Giftedness & Twice-Exceptional (2e) Assessment
Giftedness assessment costs in Melbourne vary depending on the referral question and the assessment required. There is no single standard assessment pathway for giftedness or twice exceptionality because families may be seeking answers to very different questions.
For some children and teens, the main question relates to high cognitive ability or possible intellectual giftedness. For others, there may also be questions about ADHD, autism, learning differences, academic achievement, executive functioning, or an existing diagnosis.
At aMAZEin’ Minds Psychology, we therefore recommend contacting us before booking a giftedness or twice-exceptional assessment. We can clarify what you are hoping to understand, consider any previous assessment information, and advise which assessment approach is most likely to answer your questions.
Important Note
There is no single standard “2e assessment” or fixed 2e assessment fee. The assessment process is tailored to the referral question. We will explain the recommended assessment components and expected fees before you decide whether to proceed.
What Do Giftedness and Twice Exceptionality Mean?
Giftedness is not always defined in the same way across clinical, educational and community settings.
The Victorian Department of Education uses the broader term high ability to describe students whose ability or potential is more advanced than that of similar-aged peers in one or more domains, including intellectual, physical, creative and social ability.
Psychological assessment is most directly relevant when the referral question concerns intellectual or cognitive ability. Cognitive assessment can provide information about how a child reasons, processes information, remembers information and approaches different types of problem-solving. It is one source of information about a child’s profile rather than a measure of every possible form of giftedness.
Twice exceptional, often shortened to 2e, generally describes a child or young person who has high ability alongside one or more disabilities or areas of difficulty. Victorian education guidance specifically recognises that high ability can co-occur with autism, ADHD, learning difficulties and other disabilities.
→ Learn more about our Giftedness Assessments for Children and Teens
→ Learn more about Twice-Exceptional (2e) Assessment
If you are still considering whether giftedness might be relevant, you may also find our guide to the signs of a gifted child helpful.
Why Is There No Standard 2e Assessment Fee?
Twice exceptionality describes a profile, rather than one diagnosis with one prescribed assessment process.
Two children whose families are both exploring possible twice exceptionality may need quite different assessments.
For example:
- One family may primarily want to understand whether their child demonstrates unusually advanced cognitive abilities.
- Another may be wondering about high cognitive ability alongside attention or executive functioning differences.
- Another may be exploring possible autism alongside significant cognitive strengths.
- Another may have a child who reasons at a very advanced level but experiences persistent difficulties with reading, writing or mathematics.
- Another may already have an established diagnosis and only require clarification of a more specific unanswered question.
The Victorian Department of Education also notes that high ability and disability can sometimes camouflage one another. A child may perform at an expected level despite having substantially greater underlying ability, or areas of difficulty may draw attention away from significant strengths.
This is why we determine the referral question first rather than applying the same assessment package to every child.
How Do We Determine the Appropriate Assessment?
Step 1: Clarify What You Want to Understand
You do not need to know which assessment to ask for before contacting us.
It is more useful to tell us what has prompted you to seek assessment and what you are hoping to understand.
This might include questions about:
- Cognitive or intellectual strengths.
- Learning and academic achievement.
- Attention or executive functioning.
- Autism.
- ADHD.
- Reading, writing or mathematics development.
- An uneven profile of significant strengths and areas requiring support.
- An existing diagnosis that does not fully explain your child’s learning or developmental profile.
- Educational planning, extension or appropriate supports.
Step 2: Consider Existing Information
Previous information may help determine what, if anything, needs to be assessed again.
Where available, this may include:
- Previous cognitive or academic assessment reports.
- Existing autism, ADHD or Specific Learning Disorder assessments.
- School reports.
- Information about previous interventions or supports.
- Other relevant professional reports.
We aim to avoid unnecessary duplication of assessment wherever possible.
Step 3: Determine the Assessment Components
Once the referral question is clearer, we can consider which assessment components are relevant.
Depending on the individual circumstances, assessment may involve cognitive testing, academic assessment, developmental history, interviews, questionnaires, observations or other standardised assessment methods.
Not every child will require assessment across all of these areas.
Step 4: Confirm the Proposed Process and Fees
Once we have enough information to understand the likely scope of assessment, we can explain:
- The assessment pathway we recommend.
- What the proposed assessment is intended to clarify.
- The likely assessment components.
- Any relevant existing assessment pathway.
- The expected fees.
You can then decide whether you would like to proceed.
What Might a Giftedness or 2e Assessment Involve?
The assessment components depend on the referral question.
They may include:
- A detailed developmental and educational history.
- Review of previous reports and assessments.
- Cognitive assessment, which may help us understand areas such as verbal comprehension, visual-spatial reasoning, fluid reasoning, working memory and processing speed. You can learn more about cognitive testing here.
- Academic achievement assessment where learning is part of the referral question.
- Assessment or questionnaires relevant to attention and executive functioning.
- Autism-specific assessment where autism is part of the referral question.
- Parent, teacher or other informant information where relevant.
- A written report outlining assessment findings and recommendations.
- A feedback appointment to discuss the results and next steps.
This does not mean every child requires all of these components.
The assessment should be broad enough to answer the referral question without adding unnecessary assessment simply because a child has been described as gifted or possibly twice exceptional.
Different Referral Questions May Lead to Different Assessment Pathways
Some families who contact us about giftedness or twice exceptionality may be best supported through one of our existing assessment pathways.
These examples are not intended to determine which assessment your child needs. They simply illustrate why there is no single 2e assessment process.
Giftedness or High Cognitive Ability
If the main question relates to possible intellectual giftedness or unusually advanced cognitive abilities, cognitive assessment may be the central component.
Other assessment may be considered where it is relevant to the questions you would like answered.
→ Learn more about Giftedness Assessment for Children and Teens
Giftedness Alongside Attention or Executive Functioning Differences
Some families are wondering about significant cognitive strengths alongside differences in attention, organisation, impulse regulation or executive functioning.
Where ADHD is also a genuine referral question, our ADHD assessment pathway may be relevant. This pathway already incorporates cognitive assessment, so a separate cognitive assessment may not necessarily be required.
→ View our ADHD Assessment Pricing & Process
Giftedness Alongside Possible Autism
Some children and teens show significant cognitive strengths while also having developmental, social communication, sensory or other characteristics that lead families to explore autism.
Where autism is part of the referral question, our Autism Assessment for Children and Teens pathway may be relevant. Cognitive assessment is already incorporated within our typical autism assessment process.
→ View Autism Assessment Pricing & Process for Children and Teens
Giftedness Alongside Possible Autism and ADHD
Where there are meaningful questions about both autism and ADHD alongside significant strengths, a broader assessment may be appropriate.
Our AuDHD assessment pathway for children and teens incorporates cognitive assessment alongside assessment relevant to autism and ADHD.
→ View Child & Teen AuDHD Assessment Pricing & Process
Giftedness Alongside Learning Difficulties
Some children show strong cognitive abilities while also experiencing persistent difficulties with reading, spelling, written expression or mathematics.
Where the referral question involves both cognitive abilities and academic learning, a psychoeducational assessment may be relevant.
Psychoeducational assessment allows cognitive abilities and academic achievement to be considered together.
→ View Psychoeducational Assessment Pricing & Process
Unsure which of these sounds most like your child?
You do not need to choose an assessment pathway yourself. Contact us with a brief description of what you have noticed and what you are hoping to understand, and we can help determine the most appropriate next step.
What If My Child Already Has a Diagnosis?
An existing diagnosis does not automatically mean that the same area needs to be reassessed.
For example, a child may already have an established ADHD, autism or Specific Learning Disorder diagnosis and later be referred because their family or school is wondering about significant cognitive strengths.
In these circumstances, please provide any previous assessment reports before booking where possible.
We can consider the information already available and determine what additional assessment may be needed to address the new referral question.
What If My Child Has Already Had Cognitive Testing?
Please let us know.
The usefulness of previous cognitive assessment will depend on factors such as:
- What assessment was completed.
- When it was completed.
- The child’s age at the time.
- The reason it was administered.
- The information contained in the report.
- The questions you are now hoping to answer.
We can review the available information before recommending repeat cognitive assessment.
Giftedness and Twice-Exceptional Assessment Fees
Because assessment is tailored to the referral question, we do not list one standard giftedness or 2e package fee.
The cost depends on the assessment components required to answer the questions being explored.
Once we understand the likely scope of assessment, we will explain the proposed process and fees before you proceed.
For general information about our psychology and assessment fee structure, you can also view our Psychology Fees page.
What If We Are Not Sure What We Need?
That is completely fine.
Many families contact us because something about their child’s profile does not seem straightforward, rather than because they already know which assessment they require.
It can be helpful to send us:
- Your child’s age and school year level.
- A brief description of their strengths.
- Any areas that have prompted concern or questions.
- What their school has noticed.
- Any existing diagnoses.
- Details of previous assessments.
- What you are hoping an assessment will help clarify.
From there, we can advise what type of assessment may be worth considering.
Ready to Discuss Giftedness or 2e Assessment?
Our approach to giftedness and twice-exceptional assessment is focused on understanding the individual profile, rather than assuming that one assessment pathway fits every child.
We aim to:
- Consider strengths alongside areas requiring support.
- Match assessment to the referral question.
- Consider previous assessment information where available.
- Avoid unnecessary duplication of testing.
- Explain the proposed assessment and fees before proceeding.
- Provide practical recommendations relevant to the child’s learning and everyday context.
If you are considering a giftedness or twice-exceptional assessment but are unsure what your child needs, please contact us to discuss your situation to ascertain what may be the most suitable assessment outline.
You do not need to determine the assessment pathway yourself.
Tell us a little about your child, what you have noticed, any previous assessment that has been completed, and what you are hoping to understand. We can then advise on the most appropriate next step and provide information about the proposed assessment process and fees.
aMAZEin’ Minds Psychology provides giftedness and twice-exceptional assessment for children and adolescents from our Mount Waverley clinic in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.
📞 (03) 7046 4528
✉️ info@amazeinminds.com.au
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📍 Our clinic is based in Mount Waverley, in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. We support clients from nearby areas including Glen Waverley, Wheelers Hill, Burwood, Chadstone, Ashwood, Notting Hill, Clayton, Oakleigh, and Mulgrave. Telehealth appointments are also available across Victoria and throughout Australia.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is Giftedness a Diagnosis?
No. Giftedness or high ability is not a neurodevelopmental or mental health diagnosis.
Definitions of giftedness and high ability also vary across contexts. The Victorian Department of Education uses the broader concept of high ability across intellectual, creative, physical and social domains.
Is There a Specific Test for Twice Exceptionality?
No. There is no single standardised “2e test”.
Twice exceptionality refers to the co-occurrence of high ability and disability or difficulty. Assessment therefore depends on which aspects of the child’s profile need to be understood.
Does a High IQ Automatically Mean My Child Is Twice Exceptional?
No.
High cognitive ability alone does not constitute twice exceptionality. A twice-exceptional profile involves high ability alongside a disability or area of difficulty.
Can My Child Be Gifted Without Having ADHD or Autism?
Yes.
Giftedness does not require the presence of ADHD, autism, a learning disorder or another diagnosis. Australian parent guidance also recognises that children may be gifted in one or more areas and that some, but not all, gifted children also have disability.
Does My Child Need Separate Cognitive Testing If We Are Exploring ADHD or Autism?
Not necessarily.
Our typical ADHD, child autism and child AuDHD assessment pathways already include cognitive assessment. Whether that assessment adequately addresses the questions about your child’s cognitive profile will depend on the individual referral question.
My Child Is Very Capable but Struggling at School. Could They Be Twice Exceptional?
There are many possible reasons for a discrepancy between a child’s apparent abilities and their performance or experience at school.
Twice exceptionality is one possibility, but it should not be assumed from this pattern alone. Victorian education guidance notes that high ability and disability can sometimes mask one another, which is one reason assessment may be useful when a child’s profile is difficult to understand.
Do We Need to Know Whether It Is Giftedness, ADHD, Autism or a Learning Difference Before Contacting You?
No.
Tell us what you have noticed and what you would like help understanding. We can advise which assessment pathway, if any, appears most appropriate.
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