Child Autism Assessments
Autism Assessments for Children
We can help to determine whether your child is on the Autism Spectrum. An Autism diagnosis can help you to better understand your child’s behaviour, and can provide strategies of how best support them. Our Autism assessments also include cognitive and academic testing, providing you with valuable information about how to scaffold your child’s individual needs in school and at home. Assessments may be able to assist with funding or support applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
If your child has been given a referral for an autism 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
Please note: These behaviours are only indicators that this assessment may be helpful. All of these are normal and seen to different extents in children of all ages.
A diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder can help you to better understand your child’s behaviour, and can provide strategies of how best to manage their symptoms.
As our assessment involves some cognitive and academic testing, we can also provide information about how best to accommodate a child’s individual needs in school and at home.
Assessments can also assist with funding or support applications.
Currently, we provide Autism assessments for children 7 and over. 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 ask you to provide school reports and reports or other documents from health professionals who have worked with your child prior to the first testing session.
5. Psychometric Testing Sessions
Typically, a Child Autism 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 includes 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.
Julia Links
Psychologist
Assessments across the lifespan: Cognitive (IQ) Assessments and Intellectual Disability | Educational and Learning Assessments including Specific Learning Disorders (Dyslexia, Dyscaliculia & Dysgraphia) | Attention difficulties including ADHD | Adaptive behaviour and Functional Abilities | Behavioural Disorders including Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Conduct Disorder | School Readiness | High Potential and Giftedness
Trudy Ross
Psychologist
The majority of the process is facilitated online via Telehealth, however our Autism assessments involves a diagnostic interview which we complete in-person.
Autism assessments are highly time consuming. We believe it is important to incorporate cognitive and academic testing within our Autism assessment for children, to assist their education and future trajectory. The estimated cost is $4,890.
Limited Medicare rebates may be accessed for Autism assessments under the Complex Neurodevelopmental Disorders Scheme. Clients must be under 25 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.