Signs worth looking into
- Reading is slow and effortful, or a child avoids reading aloud
- Spelling is inconsistent, even for words practised many times
- Written work is far below what the student can explain out loud
- Number facts don't stick, or maths steps are lost partway through
- Homework takes much longer than it should and ends in tears or arguments
- As an adult, you avoid writing tasks or find study harder than expected
Dyslexia, dysgraphia and dyscalculia
These everyday words describe types of specific learning disorder. Dyslexia refers to difficulties with reading accuracy, fluency or comprehension; dysgraphia to difficulties with written expression, such as spelling, grammar and organising writing; and dyscalculia to difficulties with number sense, calculation or maths reasoning.
A specific learning disorder is diagnosed when the difficulties are well below what is expected for the person's age, affect school, work or daily life, and have persisted for at least six months despite targeted help. The difficulties also can't be better explained by other things, such as vision or hearing problems, missed schooling or intellectual disability. That is why we ask about the support a student has already had.
What the assessment includes
- Background: development, health, schooling, any extra help so far and family history of learning difficulties
- School information: report cards, work samples and, with your consent, teacher input
- Cognitive testing, for example the WISC or WAIS, to understand reasoning, memory and processing speed
- Standardised tests of academic skills in reading, spelling, writing and maths
- Checking other explanations, such as attention, language, vision and hearing. If language difficulties are part of the picture, we may suggest an assessment with our speech pathologist.
What happens, step by step
- Get in touch. Call us or send the form on this page. We talk through the concerns and which tests are likely to be needed, then quote the cost.
- Intake. Your psychologist meets you, often by video, to go through development, schooling and the help already tried. Please gather school reports and work samples.
- Testing. Cognitive and academic testing is done in person at Springfield Central or The Gap, usually over more than one session, with breaks.
- Scoring and report. Your psychologist interprets the results and writes the report. They give you a timeline at intake.
- Feedback. You go through the findings and recommendations, and how to share them with the school, TAFE or university.
Your psychologist confirms the estimated cost with you before testing begins.
Fee guide and MediPay payment plans
Assessments are charged at $230 per hour (as of July 2026). Because the tests depend on the question, we quote the cost of a learning assessment at intake and confirm it with you before testing begins.
| Assessment | Usually includes | Guide fee |
|---|---|---|
| Learning assessment | Intake, testing chosen to fit the question, report, feedback | Quoted at intake ($230 per hour) |
Medicare doesn't cover assessments at Psych Connect.
Flexible payment plans are available through MediPay (eligibility applies).
Payment plans are provided by MediPay Holdings Pty Ltd (Australian Credit Licence 474336), not Psych Connect. Applications are subject to MediPay's credit assessment criteria. Terms, conditions, fees and charges apply.
All our fees are on the fees page.
Using the report at school, TAFE or university
The report explains the student's learning profile and recommends adjustments, such as extra time, assistive technology, reduced copying or specific teaching approaches. Schools decide which adjustments they make, and the report gives them clear evidence to plan with. TAFE and university disability or access services also use reports like this when setting up study support.
Senior exams: QCAA AARA
For senior exams, Queensland students can apply for access arrangements and reasonable adjustments (AARA), such as extra time or rest breaks. Under the QCAA handbook (section 6.4.5, updated January 2026), for Units 3 and 4 the documents for a long-term condition must be dated no earlier than 1 January of the year the student is in Year 10. If the diagnosis was made earlier, an update is needed, not a whole new assessment, and the update can also come from a GP or another relevant professional. The report must state the diagnosis, the date it was made and how the condition affects the student in timed assessment, and it can't come from a practitioner employed by the school.
If your child already has a report from before Year 10, ask us about an update. The school's AARA contact decides what is approved. QCAA handbook, section 6.4.
Who does the assessment
Learning assessments are done by one of our two assessing psychologists.
Dr Sirous Momenzadeh (Clinical Psychologist)
Director and Principal Clinical Psychologist
PhD, MPsych (Clin)
More than 19 years of practice across public and private settings. His clinical focus includes trauma and PTSD, and the assessment of ADHD and autism in adolescents and adults.
Psychologist with an endorsement in clinical psychology (Psychology Board of Australia). AHPRA registration number PSY0000965905.
Farah Sobhanian (Psychologist)
Registered Psychologist
BA Psychology, Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology
More than 18 years in mental health with individuals, couples and families. She completes ADHD assessments and works with anxiety, trauma, grief and loss.
Psychologist with general registration (Psychology Board of Australia). AHPRA registration number PSY0001260612.
Read their full profiles on our team page.
Where: Springfield Central, The Gap or telehealth
- Springfield Central: inside Springfield Doctors, in the Ipswich region.
- The Gap: inside The Gap Village Doctors, in Brisbane's north-west.
- Telehealth: the intake and feedback sessions can often be done by secure video; testing is done in person.
Not every practitioner works at every clinic on every day, so when you call we'll let you know who is available where. Both clinics are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm; for Saturdays, please call to check.
Prefer to talk it through first? Call 0410 029 886, or see all our assessments.