Can you trust a $49 online screening?
A fair question, and the honest answer is: trust it for exactly what it is. GiraffeLens is a careful screening built on the science behind the tests psychologists use, not a diagnosis and not a substitute for one. Here is precisely how it works, and what it will never pretend to be.
The same abilities the clinical tests measure
The cognitive modules follow the WISC-V's core index structure (reasoning, working memory, processing speed, verbal comprehension), organised by the Cattell-Horn-Carroll model. The academic modules follow the achievement domains of the WIAT. The behavioural questionnaires are built around the DSM-5 symptom domains, in our own words.
Cautious, honest scoring
We report ranges against age expectations, never IQ scores, standard scores or percentiles, because those need standardised one-to-one testing no online tool can honestly claim. Where the optional Quick Screen trades detail for speed, we say so on the result itself.
The multi-setting view clinicians use
An optional teacher questionnaire mirrors the DSM-5's two-setting requirement, the reason clinicians collect both home and school ratings before considering ADHD. Most consumer tools skip this; we built it in.
Your child's data stays on your device
Screening answers and results are stored on your device, not uploaded or sold. You choose if and when to share the report.
Built in Australia, for the Australian pathway
The report's next steps follow the road Australian families actually walk: GP and paediatrician referrals, school learning-support conversations, NCCD adjustments and, where relevant, the NDIS. The WISC-V structure we reference is the same one behind its Australian & New Zealand standardised edition.
What we will never do
- Diagnose ADHD, dyslexia, autism or any condition, that is a regulated clinical act
- Report fake IQ scores or percentiles
- Upload or sell your child's data
- Discourage you from seeing a psychologist, the report exists to make that decision easier
Independent, with nothing to upsell
We are an independent product, not a clinical service, and we have no financial relationship with any assessment provider we might point you toward. When the screening says “no assessment needed right now,” that is a result we are glad to give. You can read the full methodology, including the published frameworks and references, on our about & methodology page, and how we compare with every other option on the comparison page.
What parents say
“His teachers had raised some concerns and recommended a full psychoeducational examination, which would have cost around $990. Before committing to that, we began with a screening. The results gave us valuable insight into how our son learns, thinks and focuses, highlighting his strengths as well as the areas where he needs support, and showed that a full assessment was not needed at this stage, which was a huge relief. The recommendations were practical and easy to understand, and we felt more confident speaking with his teachers. Rather than feeling worried or uncertain, we came away informed, reassured and more prepared to help our son succeed. A practical and affordable way to gain clarity before deciding whether a full examination is needed.”
Free to start. The full report is $49, charged in your local currency.