What to Expect from an Adult Assessment

The Adult Assessment Process

If you are considering a psychological assessment as an adult, you may be wondering what the process actually involves. Adult assessments are structured differently than child assessments. You are an active participant in every stage, and the process is designed to be respectful of your time, your autonomy, and your lived experience.

This guide walks you through each step so you know exactly what to expect.

Step 1: The Consultation Call

Most assessments begin with a consultation. This is a brief phone or video call where you describe your concerns and the psychologist explains how the assessment works. This call helps determine whether a full assessment is the right next step for you.

During the consultation, you might discuss:

• What prompted you to seek an assessment
• Any previous diagnoses or assessments
• What you are hoping to learn or gain from the process
• Whether a virtual or in-person format would work better for you

At Cornerstone, this initial consultation is free and comes with no obligation.

Step 2: Intake and Background Information

Before the testing sessions, you will complete intake forms that cover your personal history. These forms ask about:

• Your developmental history (to the extent you know it)
• Your education and work history
• Your mental health history
• Your medical history and current medications
• Your daily routines and challenges
• Your family history of neurodevelopmental conditions

If you were assessed as a child or have previous psychological or medical reports, bringing those is helpful but not required. The psychologist may also ask a partner, parent, or close friend to complete a brief questionnaire about their observations of you. This is optional and done with your consent.

Step 3: Testing Sessions

The testing itself typically takes one to two sessions, each lasting three to four hours. Some adults complete everything in a single day. Others prefer to spread it across two appointments.

Testing for adults includes a mix of structured tasks, questionnaires, and conversation. Unlike school exams, there is no pass or fail. The psychologist is measuring how your brain processes information, not how much you know.

Common Assessment Tools for Adults

The specific tools used depend on your referral concerns. Here are some of the instruments commonly used in adult assessments:

Cognitive ability:

• WAIS-V (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Fifth Edition): This measures verbal comprehension, visual-spatial reasoning, fluid reasoning, working memory, and processing speed. It provides a detailed map of your cognitive strengths and areas of difficulty.

Attention and executive function:

• CAARS-2 (Conners’ Adult ADHD Rating Scales, Second Edition): A self-report and observer-report questionnaire that measures ADHD-related symptoms in adults.
• CPT-3 (Continuous Performance Test, Third Edition): A computerized task that measures sustained attention, impulsivity, and vigilance.

Autism:

• ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition): A semi-structured observation tool that involves conversation and interactive tasks. It is used when autism is part of the referral question.

Academic achievement:

• WIAT-4 (Wechsler Individual Achievement Test, Fourth Edition): Measures reading, writing, and math skills. This is used when a learning disability is suspected.

Social-emotional and behavioural functioning:

• Standardized questionnaires that measure anxiety, depression, emotional regulation, and adaptive functioning.

You do not need to prepare for these tools. The psychologist will explain each task before you begin.

Step 4: Clinical Interview

Alongside the testing, the psychologist conducts a thorough clinical interview. This is a structured conversation that explores your history and current experiences in more depth than the intake forms.

The interview might cover:

• Your experience in school (elementary, secondary, post-secondary)
• Your work history and current job challenges
• Your relationships and social experiences
• Your sensory preferences and sensitivities
• Your emotional patterns and coping strategies
• Your daily routines and how you manage tasks

This interview is essential. Test scores tell part of the story. Your lived experience fills in the rest.

Step 5: Scoring and Report Writing

After the testing sessions, the psychologist scores all the assessments, integrates the results with the clinical interview and background information, and writes a comprehensive report. This process typically takes two to four weeks.

What the Report Covers

Your report will include:

• Background summary: Your history, referral concerns, and the information you provided.
• Assessment methods: A list of all tools and measures used.
• Results: Your scores on each assessment, with explanations of what they mean.
• Clinical impressions: The psychologist’s interpretation of the results, including any diagnoses.
• Recommendations: Specific, actionable suggestions for your situation.

Diagnoses and Terminology

If the results support a diagnosis, the report will name it clearly. Common diagnoses identified through adult assessment include:

• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Specific Learning Disorder (in reading, writing, or math)
• Intellectual Disability

The report may also note subclinical patterns, meaning traits that are present and meaningful but do not meet full diagnostic criteria. These observations are still valuable for understanding yourself.

Step 6: Feedback Session

Once the report is complete, you meet with the psychologist to review the results together. This feedback session is a chance to:

• Hear the results explained in plain language
• Ask questions about your scores and what they mean
• Discuss the diagnoses and whether they resonate with your experience
• Review the recommendations and talk about next steps
• Clarify anything in the report before it is finalized

At Cornerstone, the feedback session is included in the assessment fee. We want you to leave with a clear understanding of the results and a plan for using them.

How an Adult Assessment Differs from a Child Assessment

If you were assessed as a child or have seen a child go through the process, you may notice some differences:

• You are the primary informant. With children, parents provide most of the background information. With adults, you are the expert on your own experience.
• Different tools. Adult versions of cognitive and achievement tests are calibrated for adult norms. The WAIS-V replaces the WISC-V. Adult-specific questionnaires address workplace and daily living concerns.
• Self-report is central. Many adult assessment tools rely on your self-report alongside structured observation.
• Context is broader. The assessment considers your work life, relationships, and independent living, not just academic performance.

Using Your Results

Your assessment report is a practical document. Here is how adults commonly use their results:

• Post-secondary accommodations: Register with your institution’s accessibility services office and provide the report. Common accommodations include extended test time, note-taking support, and alternative exam formats.
• Workplace accommodations: Share relevant recommendations with your employer or human resources department. You do not need to share the full report. A summary letter can be prepared.
• Disability Tax Credit (DTC): The report provides the clinical evidence needed to support a DTC application.
• Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP): The report documents the nature and impact of your disability for ODSP applications.
• Personal understanding: Many adults describe the assessment as the first time their experience was validated and explained. That understanding alone has value.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a doctor’s referral?

No. In Ontario, you can book directly with a registered psychologist without a referral.

Can the assessment be done virtually?

Yes. Many adult assessments can be completed through secure video platforms. The psychologist will let you know if any components need to be done in person.

How long does the whole process take?

From the initial consultation to receiving your report, the process typically takes four to eight weeks. Testing sessions themselves take one to two days.

Will my results be shared with anyone?

Your results are confidential. The report is shared only with people you authorize. All psychologists registered with the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario (CPBAO) follow strict privacy and confidentiality requirements.