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THIS PAGE IS IN DEVELOPMENT: MORE INFO AND GRAPHICS SOON!

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Welcome to the Neuro-developmental Diagnostic Clinic of

Denmark Clinical Psychology

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The team aim to provide comprehensive assessment and differential diagnosis for children aged 6 – 12 years in a concise, effective, and timely manner.

 

Neuro-developmental Diagnosis for Childhood Conditions recognised by DSM5-TR and ICD10 that are investigated include:

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  • Intellectual Developmental Disorders

  • Communication Disorders (in collaboration with Speech Pathology)

  • Autism Spectrum Disorders (screening and referral only)

  • Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

  • Specific Learning Disorders

  • Motor Disorders (in collaboration with Physician or Paediatric Physiotherapy)

 

Co-occurring mental health conditions are also considered as part of a comprehensive assessment and may include:

 

  • Depressive Disorders

  • Anxiety Disorders

  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders

  • Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders (inc. Reactive Attachment & Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorders)

  • Somatic symptom Disorders

  • Feeding and eating Disorders

  • Elimination Disorders

  • Sleep-wake Disorders

  • Disruptive, Impulse Control and Conduct Disorders

Diagnostic Process

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1. Initial contact

Parents are contacted by the Lead Clinical Psychologist to explain the diagnostic procedure, gain verbal consent to proceed, and make appointments. Both parents need to consent unless otherwise specified in legal orders. Consent for the assessment agreement is made in writing by signing this form.

 

2. Intake interview

Parents are contacted and asked screening questions regarding the concerns they have for their child, apparent presentation issues, and any immediate family-based concerns that may be influencing the child.  They will be informed of a series of questionnaires to complete via email or hardcopy.

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3. Written and recorded assessments

Parents and child are emailed or posted a series of questionnaires that relate to specific conditions that are assessed. These will take 20-40 minutes to complete and either submit online or post back to the Lead Clinical Psychologist.  A letter to the child’s school principal will be provided to parents to make the request that their child’s teacher complete written questionnaires that will take up to 20minutes.  Parents may also submit video-taped recordings of their child/family for assessment purposes if the feel it would be useful.  Video can be uploaded to a secure OneDrive Sharepoint link provided on request.

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4. Developmental and family history taking

First face-to-face contact involves parents being interviewed and providing information about their child’s:

  • development from infancy to present,

  • how their family functions and gets along,

  • any significant events or circumstances, and,

  • any family history of mental health, developmental, learning, or behavioural issues.

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5. Clinical and diagnostic interviews

Parents complete a diagnostic interview with the Lead Clinical Psychologist after a 45 min break from step 4.  This interview involves specific questions about their child’s presenting symptoms.  They are asked when the symptoms started, frequency, duration, intensity, and any context or circumstance that affects them.  The child may also be involved in this discussion. Standardised clinical interview tools are used. Any submitted video-footage is reviewed.

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6. Child diagnostic testing

While parents are with the Lead Clinical Psychologist, the child is in an adjacent room (with door open or closed) with the Registered Psychologist. The child participates in a series of standardised formal assessments that may include cognitive functioning and/or memory tests, academic skills testing, play-based observational testing, completion of questionnaires, etc. This assessment may be video-taped for reliability between clinicians. 

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7. Clinical team analysis

The assessing team share all information and consider a diagnostic formulation. This involves considering what, why, and how the child’s presentation can be explained and what types of psychological treatments are likely to help them to either recover or functionally adapt and enhance quality of life

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8. Diagnostic criteria assigned

The Lead Clinical Psychologist completes a differential diagnosis.  This involves reviewing diagnostic criteria for any/all conditions that may describe the child’s presentation, ruling out the ones that ‘do not fit’ and making a reasonable confirmation of diagnosis based on DSM5-TR and ICD10 criteria.

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9. Draft report

The Lead Clinical Psychologist drafts a 4-6 page report covering:

  • demographic information

  • assessment processes

  • assessment results (summary with attached tables of data)

  • diagnostic criteria met

  • diagnoses that were rule out and why

  • recommendations for psychological treatment and/or referral

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10. Parent feedback

The Lead Clinical Psychologist meets the parents (and child if appropriate) to present the draft report, discussing each aspect.  A focus is on the diagnosis, psychological formulation (what has made the child vulnerable to the condition; why it has presented currently; what types of influences perpetuate any distress or challenging behaviour; and the protective factors or child/family strengths to draw on for recovery/adaptation.  Recommendations for treatment or referral are confirmed. When accepted, the parent provide consent for the report to be finalised and sent to themselves and/or the referring agent.

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11. Report finalised

The report is finalised, signed off, and sent.

Fees and Arrangements

Diagnostic assessments and reporting are charged @ $195 per hour for each specific component outlined.  The total cost ranges between $1,710 and $2,327.50, depending on the time taken for each component.  An estimate of time required can be provided when the assessment process is determined and agreed. A deposit of $1000 is required once an agreement to proceed is made.

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