Autism diagnostic assessment for children and adults
Connect Allied Health
Autism diagnostic assessment for children and adults
Connect Allied Health
Autism Diagnostic Assessment for Children and Adults
Connect Allied Health Autism diagnosticians are highly experienced and skilled in providing dual neurodiversity affirming Autism diagnostic assessments for both children and adults.
What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a pervasive developmental disorder that impacts development across the lifespan.
Social communication, restricted interests and behaviours and sensory processing differences are the main areas of development affected. The cause of ASD is currently not known.
The term ‘spectrum’ is used to indicate that no two Autistic people are the same. This is why it is important to understand and embrace the uniqueness and strengths of neurodivergent people and provide them and their families with the skills, tools, and strategies to allow for improved participation within the home, school, work, and learning environments.
Is an assessment warranted?
An autistic person may present with a number of differences in their:
- Social approach
- Communication style
- The initiation of engagement and response to conversation
- Sharing of interests
- Sharing of emotions
- Social imagination
- Social use of eye contact
- Understanding of body postures and gestures
- Volume, pitch, intonation in speech
- Use and understanding of facial expressions
- Adjusting behaviour to suit social contexts
- Interest in others
- Behaviours
- Ability to adapt to changes
- Interests
- Sensory sensitivities
What does an Autism diagnostic assessment involve?
Connect Allied Health offer dual Autism Diagnostic Assessments, with a psychologist and speech pathologist. An assessment can take place in our Modbury or Norwood clinics.
Assessments involve interactions with and observations of the person, as well as gathering information from caregivers, educators, allied health professionals, and those close to the person, as appropriate, and with consent from the person being assessed or the person’s guardian.
The information is then carefully considered against the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Fifth Edition – Text Revision (DSM-5-TR).
The session typically involves review of data provided by parents, carers and educators, a 1.5 – 2-hour face to face observation and interview with a psychologist and speech pathologist, and analysis of various assessment data.
Following the session, the outcome of the assessment is provided to the client and their family, as applicable, along with recommendations to provide support in line with individual needs and goals.
Report turn around is typically 2 weeks from the date of the assessment (pending completion of all required forms).
How can a diagnosis help?
Receiving a diagnosis of ASD provides information regarding an individual’s strengths, differences, passions, and interests; by facilitating Autistic people to increase the use of their strengths, we can support families, educators, support networks, and clinical teams to promote positive outcomes such as improved well-being and quality of life.
A diagnosis may also assist access to funding, including funding from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
For more information or to make a booking, please feel free to contact us on 08 8337 8770.
Connect Allied Health
Our Process
Initial discussion
Commence on-board process
Determine clinical team
Set goals
Schedule
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our Services
Access your preferred allied health services in the community, in one of our clinics in Norwood, Modbury or Berri, or via Telehealth. We tailor visits to suit your individual needs and goals.
