Provides a draft report of a cognitive assessment for an adult.
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Confidential
Psychological Assessment Report
Client’s name:
Date of birth:
Age at assessment:
Client’s address:
Assessor’s name and profession:
Measures used:
Assessment date:
Report date:
Documents reviewed:
Referral Information:
Background Information / Personal History:
Previous Assessments:
Medical and Mental Health History:
Current Concerns:
Behavioural Observations:
Assessments Administered:
Diagnostic Impression:
Summary:
Recommendations:
Conclusion:
Confidential
Psychological Assessment Report
Name: David Blogs
Date of Birth: 22 March, 1989
Age at Assessment: 36 Years, 10 Months
Client’s Address: 45 Wattle Drive, NovoPsych, Australia
Assessor: Emma Brown, Registered Psychologist
Measures Used:
Assessment Date: 28 January, 2026
Report Date: 10 February, 2026
Documents Reviewed:
Referral Information:
David Blogs was referred for a cognitive assessment by his NDIS Support Coordinator, Tom Harris, to assist with an NDIS plan review and to clarify David’s current level of intellectual functioning, adaptive behaviour, and support needs. David’s mother, Mary Blogs, who is his primary informal support, also expressed a desire for a comprehensive understanding of David’s cognitive profile to guide future planning. David has a longstanding history of learning difficulties, having first been identified as requiring additional academic support in primary school. Mary reported that David has experienced increasing difficulty managing daily tasks independently since moving into a supported independent living arrangement approximately 18 months ago, including challenges with budgeting, meal preparation, and navigating public transport. These difficulties have reportedly contributed to social withdrawal and low mood over the past six to eight months.
Background Information / Personal History:
David’s birth was uncomplicated. Mary reported that David was slow to reach early developmental milestones, including first words at approximately 24 months and independent walking at 18 months. He attended mainstream primary and secondary school with integration aide support and was placed in a modified curriculum from Year 8 onwards. David completed Year 10 and did not pursue further formal education. He has held several supported employment positions in warehouse and retail settings but has not maintained employment for longer than 12 months. David currently resides in a supported independent living arrangement with one housemate and receives daily drop-in support from a disability support worker. He has no history of legal issues. His parents separated when he was 12 years old, and he maintains regular contact with his mother; contact with his father is limited. David enjoys watching cricket, listening to music, and attending a weekly social group organised through his NDIS plan.
Previous Assessments:
David was assessed by a school psychologist in 2001, at approximately 12 years of age. Mary reported that this assessment indicated David’s intellectual functioning was in the “below average” range, though she was unable to provide the specific report or detailed results. No other formal cognitive or adaptive behaviour assessments have been completed since that time.
Medical and Mental Health History:
David was diagnosed with mild Intellectual Disability by Dr Sarah Green, Psychiatrist, in June 2024, based on a clinical interview and review of historical records. Dr Green also diagnosed David with a Major Depressive Episode at that time. David was commenced on sertraline 50 mg daily, which was subsequently increased to 100 mg daily in September 2024. David reported that his mood has “improved a bit” since starting medication, though he continues to experience low motivation and occasional sleep difficulties. There is no family history of intellectual disability reported by Mary, though she noted that David’s father experienced depression.
Current Concerns:
David and Mary both identified difficulties with independent living skills as a primary concern. David reported that he finds it hard to remember to pay bills, prepare meals beyond basic snacks, and plan his weekly schedule without prompts from his support worker. Mary added that David often becomes overwhelmed when required to make decisions, such as choosing between activities or managing unexpected changes to his routine. David’s NDIS Support Coordinator, Tom Harris, noted in his case notes that David has been increasingly reluctant to attend his social group over the past three months and has expressed a desire to find paid employment but is unsure of what kind of work would be suitable. David stated that he would like to “be more independent” and to “get a real job.” Mary expressed a hope that the assessment results would help identify the right level and type of support for David going forward.
ASSESSMENT
Behavioural Observations:
David presented as a neatly groomed man who arrived on time to the assessment accompanied by his mother. He was polite and cooperative throughout the assessment, maintaining adequate eye contact and responding appropriately to conversational exchanges. David’s expressive language was characterised by simple sentence structures and occasional word-finding difficulties, though his receptive language appeared broadly adequate for the purposes of understanding test instructions. He required several items to be repeated or rephrased during more complex verbal tasks. David’s attention and concentration were generally adequate for short tasks but appeared to decline during longer, more demanding subtests, during which he was observed to fidget and look around the room. He demonstrated a methodical but slow approach to problem-solving tasks, often seeking reassurance from the assessor before committing to an answer. David’s affect was generally flat, though he smiled on several occasions when he felt he had answered correctly. He appeared motivated to do his best and did not display any signs of deliberate poor effort. Fatigue was noted towards the end of the assessment, and a short break was provided. Overall, the results of this assessment are considered a valid estimate of David’s current cognitive and adaptive functioning.
Assessments Administered:
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale – Fourth Edition Australian and New Zealand Language Adapted Edition (WAIS-IV A&NZ):
The WAIS-IV A&NZ is an individually administered, comprehensive measure of intellectual ability for adults aged 16 to 90 years. It provides a Full Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ) as well as four index scores: Verbal Comprehension (VCI), Perceptual Reasoning (PRI), Working Memory (WMI), and Processing Speed (PSI). Scores have a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15. Scores between 90 and 109 are classified as “Average.”
David obtained a Full Scale IQ of 62, which falls within the Extremely Low range and is ranked at the 1st percentile. This indicates that David’s overall intellectual functioning is significantly below the level expected for adults of his age. His Verbal Comprehension Index score was 68 (2nd percentile, Extremely Low), reflecting significant difficulties with verbal reasoning, word knowledge, and the ability to express ideas verbally. His Perceptual Reasoning Index score was 65 (1st percentile, Extremely Low), indicating marked difficulty with nonverbal reasoning, spatial processing, and the ability to analyse and synthesise visual information. His Working Memory Index score was 71 (3rd percentile, Borderline), suggesting significant limitations in the ability to hold and manipulate information in short-term memory, which is likely to affect his capacity to follow multi-step instructions and manage daily tasks requiring mental tracking. His Processing Speed Index score was 68 (2nd percentile, Extremely Low), reflecting slow speed of cognitive processing across tasks requiring visual scanning and simple decision-making.
There was no statistically significant variability across David’s four index scores, indicating a relatively even cognitive profile with consistent limitations across all measured domains.
Adaptive Behavior Assessment System – Third Edition (ABAS-3), Self-Report and Informant (Mother) Forms:
The ABAS-3 is a standardised measure of adaptive behaviour across three broad domains: Conceptual, Social, and Practical. It yields a General Adaptive Composite (GAC) score as well as domain and skill area scores. The ABAS-3 was completed by David (Self-Report Form) and by his mother, Mary Blogs (Informant Form). Scores have a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15.
On the Self-Report Form, David obtained a GAC of 68 (2nd percentile, Extremely Low). His Conceptual Domain score was 70 (2nd percentile, Borderline), reflecting difficulties with functional literacy, self-direction, and time management. His Social Domain score was 74 (4th percentile, Borderline), suggesting limited but emerging social communication and interpersonal skills. His Practical Domain score was 65 (1st percentile, Extremely Low), indicating significant difficulty with daily living activities such as meal preparation, household management, and use of community resources.
On the Informant Form completed by Mary, David obtained a GAC of 64 (1st percentile, Extremely Low). Mary rated David’s adaptive functioning as somewhat lower than David rated himself, particularly in the Practical Domain (score of 60, Extremely Low), where she highlighted significant concerns regarding David’s ability to manage finances, prepare meals, and travel independently. Mary’s ratings in the Conceptual Domain (score of 68, Extremely Low) and Social Domain (score of 70, Borderline) were broadly consistent with David’s self-report.
The convergence between David’s self-report and Mary’s informant report provides confidence in the validity of the adaptive functioning profile. Both sources indicate that David’s adaptive behaviour is significantly below age expectations across all domains, with particular difficulty in practical daily living skills.
Depression Anxiety Stress Scales – 21 Item Version (DASS-21):
The DASS-21 is a brief self-report measure of depression, anxiety, and stress. Scores are doubled to enable comparison with the full DASS-42 normative data. Severity ratings range from Normal to Extremely Severe.
David’s Depression score was 22 (Severe), his Anxiety score was 10 (Moderate), and his Stress score was 16 (Moderate). These results are consistent with David’s reported experiences of low mood, reduced motivation, and sleep difficulties. His elevated depression score is notable and may be contributing to reduced engagement in daily activities and social participation. These findings are consistent with the diagnosis of Major Depressive Episode made by Dr Sarah Green in June 2024.
Diagnostic Impression:
David’s cognitive assessment results are consistent with a diagnosis of Mild Intellectual Disability, as reflected by a Full Scale IQ of 62 on the WAIS-IV A&NZ and significantly impaired adaptive functioning across the Conceptual, Social, and Practical domains on the ABAS-3. These findings are consistent with the clinical diagnosis made by Dr Sarah Green in June 2024. David’s cognitive profile is relatively even, with no significant discrepancies between index scores, suggesting a global pattern of intellectual limitation rather than a specific learning disorder. His concurrent Severe depressive symptoms, as measured by the DASS-21, are likely exacerbating his functional difficulties and should be considered when interpreting his current adaptive behaviour profile. A review of David’s mental health treatment, including the adequacy of his current antidepressant medication, is recommended.
Summary:
David Blogs, a 36-year-old man, was referred for cognitive assessment by his NDIS Support Coordinator to inform his NDIS plan review and to clarify his intellectual functioning and support needs. David has a longstanding history of learning difficulties and developmental delay, with a previous cognitive assessment in 2001 suggesting below-average intellectual functioning.
On the WAIS-IV A&NZ, David obtained a Full Scale IQ of 62, placing him in the Extremely Low range of intellectual functioning. His performance was consistently low across all four index domains, indicating a global pattern of cognitive limitation. Adaptive behaviour assessment via the ABAS-3, completed by both David and his mother, confirmed significant deficits in daily living skills, self-direction, and community participation. David also reported Severe depressive symptoms and Moderate anxiety and stress on the DASS-21.
Taken together, these results support a diagnosis of Mild Intellectual Disability and confirm that David requires ongoing, substantial support across multiple life domains. His current depressive symptoms are likely compounding his functional limitations and warrant clinical attention.
Recommendations:
Conclusion:
This assessment confirms that David presents with Mild Intellectual Disability characterised by significant limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour across the Conceptual, Social, and Practical domains. His concurrent depressive symptoms are likely contributing to further functional decline and warrant clinical review. These findings have direct implications for David’s NDIS plan and support arrangements and should inform decisions regarding his daily living support, employment pathway, and mental health treatment.
While this report identifies areas where David may benefit from additional support, it is important to recognise that he possesses strengths in areas not measured by these particular assessments. Building on these strengths may enhance David’s self-confidence, engagement, and overall well-being.
Additionally, performance on cognitive assessments can be influenced by various factors including motivation, attention, fatigue, anxiety, and circumstances on the day of testing. The results should therefore be interpreted as one component of a comprehensive understanding of David’s abilities.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss any aspect of this report, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours sincerely,
Emma Brown, Registered Psychologist
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