What is involved in an Autism Assessment?

An autism assessment is made up of three parts:

• The assessment itself,

• An interview to gather important background information which will inform the outcome.

• A follow-up feedback session, to verbally communicate results. (This is included in the price and is optional.)

During the assessment phase, Hannah will focus on completing certain activities with the individual being assessed. These activities will be more ‘play-based’ for children and more ‘functional’ for adolescents and adults. Hannah will observe the behaviour of the individual being assessed.

Hannah will then either interview the parent/guardian of the child being assessed or - in the case of a teenager or adult - Hannah will interview that person directly (depending on their level of functioning). During the interview, Hannah will ask about:

• Medical and health history

• Family history and family function

• Developmental and educational history

• ASD-specific signs and/or symptoms

• Other relevant behaviours, signs and/or symptoms that may indicate the presence of a co-occurring condition and/or differential diagnosis.

For adult assessments, Hannah will ask the individual being assessed if they can bring a parent or close family member who knew them as a child, or who knows them very well currently, to interview separately.

Hannah will use her psychological expertise to screen for other developmental and psychological conditions. Once Hannah has gathered all the supporting information she needs, she will write up a clinical report which will provide the diagnostic outcome and recommendations going forward.  

What is involved in an ADHD assessment?

Similar to an autism assessment, the appointment comprises the assessment of the individual (observation and/or interview) as well as interview with parents (if the person being assessed is a child/adolescent) or another individual who knows the person well (for adult assessment). Hannah will send links to complete an online assessment, as well as additional questionnaires to complete.

Will I still need to see a paediatrician/psychiatrist if I meet the DSM-5 criteria for ADHD diagnosis?

Hannah is not a medical doctor and therefore cannot prescribe medication. If you are seeking to trial medication for ADHD, then yes, you will need to engage in a separate assessment with a paediatrician (child/early adolescent) or psychiatrist (adolescent/adult). If you would just like “to know” and are interested in behavioural strategies for ADHD, a psychological ADHD assessment will suffice.

Do I need to do anything before the assessment?

Prior to the assessment, Hannah sends clients or parents a number of forms, including a registration form, biographical information forms, and developmental questionnaire to fill out.

How do I book an appointment?

Once you have a referral from a health professional (or if you decide to refer yourself or your loved one - see question below) you can contact us to arrange a no obligation phone consult with Hannah, or you can simply send your referral through with some information on what you are looking for. If a formal autism assessment is indicated, you will be booked in for an appointment and Hannah will send you the relevant information to complete for background information purposes.

How do I self-refer?

Get in touch to arrange a no obligation phone consultation with Hannah. She will help you to decide whether an autism assessment is the most appropriate pathway for you or your loved one.

Please note, it is generally recommended that a referral from a medical or allied health practitioner is the most appropriate pathway, however in some cases this may not be necessary.

How long does the assessment take?

The assessment generally takes anywhere between 1.5 to 3 hours, depending on whether it is an autism or ADHD assessment, how many people have to be interviewed, and how much information has been gained prior to the assessment (via background information forms, etc.). Hannah attempts to be as rigorous as possible, therefore if the case is more complex, the assessment may go for longer.

How long will it take for the report to be sent?

You will receive a completed report within 15-20 working days (approximately three-four calendar weeks).

What should I bring to the assessment?

For a child assessment, please bring the following:

• Your child! 

• Another adult: If your child is too young to stay in the waiting room unsupervised, please bring another parent or familiar adult to watch the child during the parent interview part of the assessment. Alternatively, you may wish to have someone pick your child up after their part of the assessment is completed. The interview phase normally lasts between 60 to 90 mins.

• Relevant information about the child’s current and historical challenges relating to autism/ADHD, e.g. school reports, reports from other health professionals.

• Drink and snacks.

• A comfort object, if required.

For an adolescent or adult assessment, please bring the following (if you can):

• Any relevant information about the individual’s challenges relating to autism/ADHD during the early developmental period between 0 and 5 years of age, e.g. assessment reports or reviews from other health professionals. 

• Any other relevant information from childhood, e.g. school reports, cognitive assessment reports, reports of medical diagnoses, or videos of your child’s behaviour during the early developmental period between 0 and 5 years of age.

• It will greatly support the validity of the assessment if another adult who knew the individual as a child can attend the appointment to be interviewed.

All of the above information will support Hannah’s ability to write a comprehensive report and make a diagnosis with confidence.

Do I need to attend the follow-up appointment?

Hannah provides an optional follow-up feedback session which is included in the assessment price. All the necessary information will be provided in the clinical report, however, if you would like Hannah to explain the outcomes and recommendations written in the report, you may choose to book a follow-up 30 minute telehealth appointment.

What if the outcome is unclear or I do not receive a diagnosis of ASD?

Hannah may provide recommendations for further assessment before a clear outcome can be attained. Hannah will always strive to provide helpful, individualised recommendations regarding what to do next, whether the outcome is a diagnosis of ASD or not.

I am an adult. Will I need another clinician to confirm my autism diagnosis to apply for NDIS?

Hannah is qualified as a clinical psychologist to make a single clinician diagnosis of ASD (which the NDIS accepts). However, for more complex cases, Hannah may recommend seeking assessment from an additional clinician.

Will I get a Medicare rebate?

Any individual under the age of 25 years who has been referred by an appropriate medical practitioner is eligible to receive a relatively small rebate from Medicare. Please see http://www9.health.gov.au/mbs/fullDisplay.cfm?type=item&q=82000&qt=item&criteria=82000 for more details.

Is there a telehealth option?

Telehealth assessments are only recommended under certain conditions. Under these circumstances, Hannah can complete telehealth assessments and is highly experienced in providing autism assessments via video call. For children, the face-to-face format is slightly altered and Hannah will provide parents with information on how they can assist in the process. For adolescents and adults, the assessment format is virtually unchanged.

Does Hannah have experience diagnosing females with ASD?

Absolutely. Hannah has a good deal of experience in diagnosing girls and women with autism and understands the nuanced differences in autism presentation between males and females.

Where are Hannah’s therapy rooms located?

Hannah’s office is located in the beautiful Perth foothills in Mount Nasura. Every effort has been made to ensure your assessment experience is as comfortable and straightforward as possible:

• Our rooms are quiet, cosy, and softly lit

• There are toilets and baby change facilities on-site

• There is ample free parking