Pscyhological Assessments and Testing

Professional psychological assessments for children, adolescents, and adults in Singapore

Our registered psychologists conduct comprehensive psychological testing and assessments in Singapore to better understand the strengths and weaknesses of children/adolescents, and to identify any emotional, behavioural and learning difficulties. Assessments provide clarity, inform treatment planning, and guide educational support.

Assessments typically include:

Initial consultation with parents to obtain background information, and to determine the relevant assessments to be conducted.
Relevant assessment which may include the use of standardised psychometric assessment instruments, behavioural observations, and/or interviews with relevant individuals (e.g. school teachers, caregivers).
Report and feedback session whereby the assessment outcomes and recommendations are explained. This is typically provided 4-6 weeks after all relevant assessments are completed.

Assessments include:

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that contributes to difficulties with inattention, hyperactivity, and/or impulsivity. A comprehensive ADHD assessment gathers information about the individual's behaviour from multiple settings to provide an accurate diagnosis.

For children and adolescents, information will typically be obtained from parents and teachers. The psychoeducational assessment tests may thus include:

Assessment of intelligence, which includes working memory and processing speed (e.g. WISC-V)
Computerised test of attention (Conners Continuous Performance Test Third Edition)
ADHD-specific questionnaires (Conners 3)

For adults, psychometric assessments may include:

Assessment of intelligence, which includes working memory and processing speed (WAIS-IV)
Computerised test of attention (Conners Continuous Performance Test Third Edition)
ADHD-specific questionnaires (Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scales)

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

ASD is characterised by difficulties in social interaction, communication, repetitive behaviours and sensory sensitivities. An assessment will provide a better understanding of the individual, and enable the relevant treatment and intervention to be given.

Assessment may include:

Structured interview with parents (Autism Diagnostic Interview, ADI-R)
Observation of the individual in clinic (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, ADOS-2)
Questionnaire to assess social impairments (Social Responsiveness Scale, SRS-2)
Assessment of the individual's functional skills (Adaptive Behaviour Assessment System, ABAS-3)
School observation or teacher interview, with parents' permission
Assessment of intelligence and academic abilities may also be carried out to better understand the individual's learning using psychometric assessments (e.g. WISC-V, WIAT-III)

Academic Abilities / Specific Learning Disorder

These psychoeducational assessment tests are conducted when a child struggles with learning in school. This allows better understanding of the specific learning difficulties and areas of weaknesses like reading (dyslexia), spelling (dysgraphia), and mathematics (dyscalculia), so that targeted intervention can be provided.

Psychometric assessment tools we use include:

Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (WIAT-III)
Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing (CTOPP-2)

Cognitive Assessment (IQ Testing)

Cognitive assessment provides information about an individual's intellectual functioning across different domains, identifying strengths and areas for development. These assessments are useful for understanding learning potential, identifying giftedness, or evaluating cognitive concerns

Psychometric assessment tools we use include:

Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-V)
Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-IV)
Wechsler Nonverbal Scale of Ability (WNV)
Singapore Ability Scales (SAS)
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-IV)

Find out more about SAS

Social-Emotional Assessment

When emotional or behavioural difficulties are present, it is useful to conduct a psychological testing and assessment to better understand the presenting problems.

Some of our available assessment tools include:

For children:

Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC-3)
Children's Depression Inventory (CDI 2)
Children's Measure of Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms (CMOCS)
Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI 3)
Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS 2)

For adults:

Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI 3)
Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI)

Additional information

Singapore Ability Scales (SAS)

The Singapore Ability Scales (SAS) is "an individually administered, comprehensive instrument designed to measure clearly identifiable abilities that are significant for leaning and educational performance."

The SAS is developed through research conducted locally - a collaboration between the Ministry of Education, Singapore and the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. The research involved 2,000 children from different age groups and school settings.

Difference between SAS and other assessment tools

The SAS is the only standardised cognitive abilities test using Singapore's local norms. This means that the assessment is developed from a representative sample of school-age children in Singapore. As opposed to other assessment tools developed outside of Singapore, SAS is more relevant to the local children population, in terms of the test being locally accepted and culturally appropriate.

Comprehensive testing

The SAS can comprehensively and flexibly assess the different aspects of a child's current cognitive functioning across the age range of 5 years to 18 years and 11 months.

The SAS comprises of 3 components:

Core Scales,
Diagnostic Scales, and
Achievement scales.

Grade norms are available for the Achievement Scales in Word Reading, Spelling and Number Skills from Primary 1 to Primary 6.