Neuropsychological assessment for children and adolescents in Laval
Understand how your child learns, focuses and develops, and get clear answers with concrete recommendations for home and school. In person in Laval or by teleconsultation, in French and English.
Book an appointment
When to consider an assessment
Parents rarely come in asking for a diagnosis. They come in because something does not add up between their child’s effort and results, or because the school, the daycare or the doctor has raised a question. These are the most common situations.
At school
Persistent difficulties in reading, writing or math, results that fall short of the effort put in, or an assessment request made by the school.
Attention and behaviour
Trouble concentrating or getting organized, restlessness, impulsivity, opposition, or marked fatigue at the end of the school day.
Development
Language or developmental delay in a young child, differences in social interaction, or questions about autism spectrum disorder.
Potential and school path
Suspected giftedness, a school derogation request, the choice of an adapted program, or the need to document a child’s strengths and needs.
An assessment is not only about a diagnosis. It is first about understanding how your child functions, so support at home and at school can be adjusted. When a diagnosis applies, it is made and explained clearly.
Assessments offered
All assessments are carried out with children and adolescents aged 0 to 17, using age-appropriate measures.
Neurodevelopmental disorders
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) assessment
- Attention deficit disorder assessment, with or without hyperactivity (ADHD)
- Learning disorder assessment (dyslexia, dysorthographia, dyscalculia)
Intellectual and cognitive functioning
- Global intellectual functioning assessment (IQ)
- Giftedness and high intellectual potential assessment
- Executive function assessment (attention, planning, working memory)
Development and school path
- Global developmental assessment for early childhood (developmental delay, ages 0 to 5)
- Preschool and school readiness assessment
- Assessment for school derogation (early admission or delayed school entry)
- Social, emotional and behavioural assessment (anxiety, emotional regulation, social difficulties)
Specific situations
- Assessment following a mild head injury or a concussion
- Assessment in the context of a medical or neurological condition (epilepsy, prematurity, and others)
- Assessment for accommodation requests or government programs (for example the Supplement for Handicapped Children, or a school intervention plan)
- Reassessment and neuropsychological follow-up
- Neuropsychological second opinion
- Differential diagnostic assessment (to distinguish between several diagnostic hypotheses)
Your clinician
Dr. Anushka Sondhoo
Doctor of clinical neuropsychology (D. Psy.), Université de Montréal
Dr. Anushka Sondhoo carries out all neuropsychological assessments for children and adolescents aged 0 to 17. She holds a bachelor’s degree in cognitive neuroscience and a doctorate in clinical neuropsychology from the Université de Montréal. Her clinical path has taken her into schools, working with elementary school children in both regular and specialized classes, and into a CLSC, working with young people and their families through the Familles et jeunes en difficulté program.
Her practice is caring and collaborative, and attentive to each child’s family context and cultural reality. She places particular emphasis on bringing strengths and needs to light, so that the recommendations are concrete and usable.
A regulated professional framework. In Quebec, the assessment of neuropsychological disorders is an activity regulated by the Ordre des psychologues du Québec. At Clinique Octobre, assessments are carried out within that framework.
How the assessment works
Initial clinical interview (about 75 minutes)
A meeting with the parents, and with the young person depending on their age, to review the child’s developmental, medical and school history and clarify the questions behind the referral. This step is required: it determines the type and scope of the assessment.
Testing sessions
One or more sessions adapted to the child’s age and pace, using standardized measures and questionnaires completed by the parents and, with your consent, by the school or daycare.
Feedback meeting with the parents
A few weeks later, a meeting presents the results: observed strengths and needs, a diagnosis when one applies, and concrete recommendations for home and school.
Report and follow-up
You receive the complete neuropsychological report, which can be used with the school, the doctor or a government program. Follow-up meetings are available on request.
Duration and fees. The number of hours depends on the reason for the assessment, the complexity of the situation and the presence of associated conditions. We give you an estimate at the initial interview. Contact us for pricing and information.
What the report is used for
At school
Documenting the child’s needs to support an intervention plan, classroom accommodations or a school derogation request. The measures themselves are decided by the school.
With the doctor
Providing an objective picture of the child’s functioning to inform medical follow-up and, where relevant, the discussion of treatment options, which remain a matter of medical prescription.
Programs and applications
Supporting an application for the Supplement for Handicapped Children (Retraite Québec) or other programs that require an assessment report written by a professional.
Frequently asked questions
From what age can a child be assessed?
From early childhood. For young children aged 0 to 5, this takes the form of a global developmental assessment. Assessments continue up to age 17. For adults, see our Neuropsychology page.
Is a medical referral required?
No. In private practice you can book directly, without a referral. If the school or the doctor has already produced documents, bring them: they enrich the analysis.
Who carries out the assessment?
Dr. Anushka Sondhoo, doctor of clinical neuropsychology (D. Psy., Université de Montréal), carries out all assessments for children and adolescents, within the framework of the Ordre des psychologues du Québec.
Are ADHD, autism and giftedness assessed?
Yes. ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, learning disorders, giftedness and intellectual functioning are all part of the assessments offered, along with differential diagnostic assessment when several hypotheses are possible.
How long does the assessment take?
It starts with a clinical interview of about 75 minutes, followed by one or more testing sessions adapted to the child’s age, then a feedback meeting a few weeks later. We give you an estimate from the first contact.
Is the report recognized by the school?
The neuropsychological report documents the child’s strengths and needs and sets out recommendations. It can support an intervention plan, accommodations or a derogation request; the final decision on measures rests with the school or the organization concerned.
In French or English?
Both. Assessments are offered in French and English, in person in Laval or by teleconsultation anywhere in Quebec.
Plan an assessment for your child
Clear answers and concrete recommendations for home and school. Our team supports you at every step, in Laval or remotely.
Book an appointmentOfficial sources: Ordre des psychologues du Québec, assessment of neuropsychological disorders · Gouvernement du Québec, Supplement for Handicapped Children. See also Neuropsychology (adults) and our team.