Autism Assessment

Comprehensive and personalised autism assessments for children and adolescents in Melbourne.

Autism Assessment

Where a child or adolescent presents with social differences, sensory avoiding or seeking behaviours, specific and intense interests or communication difficulties, an assessment for autism may be recommended. A comprehensive assessment will usually involve parent and teacher feedback, as well as working with the individual child to explore patterns of strengths and difficulty.

Autism can look different in every child, which is why we use a personalised and comprehensive approach. Some children may work very hard to hide their differences in social situations. This can make autism more difficult to recognise, even though the child is experiencing significant challenges. Our assessment considers a child's strengths, difficulties and developmental history to build a comprehensive understanding of their neurotype.

Medicare rebates may apply with a valid paediatrician or psychiatrist referral.

Want to Better Understand Your Child's Neurotype?

Contact Us

FAQ's about Autism Assessments

The fee for an autism assessment will depend on your child's presentation and whether we are assessing other areas as well. The starting fee for an autism assessment is $2530. This includes a parent interview, two sessions with the child, feedback session, questionnaires from parents, teachers and the young person and a comprehensive report.

The whole assessment process can be completed in around eight weeks, depending on clinician and client availability.

As every child and young person is unique, there is no standard one-size-fits-all approach to autism assessment. Depending on age and presentation, a combination of the following tools with be used:

  • Interview with parents

  • Interview with child/young person

  • Interview with teacher

  • Questionnaires, including the Social Responsiveness Scale, Conners Comprehensive Behaviour Rating Scales, Behaviour Assessment System for Children (BASC)

  • Vineland-3 Adaptive Behaviour Scales

  • Cognitive assessment - using the WISC-V, WIAT-V or WPPSI-IV

  • Childhood Autism Rating Scales (CARS-2)

  • Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2)

Autism can present in many different ways, which is why a comprehensive assessment is the best way to explore this diagnosis. However, some common autistic traits include:

  • Sensory differences, for example being sensitive to noise, touch or tastes.

  • Difficulty with changes in environment or routine

  • Intense interests

  • Social differences, including not fitting in with peers or having trouble making friends

  • Repetitive behaviours, such as reciting lines or song lyrics, flapping hands or lining up toys.

  • A strong desire to be in control

While PDA is not (yet) an official diagnosis, during assessment the psychologist will explore demand avoidance traits where indicated. A descriptor of PDA may be provided where indicated, as this can be helpful in guiding recommendations and intervention following the assessment.

Yes! All reports will include comprehensive, personalised and detailed recommendations for the client across environments including school, home and the community. If you would like further support for your child's school in understanding their support needs this can also be arranged.

During the feedback session we will focus on discussing the next steps and a tailored support plan. Next steps may include a review with your child's paediatrician, meeting with the school to provide recommendations and discuss supports, or applying to access the NDIS to receive further support.

Yes - Hannah is able to provide ongoing support following the diagnosis if this is recommended.

Hannah is skilled at completing assessments for toddler (2.5 years and older) through to older adolescents. The tools and process selected will vary depending on the child or young person's age.