Autism and ADHD Assessment Service for Teens and Adults
Information about autism and ADHD assessment options for teens and adults
If some of these feel like you, it may be worth considering a diagnostic assessment for ADHD, or Autism or both.
Have you seen some information online about autism or ADHD and wondered if this might be you?
Have you been struggling with mental health issues like depression, OCD, PTSD or anxiety, and the treatments you’ve tried just don’t seem to be working, or at least not as well as they seem to for other people?
Have you had a family member diagnosed as being neurodivergent and realised that you’re quite similar to them, and this made you wonder if you might be too?
Have you always had a sense of being different or out of step with other people, but assumed that it was something you were doing wrong, and that you just needed to ‘try harder?’
Were you told as a child that you couldn’t have ADHD because you were too good at school, even though you struggled with tasks that everyone else seemed to do with little effort?
Are you able to do all the things expected of you (like meeting new people, keeping work/study deadlines, being in overstimulating environments) but find it mentally and emotionally exhausting and sometimes you feel like you’ve hit a wall?
Were you going OK, holding everything together until something big changed? Maybe you started at a new school or new job, maybe you hit puberty or menopause or became a parent, and then all the careful strategies you used to use to help you to function started to fall apart.
Our Assessment Services:
People consider autism or ADHD assessment for many different reasons. The information identified through assessment and its relevance will vary for each person.
Here are some of the ways an ADHD or Autism diagnosis can help:
Why people consider assessment
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The assessment process gathers information about your experiences, history, strengths and support needs. The feedback session provides an opportunity to discuss the findings and ask questions.
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The psychologist will explain the assessment findings and discuss recommendations or possible next steps relevant to your circumstances.
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Some people choose to share assessment information with family members, education providers, employers or treating practitioners. Whether you share the information is your decision.
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Assessment findings may identify strengths and support needs for discussion. Recommendations depend on the assessment findings and each person’s circumstances.
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Depending on the service, an assessment report may be considered by education providers, health practitioners, employers, funding bodies or other organisations. Each organisation determines whether a report meets its requirements. An assessment or report does not guarantee eligibility for Medicare, the NDIS or any other service or funding.
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Some people find that assessment findings give them language for discussing their experiences or connecting with other people. Individual experiences vary and no particular personal or social outcome is guaranteed.
Assessment at Northwestpsych
Undergoing an assessment can involve uncertainty. The practice will explain the process and provide opportunities to ask questions.
Assessment feedback can bring a range of reactions and further questions. The feedback session provides an opportunity to discuss the findings, ask questions and consider possible next steps. Individual experiences vary.
Our principal assessor is Nicki Kemp, a Clinical Psychologist with twenty-five years experience in working with teens and adults. She also holds a Graduate Certificate in Autism Diagnosis from the University of Western Australia.
How the autism assessment process works:
STEP 1
Tell us what you need
Tell us about yourself by completing our online form, or you can call or message us if you prefer.
Your psychologist may get in touch with you at this stage to discuss your needs in detail and finalise the assessment plan.
STEP 2
Participate in assessment
Assessment usually involves 3-4 hours of clinical interviews and testing, as well as completing a number of questionnaires. Your psychologist will also ask to talk to someone in your life who knows you well (such as a parent). The specific assessment steps are tailored to each individual.
STEP 3
Attend a feedback session
The psychologist will explain the assessment findings and conclusions, answer questions and discuss relevant resources, recommendations and possible next steps.
STEP 4
Receive a detailed report
Depending on the assessment service, the psychologist will prepare a report explaining the assessment findings. You may choose to share it with education providers, health practitioners or other organisations. Acceptance of the report for funding, workplace, education or other purposes is determined by the receiving organisation and is not guaranteed.
Ready to get started?
Currently accepting assessment enquiries. There is no current waitlist to begin the assessment process.