There are many reasons why someone may seek an assessment. Most often the main purpose is to confirm a diagnosis and seek assistance with understanding or treating the condition. For children and adolescents, reports are often sought for the purpose of learning and education. These assessments may be used to help identify potential difficulties which are affecting an individual’s performance and to help inform learning options (such as accommodations, special provisions, strategies) to address this.
Assessment outcomes may be used by schools or other academic institutions, in order to access funding or other aids to assist with learning. Assessment may also be sought for the purpose of NDIS funding or an initial application for NDIS. For adults, diagnosis is often used to confirm the presence of a condition to allow someone to seek appropriate treatment to address this. The information may also be used to assist with the workplace.
Many people find that formal confirmation of their presentation or neurotype, and understanding the way their brain works, provides relief. Developing a firmer understanding of one’s self can be very helpful in forming self-acceptance and self-respect.
If you are seeking an assessment for a particular purpose, such as funding or education assistance, it is asked that you inform your psychologist at the intake session in order for them to appropriately structure the report for the intended purpose.