Autism Diagnostic Assessment
Connect Allied Health
Autism Diagnostic Assessment
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 people with Autism Spectrum Disorder 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, and play environments.
Does A Client Need An Assessment?
The following indicators may reflect Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) which can impact someone’s social communication, behaviour, and development. No single indicator typically indicates ASD; instead a person would present with a number indicators such as differences in:
- Social approach
- Communication style; there may be differences in back and forth conversation, response to name being called, 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
Restricted, Repetitive Patterns Of Behaviour, Interests Or Activities:
- Echolalia (repetition of words, phrases, or more extensive songs and dialog), repetitive vocalisations (such as repetitive sounds, humming)
- Hand flapping, spinning, toe walking, excessive teeth grinding
- Non-functional play with objects, lining up toys and objects, repetitively opening and closing doors or repetitively turning lights on and off
- Adherence to unusual routine
- Excessive resistance to change
- Rigid thinking
- Highly fixated interests
- High or low reactivity to sensory input (sound, smell, touch, taste, visual)
What Is An Autism Spectrum Disorder Assessment?
Connect Allied Health offer dual Autism Diagnostic Assessments, with a psychologist and speech pathologist. The assessments 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 and educators. 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).
Assessment Process
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, 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.
Why Is Getting A Diagnosis Important?
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 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).
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.
