure progress.

Why should I you do this?

  • Gain a comprehensive understanding of your brain health, which will be used by healthcare providers to individualize treatment plans according to your needs.
  • Re-assess your cognition throughout treatment to objectively measure improvements, giving you confidence that interventions are having the desired effects.
ADI-R and ADOS

Genetic Testing

MyDNA

Understanding your genetics and how they react to drugs is an important tool to prescribe the right medication and right dose of medication.

The key benefits of this simple test is to pre-emptively predict a patient’s response to certain medications;

 

  • Facilitate personalised prescribing.
  • Improve the chance of therapeutic success.
  • Reduce the risk of adverse effects.

The test involves taking a sample of your DNA through a mouth swab. This is then sent to the MyDNA clinic for analysis.  The results are then provided 2 weeks later.

A report is then provided to the Doctor with an interpretation of genetic results and actionable recommendations, which may include suggestions for additional clinical monitoring or adjustment of drug or dose based on international pharmacogenomic guidelines.

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