What are common signs of autism:
Talking too little or too much, speech is often dominated by their favourite topics
Speech can have a limited variation in tone and use unusual expressions
Not being good at ‘small talk’
Difficulty reading other’s body language and facial expressions
Less awareness of socially expected behaviour
Feeling overwhelmed by social situations and needing time alone
Having no or few friends
Having unusually intense interests
Having a strong need to follow rules and routines, distress when these change
Being over or under sensitive to sensory stimuli (e.g. textures, sounds, smells, taste). This might look like requirements like foods to be separated, clothes to be a certain way or seeking certain texture
Anxiety is common.
Gender differences
We now recognise that autism can get overlooked in girls. This is especially true for girls with normal or high intelligence. This is because girls are better at camouflaging their problems, by imitating other people when they’re socialising. Unfortunately, this can be exhausting. Their restricted interests often don’t stand out as unusual too (e.g. celebrities, pop music, fashion, horses, pets, and literature). Girls with autism may only have one or few close friendships and be intense and possessive about those friendships. In high school, they experience bullying.
Why get diagnosed?
Understanding
Autism assessment can help you, your family, and your friends understand why you act or feel differently from others. Understanding your brain can help make sense of things that may have been confusing before.
Support
Autism assessment identifies your brain's strengths, challenges and differences. An assessment helps you to access support and tools to improve your daily life. These supports usually help with school, university, or in the workplace.
Empowerment
It can be empowering to know that:
there's an explanation for your differences,
there are ways to make life easier and use your differences to your advantage, and
you’re not alone—there are like-minded communities to connect with.
Who can diagnose autism?
We are receiving a lot of questions regarding the new guidelines for getting a diagnosis for Autism. The rules around who can diagnose or who is qualified have not changed, but what has changed are the best practice guidelines for a diagnosis, and the criteria a lot of funding bodies (e.g. NDIS & Centrelink) will accept a diagnosis from. The best practice guidelines advise that for a child, a diagnosis will need to come from a Paediatrician, Clinical Psychologist or multi-disciplinary allied team. For an adult, it is a Clinical Psychologist, Psychiatrist or multidisciplinary allied health team.
Will ADHD be part of the assessment?
Yes, if indicated. ADHD and Autism co-occur often, making it important for the clinician
to identify both during the assessment process. An ADHD assessment can be completed as part of or separately to the Autism assessment and will involve more assessment sessions.
Is an IQ test part of an Autism assessment?
Typically we will not administer an intelligence test while assessing for Autism, though in some cases this is indicated.
What’s involved in the assessment?
We use a number of tools within the assessment process to reach a diagnostic outcome. One of these tools is the Monteiro Interview Guidelines for Diagnosing the Autism Spectrum, Second Edition (MIGDAS-2). The MIGDAS-2 is a sensory-based process for gathering and organising the qualitative information needed to diagnose autism in children, adolescents, and adults. The process includes guidelines for gathering information from parents/caregivers and teachers, and for conducting a sensory-based interview with the individual being evaluated. The end result is a comprehensive behavioural profile that describes the individual’s distinct way of relating to the world, supplementing assessment scores and informing diagnosis and treatment planning.
The MIGDAS-2 diagnostic interview process invites individuals to share their worldview through the entry point of preferred topics and sensory materials. The entry point is paired with reducing the social communication and task demands. As a result, the assessment process is designed to be a positive experience for the individual. An individual’s strengths are highlighted as part of the assessment process and form an important part of the overall understanding of the individual’s brain style. Each individual’s strengths and differences emerge during the assessment process, these skills and strengths can then be used to build a successful life.
Amongst other measures, we also use the Adaptive Behaviour Assessment System (ABAS). The ABAS is an important tool we use during autism assessments to evaluate everyday living skills such as communication, social interaction, and practical abilities. By understanding how a person manages daily tasks and adapts to their environment, the ABAS helps provide a comprehensive picture of their strengths and support needs. This information is crucial not only for accurate diagnosis but also for developing personalised intervention plans. Additionally, the detailed insights from the ABAS report can support NDIS applications by clearly demonstrating the functional impact of autism on daily life, helping to secure the right level of funding and services.
Assessment costs:
For an autism and ADHD assessment for people aged 7- 18 years the cost is $2450. For those over 18 years the cost is $2300. In order to make our assessment more accessible to everyone, we offer an assessment only cost. That is, at the completion of testing you can decide if you require a report, for such purposes of NDIS, and purchase this at an extra cost of $750.
Are autism assessments covered by Medicare?
If you or your child is 25 years old or younger, you may be eligible for Medicare rebates that help cover part of the cost of autism assessments. Under the Medicare Neurodevelopmental Scheme, you can receive rebates for up to four sessions with a psychologist for assessment. Referrals need to be from a psychiatrist or paediatrician. It’s also a good idea to check if your private health insurance extras cover can help with the cost of autism assessments.
Is this assessment suitable for an application for the NDIS?
Our assessments can form one part of an NDIS application. Having a formal diagnosis of Autism is certainly a good place to start.
Receiving a diagnosis
Discuss with the assessment team how you would like the diagnosis communicated. If the assessment is of a child, our team will consider your child’s age and maturity, as to how and if a diagnosis is communicated to them.
An autism diagnosis can provoke many emotions. You may be concerned about negative stigma and the reaction of family and friends. Or else you could feel relief that you finally have an explanation for your child’s difficulties.
A diagnosis is important, as it leads to funding and interventions to help both your child and your family. It can often lead to greater understanding and inclusion at school. Your reaction to the diagnosis will influence your child’s reaction.
As your child grows, learning about their own diagnosis can lead to having a better understanding of who they are. It can also open the door to a community of other people on the autism spectrum. Many autistic individuals may mask their natural behaviours to feel accepted or avoid misunderstanding in social situations. While this coping strategy can help in the short term, it can also be exhausting and overwhelming over time. Constantly masking can make people feel isolated and misunderstood, increasing their vulnerability to anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges. Recognising and supporting someone’s authentic self is key to improving wellbeing and building resilience.
