Neurospa Psychology provides comprehensive IQ and cognitive assessments in Adelaide for school-aged children, adolescents, and adults. Also known as intellectual functioning assessments, these evaluations build a clear, detailed picture of how a person thinks, reasons, and processes information — identifying cognitive strengths, areas of difficulty, and the support that will help.
A cognitive assessment measures intellectual functioning across core domains including verbal comprehension, visual-spatial reasoning, fluid reasoning, working memory, and processing speed. The result is a detailed written report with clear findings and practical, evidence-based recommendations for home, school, and work.
Our clinic is located at 76 Sir Donald Bradman Drive, Hilton SA, conveniently accessible to families across Torrensville, Mile End, Thebarton, Glenelg, and the wider Adelaide metropolitan area.
If attention, impulse control, or executive-function concerns are part of the picture, Neurospa can also provide an ADHD assessment in Adelaide to clarify whether ADHD is contributing to learning, work, or daily functioning difficulties.
What an IQ Assessment Measures
An IQ assessment, also called a cognitive or intellectual functioning assessment, uses standardised psychometric instruments to evaluate how a person reasons and processes information. Rather than testing knowledge or academic achievement, it measures underlying thinking abilities across several core domains:
- Verbal comprehension — vocabulary, reasoning with words, and understanding verbal information.
- Visual-spatial reasoning — interpreting and working with visual and spatial information.
- Fluid reasoning — identifying patterns, solving novel problems, and reasoning logically.
- Working memory — holding and manipulating information in mind over short periods.
- Processing speed — the speed and accuracy of completing simple cognitive tasks.
Together, these produce a profile of overall intellectual functioning and, importantly, a map of relative strengths and difficulties — which is often more useful than a single overall score.
Assessment Tools We Use
Neurospa Psychology uses gold-standard, internationally recognised psychometric instruments, selected according to the person’s age. The Wechsler scales are the most widely used and well-validated measures of intellectual functioning in clinical and educational practice.
Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-V)
For school-aged children and adolescents, the WISC-V is the gold-standard measure of cognitive ability, producing a Full Scale IQ alongside index scores across verbal comprehension, visual-spatial reasoning, fluid reasoning, working memory, and processing speed.
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-IV)
For adults, the WAIS-IV provides a comprehensive evaluation of intellectual functioning across the same core cognitive domains, producing a detailed profile of cognitive strengths and areas of difficulty.
The most appropriate instrument is selected at the time of booking, based on age and the reason for assessment. Each is administered individually by an AHPRA-registered psychologist.
Who Is a Cognitive Assessment For?
A cognitive assessment can provide valuable clarity in many situations, including:
- Children being considered for gifted or extension programs, where evidence of intellectual ability is required.
- Identifying intellectual disability, where a cognitive profile forms part of the diagnostic picture.
- School placement and planning, where a clear understanding of a child’s learning profile supports appropriate decisions.
- Applications for school or disability funding, where formal cognitive assessment evidence may be requested.
- Adults seeking to understand their cognitive strengths and challenges, for study, work, or personal clarity.
- Clarifying a fuller picture where a cognitive assessment is recommended alongside an ADHD or autism assessment.
Our Cognitive Assessment Process
Every IQ assessment at Neurospa Psychology follows the same structured, transparent process.
1. Pre-Assessment Questionnaires
Questionnaires are emailed after booking. For children, separate forms may be completed by parents and teachers to provide background and context.
2. Initial Parent Interview
A 30-minute interview to discuss your concerns, gather developmental and background history, and confirm the questions you need the assessment to answer.
3. Assessment Session
A comprehensive, face-to-face assessment session of approximately 1.5 hours, conducted in clinic, during which standardised psychometric instruments are administered.
4. Written Report With Outcomes and Recommendations
A detailed written report outlining findings, the cognitive profile, and tailored, practical recommendations. Report preparation typically takes two to three weeks, and the completed report is emailed before the feedback session.
5. Feedback Session
A 30-minute consultation to explain the results in plain language, answer questions, and outline clear next steps.
What Your Cognitive Assessment Report Includes
The written report is a comprehensive clinical document designed to be genuinely useful at home and at school. Each report includes:
- A clear profile of intellectual functioning, across all assessed cognitive domains.
- Identification of cognitive strengths and areas of difficulty, with what each means in practical terms.
- Tailored, evidence-based recommendations for learning, classroom support, and home.
- Documentation suitable for schools, supporting placement, planning, extension, or funding considerations.
- Clear guidance on next steps, including whether further assessment may be helpful.
Where findings indicate giftedness, intellectual disability, or a cognitive profile relevant to a learning difference, the report explains this clearly and outlines the appropriate pathways.
Cognitive Assessment and Learning Assessments
A cognitive assessment measures intellectual functioning. Where the concern also involves academic skills — reading, spelling, writing, or maths — a psychoeducational (learning) assessment combines cognitive assessment with academic achievement testing to identify specific learning disorders such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia. If you are unsure which assessment your child needs, contact our clinic and we can help you decide.
Fees, Referrals and NDIS
Referrals: No GP referral is required to book a cognitive assessment at Neurospa Psychology. You are welcome to contact us directly as a private client.
NDIS: Neurospa Psychology accepts NDIS self-managed and plan-managed participants. Assessment fees for NDIS participants are billed in accordance with the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits.
Fees: Cognitive assessment fees vary depending on the components involved. Please contact our clinic directly for current fee information and to confirm which components apply to your situation.
Book an IQ Assessment in Adelaide
Neurospa Psychology is located at 76 Sir Donald Bradman Drive, Hilton SA, accessible to clients across Torrensville, Mile End, Thebarton, Glenelg, and the broader Adelaide metropolitan area.
- Phone: 08 5117 3064
- Email: hello@neurospa.com.au
- Address: 76 Sir Donald Bradman Drive, Hilton SA 5033
- Consulting Hours: Monday–Thursday 9am–5pm, Friday 9am–6pm
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between an IQ assessment and a cognitive assessment?
They are the same thing. “IQ assessment,” “cognitive assessment,” and “intellectual functioning assessment” all refer to a standardised evaluation of how a person reasons and processes information across core cognitive domains.
How long does a cognitive assessment take?
The assessment session runs approximately 1.5 hours, preceded by a 30-minute parent interview. The full process, including report preparation, typically spans several weeks, with two to three weeks for the written report.
Do I need a GP referral for a cognitive assessment?
No referral is required to book. A referral may be relevant if you are coordinating care with other providers — we recommend discussing this with your GP.
Can adults have a cognitive assessment?
Yes. Cognitive assessments are available for school-aged children, adolescents, and adults.
Can a cognitive assessment identify giftedness or intellectual disability?
Yes. A cognitive assessment provides the intellectual functioning profile used, alongside other information, to identify intellectual giftedness or intellectual disability.
Is a cognitive assessment covered by NDIS?
Neurospa Psychology accepts NDIS self-managed and plan-managed participants for assessment services, billed in line with the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits.
Contact Us
Have a question before booking? Send us a message and we’ll get back to you shortly.