Attention is part of of a complex system of brain functions called executive functions. When everything is going well, our executive functions work to manage us like an internal CEO. Executive functions are in charge of many skills such as organization, time-management, planning ahead, and inhibiting impulses. If other explanations come up short in explaining you or your child’s current difficulties, an attention assessment may be necessary.

We provide ADHD specific assessments for children, adolescents, and adults. Since symptoms of ADHD typically develop in childhood, but can become more apparent or impactful later in life, you will be asked to provide report cards and a detailed social history from childhood.

Is your child excelling at school? Have teachers identified your child’s performance as advanced when compared to same-aged peers?

In an academic giftedness assessment, your child will complete psychological tests that examine intellectual functioning and academic performance. An assessment that focuses specifically on academic giftedness will support parents and teachers in understanding the child’s advanced learning capacities and can support an application to the gifted program in schools.

Are you concerned about the way your child communicates or relates to the world around them? Has your child’s physician or teacher suggested that they be assessed for Autism?

Assessing for neurodivergence like Autism in children and adolescents is an area of speciality at The Thought Centre.

** Please note that Autism assessments for children under age 14 are currently on hold until such time that our assessing Psychologist returns from leave. We are currently only able to provide Autism assessments for adolescents who are between the ages of 14 and 20. Please contact us for more information.

Children who are involved with their local Children’s Aid Society may benefit from a comprehensive psychological assessment to support their transitions to foster care or in preparation for adoption.

As with our other assessments, assessments completed for CAS are trauma-informed and culturally responsive. Recommendations are designed to support the child’s unique needs.

We routinely complete assessments for children and adolescents connected to CAS and have specialized skills in this area.

Are you worried that your child is not meeting developmental milestones?

Developmental assessments examine both intellectual and adaptive functioning (ability to do every day tasks) to assess your child’s general development. Developmental disability diagnoses are typically identified before the age of 18.

If your child is applying for adult developmental services, you may require an updated assessment to support their provincial funding application to Disability Services Ontario (DSO). A developmental assessment will include the elements required for a DSO application.

Have you recently been involved with the law? Has a judge or lawyer asked you to participate in a psychological assessment?

Psychological assessments with a Forensic Psychologist are designed for individuals who are currently involved with the criminal justice system. Assessments may be court-ordered or requested/recommended by the crown or your lawyer. A psychological assessment may be used to help determine criminal responsibility, to inform sentencing, to help explain patterns of criminal behaviour in repeat offenders, and to assess risk of recidivism. A forensic psychological assessment is comprehensive and typically involves an examination of cognitive/intellectual functioning, identifying socio-emotional issues and personality pathology, and determining risk for recidivism (violence risk or risk to sexually reoffend).

We provide forensic assessments for adolescents and adults.

Are you concerned that you have a mental health diagnosis that is significantly impacting your life? Have you been in therapy with little improvement or change and don’t know what is going on? Are you looking to better understand your mental health issues after receiving opinions from multiple professionals?

A mental health assessment will look specifically at your current symptoms and personality traits to offer you diagnostic clarity. Mental health assessments often focus on differentiating between similar diagnostic presentations and may include, but are not limited to, anxiety disorders (generalized anxiety, social anxiety, health anxiety), mood disorders (depression, bipolar disorder), obsessive compulsive disorder, behavioural problems (intermittent explosive disorder, oppositional defiant disorder), and personality disorders (borderline personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder).

Are you feeling overwhelmed with questions about your child's learning or development? Is your child struggling academically or behaviourally? Are you struggling with postsecondary studies?

Psychoeducational assessments are designed to evaluate abilities, strengths, and weaknesses on measures of cognitive and intellectual functioning, attention, information processing, and academic achievement. Psychoeducational assessments are comprehensive and can identify learning disabilities, attention issues, and developmental delays.

Psychoeducational assessments help support individualized education plans for elementary and high school students as well as support access to academic accommodations for postsecondary students.