FAQs

PECS has deliberately chosen a scheduling approach that enables quick turnaround. The waiting period for assessment appointments is approximately 21-28 days and the full assessment reports are completed within 7-10 working days from the day of the assessment.

Depending upon the type of service, Private Health Rebates are available from all Private Health Funds, however, it is the client’s responsibility to check with their Health Fund as to whether a rebate applies, and the amount of rebate provided.

Depending upon the type of service, rebates are also available from Medicare, however, it is the client’s responsibility to check with Medicare as to whether a rebate applies, and the amount of rebate. You will need to have been referred by a Medical Practitioner under a MHCP (GP item 2710) prior to the service being provided by PECS to claim a rebate from Medicare. A simple referral from a GP will not suffice. A written referral from a Paediatrician or Psychiatrist will automatically qualify for Medicare rebates.

Payment can be made by cash, cheque, EFT, or Credit Card, (sorry, there is 1.95% merchant fee surcharge). Completed reports will not be sent until full payment has been received. Payment plans are available by request.

PECS aligns with the DSM-5-TR which allows for one of the following three diagnoses.

1. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Predominantly Hyperactive/Impulsive Presentation
2. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Predominantly Inattentive Presentation
3. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Combined Presentation

Therefore, the correct acronym if aligning with the DSM-5-TR (APA, 2022) is ADHD, not ADD. ADHD Combined Presentation refers to an individual who has both Hyperactive/Impulsive and Inattentive traits.

Although suitably trained Psychologists are permitted to diagnose ADHD, traditionally in WA it is formally diagnosed by either a Paediatrician, Child Psychiatrist or Psychiatrist. Therefore, if an individual’s cognitive and/or behavioural results suggest that ADHD is a possibility, it is deemed appropriate of PECS to recommend that the appropriate Paediatrician/ Psychiatrist consulted for their expert opinion. PECS does not make the recommendation on the basis that they believe the individual definitely has ADHD. Please note that a GP referral is required to see a Paediatrician/ Psychiatrist. Please take your report to your GP appointment so they can see the assessment results supporting possible ADHD.

PECS aligns its diagnostic approach with the DSM-5-TR (APA, 2022) as this is the classification system that the educational organisations in Western Australia (e.g., School Curriculum Standards Authority, WA Department of Education, Catholic Education Office, Association of Independent Schools, etc) align with.

The DSM-5 (APA, 2013) Neurodevelopmental Work Group, who were responsible for the decision to use the term Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) in the DSM-5 (APA, 2013), “concluded that the many definitions of dyslexia and dyscalculia meant those terms would not be useful as disorder names or in the diagnostic criteria”.

Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) has been maintained as the disorder name in the DSM-5-TR (APA, 2022), therefore, PECS only uses the term Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) throughout this report.

However, in simplistic terms, Dyslexia=a SLD in Reading (and often Spelling); Dyscalculia=a SLD in Mathematics; and Dysgraphia=a SLD in Written Expression.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Intellectual Developmental Disorder (IDD) are considered eligible disorders under the NDIS.

ADHD and Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) are not considered eligible disorders under the NDIS, therefore, no NDIS support/funding is available for these.

The best thing to do is to call PECS on (08) 9388 8044 and ask for their advice.

Also, you may wish to complete a PsychProfiler for only $5.

The PsychProfiler is a comprehensive psychological testing tool for the simultaneous investigation of the 20 most prevalent psychiatric, psychological, and educational disorders found in children, adolescents and adults. It’s used to identify any disorders during a psychological profile test at an early stage to assist formal diagnosis, intervention and prevention of further mental health or educational problems.

The PsychProfiler has been developed over the past 20 years, including validation against a large mainstream and clinical sample, and has been updated to incorporate the recent advances in the DSM-5-TR (APA, 2022).

The PsychProfiler has been the most widely used Australian psychiatric / psychological / educational global screening instrument since 2004.

Please visit www.psychprofiler.com