Adult Autism Assessment Package
THIS PACKAGE CAN BE COMPLETED ONLINE OR FACE-TO-FACE
The aim of the assessment is to explore an individual's developmental profile and determine whether they meet diagnostic criteria for Adult Autism.
You may choose to seek a diagnosis for suspected Autism if:
- You have been diagnosed with a mental health condition or intellectual disability during childhood or adolescence, but think that you may have Autism.
- You have struggled with feeling socially isolated and different.
- Your child or other family member has been diagnosed with Autism and some of the characteristics of autism sound familiar to you.
To assess whether a person has Autism
We consider several critical questions: Are they a continuous problem and not just a response to a temporary situation? Do the behaviours occur in several settings or only in one specific place.
The person's pattern of behaviour is compared against a set of criteria and characteristics of the disorder. These criteria appear in a manual called the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders version 5). Our psychologists will also assess the person’s strengths as well as any mental health or clinical issues that may affect the diagnosis.
The assessment process carefully assesses you in the following areas:
- Developmental history
- Social skills and communication
- Restricted and repetitive interests and obsessionality
- Stereotyped patterns of behaviour
- Empathy
- Memory and attention
Our process
The Adult Autism Assessment is a comprehensive process conducted over 3 clinical consultations with an experienced psychologist. The psychologist will ask you questions and administer questionnaires about your background, educational history and aptitudes and noted changes in your cognitive ability and behaviour to determine if you may have Autism or another related concern.
The Autism screening and other validated assessments measure Autism symptoms and are completed by you online. Further information from close family members may be required along with medical information from your GP or medical clinic.
The Adult Autism assessment includes:
- 3 x 1 hour clinical consultations available online (Australia-wide), or in person (Melbourne)
- Administration of seven Autism validated measures
- Full developmental, mental health and medical history
- Observer reports of symptoms or mental state
- Comprehensive assessment report
- Recommendations for future support
We support NDIS participants with self-managed or plan-managed funding. While we are not a registered NDIS provider, our services may be accessible under your NDIS plan. If you’re unsure about eligibility, check with your plan manager or NDIS coordinator.
For assessments requiring a clinical psychologist's endorsement for NDIS, please note that an additional fee will apply please contact reception team.
How long does the Autism assessment take?
The screening and Psychological assessments are provided over 3 sessions including a final report and feedback session. Further medical assessments may be required through your GP and medical clinic.
Recommendations
Your report will have a section on Recommendations at the end. These will cover various pathways and future support guidance depending on the results of your assessment.
Online Autism testing
You will be sent several online tests during the assessment process that have between 20 – 50 multiple choice questions. They are easy to fill in, but it is important that you follow our test conditions to get the most accurate results.
How to follow test conditions
- Complete every question!
- Concentrate and complete the forms in one sitting
- Fill them in alone – you can share later
- Do not be distracted by watching TV or talking to anyone else
- Be honest as this will help with your diagnosis
Administration
If you need further information, our Team will be happy to answer your questions. They can be contacted by email at assessments@psychologymelbourne.com.au or call 1300 161 639 and press line 3.