AUTISM ASSESSMENT - CHILDREN (age 6+)

What does a child autism assessment involve?

Our child and adolescent autism assessments are conducted by our team of Clinical Neuropsychologists and Psychologists. We take a neuro-affirming approach in our assessment, which takes place over a 6-week period, and includes:

Completion of parent and teacher questionnaires
Comprehensive 90-minute parent/caregiver interview

Cognitive and IQ assessment with your child
Sensory-based assessment with your child
Comprehensive written report
50 minute parent/caregiver feedback session to discuss the assessment outcome and recommendations

What assessment tools are used?

Information is gathered using the following tools:

We refer to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR) diagnostic criteria to assess for neurodevelopmental differences. This is the most widely used and accepted diagnostic tool in educational and medical settings which we use with the aim of assisting clients to receive every support they may be eligible for
We gather information from parents/caregivers and teachers using our tailored questionnaires. This assists our assessor with understanding you child’s challenges and strengths in both home and school environments

We review your child’s developmental history though a comprehensive 90 minute parent interview session
We utilise a range of tools as clinically appropriate, including the MIGDAS-2, the WISC-V, and the SRS-2

Can psychologists diagnose autism?

The assessment of autism can be conducted by all psychologists who have had sufficient professional development, relevant experience, and supervision in autism diagnositic assessment. Our assessment team have completed contemporary autism assessment training, have experience in working with neurodivergent children, and engage in regular supervision with our assessment team Clinical Supervisor.

Our child autism assessments are completed by a psychologist who draws on information and evidence from relevant sources including the child, parents, teachers, allied health practitioners, and/or medical practitioners (when relevant). The assessment can be used to determine whether your child is autistic, to make individualised recommendations for them, and to aid in the process of obtaining accomodations at school or in other settings.

Please note that some funding bodies (such as NDIS and education systems) may require additional input from other health professionals for your child to access formal supports. In addition, some paediatricians or psychiatrists may request input from other allied health or medical practitioners as part of providing or confirming an autism diagnosis. We suggest you check with relevant parties prior to your child’s assessment if you would like to use the assessment report to for a specific purpose (such as funding applications).

How much does a child autism assessment cost?

Please contact our reception team using our online contact form or call 9456 0411 to obtain details of current fees for autism assessments for children aged 6+.

A 50% deposit is required at the time of booking, with the remainder of the assessment fee due 7 days prior to your first assessment session.

Can I get a rebate from Medicare?

Medicare rebates are available for autism diagnostic assessments and therapy for children and young people aged under 25. Whilst a doctor's referral is not required for an autism assessment at our practice, a valid referral from a paediatrician or psychiatrist is required to access Medicare rebates. These rebates cover only part of the fee for autism assessment services. Further details are available from our reception team.

How can I find out more?

We understand considering an autism identification or diagnosis is a big step for many families and we're happy to talk with you about our affirming approach to assessment.

Please feel free to call us on 9456 0411 or get in touch here via our online Contact Us Form.