Paediatric Screening and Assessment

Why does my child need an Assessment?

Children develop at their own pace. It can be difficult to tell whether your child is on the right track or whether they may benefit from some support to reach their full potential.

That is why the first step is to complete an Assessment.

An assessment provides a clear outline of your child’s strengths, as well as areas in which we can help them grow. We need to know where we are starting from in order to develop the best therapy plan for your child.

What does a Chatterbox assessment involve?

Step 1 - Introduction

Getting to know you and your child

At Chatterbox, our assessments start well before you enter the clinic. Our Family Experience Officers begin by gathering initial information that will help guide the clinician in planning the most appropriate assessment experience for your child.

On arriving for your assessment you will be greeted by our warm and welcoming Family Experience Officers who will provide you with a questionnaire to get the ball rolling.

Your clinician will begin the assessment in the welcome room. Observing how your child interacts with their parent or carer before meeting a new adult gives important information about how to help your child feel comfortable during the assessment.

That is why the first step is to complete an Assessment. An assessment provides a clear outline of your child’s strengths, as well as areas in which we can help them grow. We need to know where we are starting from in order to develop the best therapy plan for your child.

Step 2 - Setting up for success

Getting the most out of your assessment by helping you and your child feel at home

We believe that in order to get the best information, assessments should be fun and engaging! But let’s face it, our clinic will be a new environment for your child. We understand that in order to get the most accurate information about your child’s skills, they may need time to settle in.

Your clinician will begin by offering your child a game to play whilst they discuss your reasons for attending the assessment. They will go through your observations and ask you some questions to learn more about your child. This information is then used to personalise the assessment to best suit your child and their needs. All the while, your clinician will be observing and getting to know your child.

Step 3 - Assessment

Personalised to your child and their needs

Your child’s age, personality and developmental level will all be taken into consideration as your clinician uses a combination of observational and play based assessment to investigate their skills. Where appropriate, standardised assessments will also be completed, which give an indication of your child’s skills compared to other children their age. These observations, in addition with their clinical experience and understanding of developmental norms help your clinician uncover your child’s strengths as well as areas that would benefit from support.

After the assessment, your clinician will reach out to other services to ensure they have a well-rounded understanding of your child. This might include their teacher, GP, Paediatrician, Psychologist, Speech Pathologist, Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, Music Therapist or other relevant specialists.

Possible Assessment Outcomes

If your child’s skills are where they need to be in order to engage in their world with ease, then they may not need to access further services at this time. They may simply benefit from a review of their skills down the track. If so, your clinician will let you know.

Many families, however, come in for an assessment because they already suspect that their child would benefit from some help. By the end of the assessment, your clinician will let you know if therapy is recommended for your child. If this is the case, you will have the opportunity to speak with one of our Family Experience Officers and discuss how therapy will work best for your family.

Step 4 - Report

Interpretation of assessment results

During the assessment, your clinician will gather a lot of information about your child and their skills.
Following the assessment, they analyse this information and consolidate it into a detailed assessment report.

Your report will outline the skills your child demonstrated on the day of the assessment, an idea of skills yet to be developed as well as relevant scores and diagnosis (primarily used for funding purposes).

In addition, you will be provided with a personalised therapy plan for your child.
You and your clinician will use this to set clear, achievable goals to help your child thrive!

Step 5 - Feedback

Empowering families with knowledge of their child’s skills and how to help them grow

If therapy has been recommended for your child, you will have the opportunity to organise appointments at the completion of your assessment. Your first therapy appointment will look a little different to ongoing sessions. During the first therapy appointment you will receive your child’s assessment report.

Your clinician will take some time to explain the information in the report, answer any questions you may have and go through your child’s therapy goals before getting stuck into some therapy!