Child Autism and ADHD Combined Assessment

If your child has been given a referral for an Autism and/or ADHD assessment, this might be the appropriate assessment for you. Alternatively, this is the assessment to choose where you’ve noticed and are concerned by any of the following behaviours:

• Social and Communication Issues
• Repetitive Patterns of Behaviour
• Ordering Behaviours
• Lack of Empathy
• Unusual or Restricted Interests
• Sensory Sensitivity
• Frequent “Meltdowns”
• Developmental Delays
• Poor Emotional Regulation
• Difficulty Holding Attention
• Tendency to Fidget
• Forgetful
• Difficulty Concentrating and Maintaining Focus
• Overwhelmed by School Assignments
• Disorganised
• Reading Difficulties
• Poor Academic Attainment
• Behavioural Problems at School
• Difficulty Following Instructions

Please note: These behaviours are only indicators that this assessment may be helpful. These behaviours are normal and can be observed to different extents in children of all ages.

Our Combined Autism/ADHD assessment can result in a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and/or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This assessment aims to help you better understand your child's behaviour, and offer strategies to manage their symptoms. 

Our Autism/ADHD assessments include cognitive and academic testing, providing information about how best to support your child’s needs in school and at home. 

Currently, we see children aged 7 and over for combined Autism/ADHD assessments. We are able to see NDIS and insurance clients. 

1. Assessment Agreement/Pre-Service Questionnaire

Parents/caregivers are required to complete a pre-service questionnaire before the assessment can commence. This collects background information about your child. 

2. Initial Consultation 

The initial consultation is a fact-finding, information gathering session where you will meet the clinician for the first time. It is to ensure you are receiving the most suitable assessment for your child, and to discuss background information and your current concerns. Please note, children below the age of 12 do not need to attend the initial consultation. 

3. Questionnaires

We ask for parents/caregivers, teachers/childcare providers and the child (age dependent) to complete a range of questionnaires prior to the testing sessions. These are completed online and take approximately 20 minutes each to complete. 

4. School Report / Medical or Psychological Reports

We request you to provide school reports and other documents from health professionals who have worked with your child prior to the first testing session.

5. Psychometric Testing Sessions

Typically, a combined Autism/ADHD assessment requires 3 testing sessions. Two of the testing sessions will be completed by video, and the third will be face-to-face in our Belconnen practice. You may be sent physical response booklets in the mail for Telehealth sessions. 

6. Parent / Teacher Phone Call

The clinician will organise a time to call the parents/caregivers, and a teacher. This conversation will be facilitated by paper questionnaires sent following the initial consultation. 

7. Report

After the testing sessions are complete, your clinician will prepare a comprehensive assessment report. The report would include a diagnosis if diagnostic criteria are met and, a summary of the results and recommendations for next steps. 

8. Feedback Session

Your clinician will meet with you to discuss all results and recommendations. You will be provided with an electronic copy of the full assessment report following this session. Please advise if you require a hard copy. 

We use a combination of psychometric questionnaires, clinical interviews, psychometric testing sessions including cognitive and aptitude testing and third-party interviews in our Autism assessments. 

The majority of the process is facilitated online via Telehealth, however our Autism assessments involves a diagnostic interview which we complete in-person. 

Combined Autism/ADHD assessments are very time consuming. We believe it is important to incorporate cognitive and academic testing within our Autism/ADHD assessments for children, to assist their education and future trajectory. The estimated cost is $5,520. 

Limited Medicare rebates may be accessed for Autism assessments under the Complex Neurodevelopmental Disorders Scheme. Clients must be under 25 years old and referred by a medical practitioner or specialist. If you are interested in accessing this scheme, please speak to the Assessments Coordinator to determine if you may be eligible for Medicare rebates. 

We do not process private health funds claims here at Northside Psychology. However, if you have private health, you can check with your fund if they cover psychological assessments.

Medications need to be prescribed by a paediatrician or psychiatrist. We currently only have psychologists at Northside Psychology. If you are interested in accessing medications for yourself or your child following one of our assessments, please check with your paediatrician or psychiatrist to see if they are able to use our report. Often, these specialists will need to conduct some testing themselves before prescribing any medications. Physiatrists are required by law to do some of their own testing before prescribing. 

We encourage clients to research paediatric and/or psychiatry clinics to confirm costs, assessment protocols and determine what type of assessment you need.  It is important to do this research early in the process, to make an informed decision about what is the right pathway for you and to minimise delay between services, especially if you want to see both a psychologist and paediatrician or psychiatrist. 

We encourage you to consider why you are seeking an ADHD diagnosis and how this information could assist you going forward. It is important to do your own due diligence, research options and speak to your psychiatrist/paediatrician about their processes in deciding the right steps forward for you.