ASSESSMENT FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN AGED 4 to 6 YEARS
Understanding development in the early years.
Psychological and developmental assessment for children below 6 years of age.
Development changes quickly before age 6, and cognitive, learning and other developmental scores may be less stable than they are in older children. Some diagnostic questions therefore become clearer with time. Belconnen Psychological Assessments (BPA) does not diagnose ADHD before age 6. Intellectual development and various other areas can be assessed, although findings may sometimes need to be monitored or reviewed as the child develops. Skip to sections 06 & 07 if you want to learn about early supports or options that may not require a private assessment.
01 — THE QUESTION
What is going on for my young child? What might help?
MORE THAN ONE AREA MAY MATTER
For children under 6, differences in learning, communication, social development, behaviour and independence often overlap. Sometimes it is difficult to know whether one area explains what you are seeing, or whether a broader developmental picture needs to be considered.
LOOKING AT THE WHOLE CHILD
Assessment can consider your child’s developmental history, abilities, everyday functioning and behaviour across different settings.
The aim is to better understand their strengths, needs, and what support or further assessment may be helpful.
Frequently Asked Questions about Assessment for Younger Children Aged 4 to 6 Years
Younger children
How much does assessment from younger children aged 4 to 6 years cost?
Assessments are charged by the hour at the current rate listed on Our Fees.
Because the assessment pathway depends on your child and the question being asked, the total cost can usually be estimated more accurately after the first consultation. The first consultation generally involves approximately one hour of professional time at the current rate. For more information about why we do not offer fixed price packages, see FAQs.
We will discuss likely next steps and associated fees before you decide whether to proceed. See Our Fees → for more information and an example assessment cost structure.
How young are the children you assess?
BPA can assess selected younger children from around 4 years of age, depending on the referral question, the child’s developmental level and whether suitable assessment methods are available.
What can you assess in a child under 6?
Depending on the question, assessment may consider areas such as school readiness, cognitive development, behaviour, social development, adaptive functioning and broader developmental concerns.
Why is assessment different for younger children?
Development changes quickly during the early years, and the tests we can use are different too.
Some abilities and behaviours become clearer as children grow and encounter new demands, so findings in a younger child may sometimes need to be interpreted more cautiously or reviewed later.
Do you diagnose ADHD in children under 6?
No.
BPA does not diagnose ADHD before age 6.
Attention and regulation can still be considered as part of understanding a younger child’s broader development.
Does my child need a private diagnosis to get early support through the NDIS?
Not necessarily.
The NDIS early childhood approach includes pathways for young children with developmental concerns or disability.
Families should check the current NDIS requirements because private psychological diagnosis is not always required before seeking early support.
When might private assessment still be useful?
Private assessment may be useful where a family wants a more detailed understanding of the child’s cognitive, developmental, behavioural, social or adaptive profile, or where needs have been difficult to understand or demonstrate.
Private assessment does not guarantee access to a particular service or funding scheme.
What if my child’s needs involve several professions?
That is common in early childhood.
Depending on the concerns, a GP, paediatrician, speech pathologist, occupational therapist, educator or another professional may have an important role alongside psychology.
Can a parent stay with a young child?
We will work out what helps the child feel safe and able to participate.
Some standardised testing may need to be completed individually with the psychologist, while parents or carers are involved in other parts of the assessment.
02 — WHEN ASSESSMENT MAY HELP
Assessment can help when development is unclear.
Learning & school concerns
Questions about thinking, learning, or whether additional support may be helpful. Concerns raised by staff at preschool or childcare.
Behaviour & social development
Concerns about behaviour, emotional regulation, social development or differences between home and preschool or school.
Everyday functioning
Questions about independence, communication, practical skills and how the child manages everyday demands for their age.
03 — HOW WE ASSESS
Young children are understood through more than testing alone.
Working with the child
Depending on the referral question, assessment may include cognitive, school-readiness or other developmentally appropriate testing and clinical observation.
Parents & caregivers
Developmental history, behavioural checklists, questionnaires, and structured interviews can help us understand how the child’s skills and difficulties have developed over time.
Childcare, preschool or school
Information from educators can help us understand learning, behaviour, social participation and functioning outside home. A naturalistic observation may also be useful where appropriate.
04 – AREAS WE MAY ASSESS
The assessment is selected for the developmental question.
Cognitive & language development
Reasoning, working memory, processing, language and other aspects of the child’s developing cognitive and language profile.
School readiness assessment
Skills relevant to participating in formal schooling, considered alongside development and individual needs. See School Readiness →
Behaviour & adaptive functioning
Behaviour across home and educational settings, together with practical, social and everyday independence skills.
Social & broader development
Developmental patterns, social functioning and broader neurodevelopmental questions where these are relevant to the referral.
05 – DEVELOPMENTAL & DIAGNOSTIC QUESTIONS
A useful assessment does not always require a diagnosis.
Development changes quickly in the early years, and some diagnostic questions become clearer over time. Assessment can still identify the child’s developmental profile, strengths, functional difficulties and support needs, and provide recommendations about what to support, monitor or investigate next.
ADHD assessment is not available for children under 6 years old at BPA. Where attention or activity level are concerns, these can be considered as part of the child’s broader developmental picture. Results from assessment completed before age 6 may be used to assist with diagnostic assessment in future.
06 – NDIS & EARLY CHILDHOOD SUPPORTS
Private assessment is not always required to access support.
Accessing early support
Families may be able to access early childhood supports through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) without a formal diagnosis or private psychological assessment.
The NDIS provides information about how families can seek help when they have concerns about a young child’s development. Click the link below, call 1800 800 100, or chat with your GP.
When private assessment may help
Private assessment at BPA remains available where families or referrers want a more detailed understanding of the child’s functioning, or where there have been difficulties demonstrating the child’s needs, accessing supports, or clarifying what further intervention or assessment is required.
Assessment can provide additional evidence about strengths, functional difficulties and support needs, but does not guarantee NDIS access or a particular funding outcome.
Private assessment may also be useful for families who are not eligible for support through schemes like the NDIS, including families who are not current citizens of Australia.
07 – WHEN ANOTHER SERVICE MAY BE NEEDED
The best starting point depends on the question.
If you are not sure who to talk to, BPA recommends that you speak with your GP for some initial guidance.
Psychological assessment may be useful when…
The goal is to better understand development, cognitive abilities, school readiness, behaviour, adaptive functioning, social development or a broader developmental profile…
A Paediatrician may be a better option when…
There are medical and developmental concerns, time-sensitive or substantial safety or behavioural risks, possible need for medication, or questions requiring medical investigation or management…
…and sometimes the clearest picture comes from working together.
No single discipline can understand every aspect of a child’s development and needs. Where appropriate, we may work alongside GPs, paediatricians, educators, allied health professionals or other practitioners so that different perspectives can be brought together.
08 – WHAT YOU RECEIVE
A clearer picture of strengths, needs and next steps.
Integrated findings
Assessment findings, developmental history and information from relevant settings are considered together.
Considered feedback
A dedicated appointment to explain the findings and discuss what they mean for the child and your family.
Report & recommendations
A written report with recommendations for home, education, further assessment or other supports where appropriate.
09 – FEES & NEXT STEP
Start with the question you would like answered.
The exact assessment varies according to the person and the questions being asked. Our screening process helps us determine what may be appropriate, and explains likely fees before you proceed.