Autism Assessments
At Sutherland Psychology we provide assessments for children and adults who believe they may have traits of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), in order to better understand themselves and to access appropriate supports. The assessment process is in-depth and requires feedback from both the individual and others who know them well. A diagnostic report may be provided where necessary.
Autism Assessments for Children
As parents, you may notice your child is developing differently than other children. Or perhaps a school teacher or paediatrician has suggested your child should seek assessment. Sometimes a child will present to therapy for another reason (eg. severe social anxiety) and during treatment the psychologist may identify ASD traits and recommend a thorough assessment. We know it can be a daunting process but understanding your child and recognising the kind of support they may need is a positive and important step for all involved.
Assessment Process
Session 1
This is usually a parent only session (depending on the age of the child) to discuss the child’s developmental history, current concerns and any other relevant information. Questionnaires are provided to screen for Autism.This information will inform the decision to proceed with the next part of the assessment process. At this point your psychologist will advise whether further exploration of an ASD diagnosis is warranted.
Session 2
We use a variety of tools to assess for autism, including the “gold standard” Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule 2nd Edition (ADOS-2) and Autism Diagnostic Interview - Revised (ADI-R). This second session is conducted with the child. Parents are welcome to attend but will be asked to remain in the waiting room.
School Consultation
A phone consultation will be held with relevant school staff in order to gather information about the child’s learning and behaviour within the school setting.
Session 3
This is a feedback session, during which time families are provided with a report and recommendations about next steps and how to seek further support. Not everyone who undergoes assessment will be diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. We find the assessment process is still beneficial in helping identify a child’s specific difficulties. Many families choose for their child to have further sessions with a psychologist to help them develop management strategies, regardless of their diagnosis.
Please note assessments may be provided remotely via Telehealth in some cases. Contact the clinic to discuss further.
Autism Assessments for Adults
Autism is often missed during childhood for a number of reasons but neurodivergent adults often feel different from their peers and face unique challenges. Undiagnosed adults can be particularly skilled at ‘masking’ or ‘camouflaging’ their autistic traits and, as a result, others may not even recognise the difficulties being experienced.
With an understanding of how daunting the process of diagnosis can be, we aim to be as prompt as we can be with assessment and feedback. We focus on ensuring the process is inclusive and neuroaffirming.
Assessment Process
Autism assessments for adults can be conducted in-person or via Telehealth.
These assessments do rely on the individual having someone, such as a parent or caregiver, who can provide detailed information about their childhood and developmental history. If you don’t have someone able to fulfil this requirement, please let your psychologist know so we can discuss alternative options.
Session 1
This is an initial consultation to discuss current concerns, personal history and any other relevant information. Questionnaires will be provided to screen for autistic traits.This information will inform the decision to proceed with the next part of the assessment process. At this point your psychologist will advise whether further exploration of an autism diagnosis is warranted.
Session 2
The second session is a 2-hour structured interview with both the individual and their ‘informant’ (eg. a parent). We use a variety of tools to assess for autism, including the “gold standard” Autism Diagnostic Interview - Revised (ADI-R).
Session 3
This is a feedback session, during which time the individual will be provided with a report and recommendations about next steps and how to seek further support. Not everyone who undergoes assessment will be diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. We find the assessment process is still beneficial in helping people identify their specific difficulties. Many individuals choose to have further sessions with a psychologist to help them develop appropriate management strategies and improve their lives, regardless of their diagnosis.