Assessment & Therapy Services

Our assessment services are available to address a wide-range of referral questions and concerns. Assessment results are compiled into a written report, which can be used to inform treatment, rehabilitation, funding applications (e.g., NDIS or Aged Care), and care planning. If you are unsure about whether you need an assessment or how you may fund the assessment please contact us via our details below.

Our assessment reports are written for clinical purposes and are not intended for medico-legal use. 

Our Clinical Intake Consultation offers a thorough, 1-2 hour clinical interview tailored to gather important information about the client's background and presenting concerns. This service is a cost-effective alternative to support an individual's understanding of their assessment needs and/or the most effective treatment direction, before committing to a comprehensive and lengthy service.

Following this consultation, we will provide a summary of our recommendations in a brief letter, which can be sent to your General Practitioner or a treating clinician of your choice. Alternatively, should you proceed with an assessment through our services, we'll integrate the information from this consultation into the formal assessment report.

The fee for this consultation follows our hourly rate of $240 per hour. However, if you subsequently decide to undergo an assessment with us, we will happily deduct the amount paid for your intake consultation from the total assessment cost (e.g., deducting $480 for a 2-hour consultation).

Please Note: The Clinical Intake Consultation is not a diagnostic assessment. While we aim to provide valuable guidance, our recommendations are based on the information provided within the 1-2 hour consultation service and may evolve as additional context emerges. Recommendations for assessment or treatment do not guarantee a specific diagnosis or treatment effectiveness.

A Neurodevelopmental Assessment aims to understand how an individual's brain functions and develops. This assessment may use clinical interviews with the individual & collateral (e.g., parents or teachers), standardised cognitive testing, observations, and/or reviewing documentation (e.g., report cards) to evaluate the individual's cognition, social & emotional wellbeing, behaviour, and daily functioning.

Some common reasons for this assessment include:
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Intellectual Disability (ID) or Giftedness

Available for individuals aged 6 to 25 years old. 

A Psychoeducational Assessment aims to explore an individual's cognitive functioning and academic achievement. The assessment involves standardised cognitive & academic testing, as well as evaluation of past academic performance and developmental history. It may also involve interviews with parents and teachers. This is used to explore intellectual function, as well as academic skills such as mathematics, reading, and writing. 

Some common reasons for this assessment include: 
- Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) such as Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, & Dysgraphia
- Academic Strengths and Weaknesses
- Transition Planning (e.g., primary school to high school)
- Individual Learning Plans (ILPs)
- Special Provisions or Accommodations

Available for Children & Adolescents aged 6 to 25 years old. 

A Cognitive Assessment evaluates an individual's intellectual and cognitive abilities using standardised assessment tools. Unlike neuropsychological assessments, a cognitive assessment does not aim to draw diagnostic conclusions or investigate brain-behaviour relationships. Instead, they seek to establish how cognitive abilities impact everyday life. Some common reasons for this assessment include: 

- Baseline cognitive profile to compare change over time
- Identifying cognitive strengths and weaknesses to understand school performance or employment pathways
- Inform treatment recommendations

Available for children, adolescents, and adults.

A Neuropsychological Assessment provides comprehensive testing of an individual's neurocognitive and psychological functioning by assessing brain-behaviour relationships. We accept assessment referrals for a wide range of neurological, medical, and psychiatric conditions that impact brain function, as well as for individuals concerned about their brain functioning. It includes assessment of brain functions such as memory, attention, processing speed, language, motor skills, visual-spatial skills, and executive functioning, as well as emotions, behaviour, and personality. Some reasons for a neuropsychology assessment include:

- Differential Diagnosis, such as differentiating between neurological, psychological, functional, and age-related cognitive difficulties
- Rehabilitation Assessment, such as return to work/school, or treatment planning. 
- Baseline and Serial Assessment for evaluating change over time and treatment effectiveness
- To determine the impact of a neurological, medical, or psychiatric condition on your brain functioning

Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions (also see our FAQs section). Please contact us via email.

Note: All neuropsychological assessments are conducted by Cameron Wilden, a Clinical Neuropsychology Registrar, under the formal supervision of a Board-approved, Endorsed Clinical Neuropsychologist

Our Dementia Assessment Services provide neuropsychological and functional evaluations to investigate significant decline in cognitive functions, such as memory and language, that interfere with daily independence. 

Our assessments provide important information about whether someone is developing cognitive impairment or dementia, the cause and symptoms of their dementia, how it might progress, and tailored treatment recommendations, such as environmental modifications, cognitive rehabilitation, and external supports. Our services are about maximising independence & quality of life, as well as supporting caregivers.

Our Dementia Assessment Services:
- Neuropsychological Dementia assessment to differentiate between Normal-Aging, Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), and dementia.
- Differential Diagnosis to identify the most likely cause of their symptoms to inform evidence-based treatment.
- Repeat Assessment to track disease progression over time or treatment effectiveness.
- Capacity assessment for legal, financial, healthcare, and lifestyle decision-making capacity.
- Occupational Therapy Assessment, which may include home visits and ADL assessment to inform practical recommendations

Some Causes of Dementia Include: 
Alzheimer's Disease | Frontotemporal Dementia | Vascular Dementia | Lewy Body Dementia | Alcohol-Related | Posterior Cortical Atrophy | Limbic-Predominant Aged-Related TDP-43 Encephalopathy | Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy | HIV-Related | Parkinson's Dementia | Huntington's Disease | Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis | Progressive Supranuclear Palsy | Corticobasal Syndrome

Note: All neuropsychological assessments are conducted by Cameron Wilden, a Clinical Neuropsychology Registrar, under the formal supervision of a Board-approved, Endorsed Clinical Neuropsychologist

There are many modifiable risk factors for dementia if identified early. We offer early intervention to help individuals reduce their risk factors, as well as baseline assessment for those at greater risk. Start by completing this 5-15 minute Risk Assessment by CogDrisk:

Dementia Risk Assessment

A neuropsychological capacity assessment is a formal evaluation of an individual's decision-making abilities in the context of significant cognitive or psychological impairments arising from conditions that compromise brain function. Capacity is strictly decision-specific, meaning a person may have the capacity to make some decisions, but not others. We evaluate specific domains, such as financial management, lifestyle and accommodation choices, and healthcare decisions.

Our goal is to protect individual autonomy by recognising each individual's strengths, while simultaneously ensuring that individuals have the appropriate supports and safeguards to prevent vulnerability.

Our services provide capacity assessments strictly for clinical purposes to guide care planning and family support. We do not offer medicolegal capacity assessments for court proceedings or formal legal disputes.

Note: All neuropsychological assessments are conducted by Cameron Wilden, a Clinical Neuropsychology Registrar, under the formal supervision of a Board-approved, Endorsed Clinical Neuropsychologist

A Functional Capacity Assessment (FCA) is a comprehensive evaluation of how a person’s physical, cognitive, and psychological health impacts their ability to manage everyday life. It provides objective evidence to determine the level of support or environmental modifications required for a person to live safely and independently. The core of an FCA involves evaluating Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), which are the essential tasks required for independence. This includes:

- Basic ADLs (Self-Care): Fundamental tasks including mobility, dressing, feeding, personal hygiene, and toileting
- Instrumental ADLs (Community Living): Complex skills needed for independent living, such as managing finances, medications, meal preparation, housework, and community transport.

Available for children, adolescents, and adults.

Our individual occupational therapy and psychology services offer evidence-based support for a wide range of conditions and daily challenges. Our psychology services utilise evidence from traditional cognitive-behavioural interventions, as well as "third-wave" approaches, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Emotion-Focused approaches.

Rather than fighting difficult thoughts or avoiding painful emotions, these frameworks help you shift your relationship with internal struggles and process complex feelings. By transforming how you engage with life's hardships, we support you in building lasting resilience and taking purposeful steps toward a truly fulfilling life.

Our one-on-one cognitive rehabilitation uses evidence-based research to help you rebuild practical, everyday skills. We focus on your specific goals, whether that’s returning to work or other meaningful activities, or just feeling like yourself again.

We are currently partnering with MEMOrehab, a 6-session memory rehabilitation program, which is available to individuals with memory concerns impacting their everyday activities.

MemoREHAB Information

Our group sessions combine practical education and cognitive strategies with a supportive environment. Here, you will learn about the impact of various conditions on brain function, and practical hands-on strategies alongside peers who can relate to what you are going through.

We are currently partnering with MEMOrehab, a 6-session memory rehabilitation program, which is available to individuals with memory concerns impacting their everyday activities. In our group setting, this takes the form of interactive, collaborative memory training.

MemoREHAB Information

Referrals can be made via email (admin@hillsneuropsych.com.au) or by completing our online form. Please include the following when making a referral:

1. Referral Letter, including a clear statement of the referral reason/s

2. Relevant Medical and Psychiatric History and Documentation, including neuroimaging, professional reports, and hospital discharge summaries. 

3. Current medications

4. Previous or Concurrent Interventions

5. Patient and/or primary caregiver contact information

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