For a dyslexia or ADHD assessment outside school, Punggol parents have three main routes: a polyclinic or CHAS GP referral to KKH or NUH at subsidised rates, the Dyslexia Association of Singapore (DAS), or a registered private psychologist. Ask your child’s school too, because MOE’s own assessment route costs nothing.
Wanting answers for your child is not over-worrying. A clear assessment can make school, and home, a lot easier for everyone.
This page is part of eduKate Punggol’s When You Need Help in Punggol, our practical guides for life’s occasions, big and small. It covers how to get a formal diagnosis outside school: the referral routes, where to go from Punggol, what each option costs and how long it usually takes. In-school learning support is covered in our guides linked below.
Quick answer
- Free first: ask the school. With your consent, MOE Educational Psychologists assess students, on average within about two months.
- Subsidised hospital route: get a referral from SingHealth Polyclinics – Punggol or a CHAS GP to KKH or NUH. Self-referrals and ordinary GP or private referrals are charged at private rates.
- ADHD in under-18s: the nearest IMH Child Guidance Clinic is at 10 Buangkok View, on 6389 2200. Ask whether you need a referral.
- Dyslexia: DAS assesses children from age 6. Since 1 July 2026, fees for Singapore Citizens start from $1,784.50 for dyslexia and $2,673.40 for ADHD, with bursaries of 33% to 100%.
- Privately: choose an Educational or Clinical Psychologist listed in the Singapore Register of Psychologists.
How to Plan a Dyslexia or ADHD Assessment
You do not need to choose the perfect route on day one. Most families start with the school and a doctor, then decide.
- Gather what you have. MOE and DAS both ask for school reports and any medical records. Add a few notes on what you see at home: homework, reading, focus, sleep and mood.
- Talk to the form teacher. MOE says teachers screen language, literacy and numeracy at Primary 1, and observe students with persistent difficulties for signs of ADHD and autism. With your consent, the school can refer your child to an MOE Educational Psychologist. MOE also supports students based on their learning needs, without waiting for a diagnosis.
- For a hospital assessment, see a polyclinic or CHAS GP doctor. Ask for a referral to KKH or NUH. MOE says subsidies apply when a polyclinic or CHAS clinic makes the referral.
- Do not ask for a named doctor. KKH says a polyclinic referral to a specific named doctor is charged at non-subsidised rates.
- For ADHD in a child under 18, call the IMH Child Guidance Clinic on 6389 2200 and ask how to get an appointment. The clinic’s page lists referral routes for autism, but not for ADHD.
- For a DAS assessment, apply online with your child’s birth certificate, a Teacher’s Questionnaire completed by the current teacher, and any reports. DAS does not process incomplete applications.
- If you go private, check the psychologist. MOE suggests confirming they are on the Singapore Register of Psychologists, take private appointments and have the right qualifications. It notes that psychologists with .gov.sg or .org.sg emails typically do not take private appointments.
Where to Go for an ADHD Assessment or Dyslexia Test
Only the polyclinic is in Punggol itself. The nearest Child Guidance Clinic is in Buangkok, and KKH is in central Singapore.
| Who | Where and contact | Hours | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| SingHealth Polyclinics – Punggol | 681 Punggol Drive, Oasis Terraces #02-01, Singapore 820681, near Oasis LRT. Tel 6643 6969. | Mon–Fri 8am–1pm and 2–4.30pm; Sat 8am–12.30pm; closed Sun and public holidays | A subsidised referral to KKH or NUH. |
| IMH Child Guidance Clinic @ IMH (nearest to Punggol) | Buangkok Green Medical Park, 10 Buangkok View, Block 3, Basement 1, Singapore 539747. Tel 6389 2200. | Mon–Thu 8am–5.30pm; Fri 8am–5pm | ADHD assessment and therapy for under-18s, parent workshops, autism (ages 6 to 18), mood and anxiety. |
| IMH Child Guidance Clinic @ HPB | Health Promotion Board Building, 3 Second Hospital Avenue, #03-01, Singapore 168937 | Check with the clinic | A second clinic location, in Outram. |
| Dyslexia Association of Singapore (DAS), assessment services | Hotline 6444 5700. Apply through the DAS online application form. | Check with DAS | Dyslexia (from age 6), dyscalculia (from age 7), ADHD and autism assessments. |
| KKH Psychological Medicine | KKH@Halifax, 11 Halifax Road, Singapore 229262 | Internal referrals only | Children already under KKH’s care. It does not take direct bookings. |
| REACH East (run by KKH) | Through your child’s school counsellor | Via the school | School-linked support for students from Primary 1 to Junior College. |
| Private psychologist | Check the Singapore Register of Psychologists | Varies | A private assessment, at full private cost. |
Checked October 2026 — confirm on the official page before you go: MOE on assessment, IMH Child Guidance Clinic and DAS assessment services.
KKH@Halifax note: KKH says the Cavenagh slip road has been closed since 20 June 2026, and the building remains reachable by other routes.
Which Situation Fits You
Your child is in primary school
Start with the school. MOE says its Educational Psychologists’ diagnostic services are prioritised at primary schools, and assessments take about two months on average, though complex cases can take longer. You can still book an outside assessment at the same time if you would rather not wait.
Your child is six and struggling to read
DAS assesses for dyslexia from age 6, but recommends that six-year-olds have at least six months of phonics intervention first. Ask the school what reading support is already in place, and keep notes on progress to share later.
Your child is a teenager
The Child Guidance Clinic sees children and youths under 18. For secondary and JC students, the school counsellor can also refer to REACH East. DAS assesses secondary students too, and lists a separate Dyslexia Review fee.
You think it may be ADHD and something else
The Child Guidance Clinic covers ADHD, autism for ages 6 to 18, and mood and anxiety concerns, so one clinic can look at the wider picture. Its first visit is a 60 to 90 minute “Choice Appointment”, and the clinic strongly encourages a parent or guardian to come.
You need the report for a deadline
MOE advises getting an assessment at least six months before a special education school application deadline. If you need exam access arrangements, DAS says the final decision rests with the school or examination authority. Our SEAB access arrangements guide explains that process.
Cost is a worry
Use the subsidised polyclinic route to KKH or NUH, and ask DAS about its bursary. The free MOE route through the school is also open to you.
What an ADHD Assessment Costs, and How Long It Takes
KKH Children’s Specialist Clinics (Singapore Citizens, including GST, from 8 August 2026):
- Subsidised first or repeat visit: $43.50 to $101.49.
- Private first visit: $192.82 (Associate Consultant), $214.73 (Consultant) or $239.26 (Senior Consultant).
- These exclude medication, lab tests and X-rays. Saturday or evening clinics and long consultations may cost more, and prices for PRs and foreigners may differ.
DAS assessments (including 9% GST, from 1 July 2026):
- Dyslexia: from $1,784.50 for Singapore Citizens, or from $2,141.40 for PRs and foreigners.
- Dyslexia Review: from $1,338.40 (Singapore Citizens).
- ADHD: from $2,673.40 for Singapore Citizens, or from $3,208.10 for PRs and foreigners.
- Dyscalculia: from $3,118.80. Autism: from $3,564.20. Consultation: $334.40 an hour (Singapore Citizen rates).
- The fee includes one password-protected soft-copy report. Extra copies cost from $76.20, and the first supporting letter within three years is free.
DAS says its assessments are not subsidised by MOE. Its bursary covers 33% to 100% of the fee for Singapore Citizens who are full-time students aged 25 and below; income criteria are not published, so ask DAS. Applications made on or before 30 June 2026 keep the old fees if the assessment is done by 31 December 2026.
Waiting times: MOE’s route averages about two months. DAS says appointments are typically scheduled within four to eight weeks of a complete application, with feedback about two weeks after the assessment and the written report in six to eight weeks. The Child Guidance Clinic does not publish its waiting times or fees, so ask when you call.
Neighbour’s Tips
- Ask for a referral, not a named doctor. KKH charges a named-doctor referral from the polyclinic at non-subsidised rates.
- Get the Teacher’s Questionnaire done early. DAS will not process an application until every document is in.
- Keep one folder. School reports, worksheets, medical letters and your own notes in one place save time at every appointment.
- Go to the first appointment together. The Child Guidance Clinic strongly encourages a parent or guardian to attend.
- Book the polyclinic early in the day. SingHealth Polyclinics – Punggol takes its last walk-in registrations at 11.30am and 4pm on weekdays.
- Keep your KKH appointment active. KKH says an appointment stays valid for 24 months after your last consultation; after that, a first-visit fee applies again.
- Share the report with the school. DAS says its reports are recognised by Singapore schools and include access-arrangement recommendations where appropriate.
If It’s Urgent or Gets Worse
An assessment is rarely an emergency, but your child’s wellbeing can be. If your child is very distressed or talks about hurting themselves, call SOS on 1767 or message CareText on WhatsApp at 9151 1767, at any hour. The national mindline on 1771 also runs 24 hours. For a medical emergency, call 995.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a referral for an ADHD assessment?
For subsidised rates at KKH or NUH, yes: from a polyclinic or a CHAS GP. For the Child Guidance Clinic, call 6389 2200 to check. DAS takes applications directly from parents.
How young can a child be tested for dyslexia?
DAS assesses for dyslexia from age 6, and for dyscalculia from age 7.
How long does it take to get a diagnosis?
Through MOE, about two months on average. At DAS, allow four to eight weeks for the appointment and six to eight weeks more for the written report.
Does MOE pay for a DAS assessment?
No. DAS says its assessments are not subsidised by MOE, but its own bursary can cover 33% to 100% for eligible Singapore Citizen students.
Will the school accept an outside report?
DAS reports are recognised by Singapore schools. For any outside report, share it with the school, which decides on support and, with the examination authority, on access arrangements.
Can I walk in to KKH for an assessment?
KKH charges self-referred or walk-in patients at non-subsidised rates, and its Psychological Medicine service takes internal referrals only. Start with the polyclinic instead.
More Help on eduKate Punggol
- Learning support in Punggol schools: LSP, LSM and dyslexia support in school.
- Special educational needs, mainstream and SPED schools
- Early intervention and developmental support in Punggol
- SEAB access arrangements for PSLE and SEC
- Punggol Polyclinic guide: hours, services and booking.
- Reading school reports and teacher feedback
- Official: MOE on SEN assessment · KKH outpatient charges · DAS assessment fees
One Step at a Time
A diagnosis does not change who your child is. It simply gives everyone better words for how they learn, and better ways to help. Start with one call this week, keep your folder growing, and remember the school is on your side.
And if your family is also looking for calm, small-group English, Mathematics or Science, eduKate Punggol teaches classes of three in Punggol. Come find out more: Book a consultation · Chat on WhatsApp
eduKate Punggol
Small-group English, Mathematics and Science
Primary and Secondary
By appointment · +65 8823 1234
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Checked October 2026. Addresses, opening hours, fees and rules change, so please confirm with the official source before you go.
