Psychological Assessments
Autism Assessment
Parents may be concerned about their child’s social skills development compared to same-aged peers, which could be due to various factors such as cognitive ability, verbal ability, or overall development. If your child has a history of delayed speech or social difficulties from a young age, it may be worth seeking an opinion from a specialist. However, it’s important to note that Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is not solely about social interaction difficulties, so a comprehensive assessment may be necessary. This involves multiple measures, clinical evaluation, and input from different sources.
Autism screeners and diagnostic assessments are used by Psychologists with professional training and expertise in working with Autistic children. The determination of an Autism diagnosis considers a child’s presentation and severity based on criteria outlined in the DSM-5-TR (2022). As every individual with Autism has varying cognitive abilities, language skills, personality, interests, and learning ability, it is crucial to seek an expert opinion to optimise your child’s social, emotional, and overall development.
A diagnosis of Autism requires a comprehensive psychological assessment using a range of observation and interview methods and assessment tools listed below. This assessment takes place over several sessions. The first session is a structured interview with the parent/carer, another is for play-based observations of the child, and a cognitive assessment may be needed if one has not been completed recently (two sessions). This is an additional fee of $900.
- Social Responsiveness Scale, 2nd Edition (SRS-2) identifies social impairment associated with Autism and quantifies its severity. The SRS-2 asks teachers, parents, and others to rate symptoms that they’ve noticed over time, at home, in the classroom, or elsewhere. Age ranges include Preschoolers (2.5 to 4.5 years) and School-aged (4-18 years).
- Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) is used to conduct the parent interview. To administer the ADI-R, an experienced clinical interviewer questions a parent/carer who is familiar with the developmental history and current behaviour of the individual being evaluated. The interview can be used to assess both children and adults with a mental age above 2 years.
- Monteiro Interview Guidelines for Diagnosing Autism Spectrum, 2nd Edition (MIGDAS-2) is a sensory-based interview process for gathering and organising the qualitative information needed to diagnose Autism in infants, children, adolescents, and adults. The MIGDAS-2 includes five evaluations: Parent/Caregiver Questionnaire, Teacher Questionnaire, Diagnostic Interview for Individuals with Limited to No Verbal Fluency, Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents with Verbal Fluency, and Diagnostic Interview for Adults With Verbal Fluency. The 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.
Assessment and reporting from $1800 per respondent (as of September 2024 – prices are subject ot change – please call us to discuss prices and book in with our psychologist).