Autism Assessments for Adults
What is autism?
Autism is a neurotype that affects approximately 1 in 40 people. It impacts the way you engage in social situations, how you communicate, how you deal with sensory experiences, and how you interact with your environment. Autistic people have strengths as well as challenges, and there are lots of different ways to be autistic beyond the stereotype.
Why have an autism assessment with us?
If you are wondering whether autism may be relevant to your experiences, reputable information and self-reflection can be useful starting points. A formal assessment may be considered when a person wants an individual clinical evaluation or requires documentation for a particular purpose.
The assessment brings together information about current experiences, developmental history, strengths and support needs. It may also consider other factors that could be relevant. The psychologist will explain the findings and discuss recommendations or referral options based on the assessment.
The clinical interviews provide an opportunity to discuss relevant history and current experiences as part of the assessment process. Whether assessment is appropriate and what it identifies depend on individual circumstances.
FAQ
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The most crucial part of the assessment is an extended interview with you, which will take place across several sessions for a total of approximately 3-4 hours. In the clinical interview your psychologist will gain a deep understanding of your strengths and challenges, both now and when you were a child.
We will also gather additional information such as:
A one-hour interview with an ‘informant’ - someone who knows you well such as a parent.
You’ll be asked to complete a number of questionnaires and screening tools.
We’ll review any documentation such as previous psychological reports.
The specific steps taken during the assessment are flexible and depend on the complexity of your situation. If you feel that there’s no one in your current life who would be able to act as an informant for you, we’ll discuss alternatives. We don’t want anyone to be excluded on that basis.
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The report explains the assessment findings and conclusions, including whether diagnostic criteria were met. It describes identified strengths and support needs and may include recommendations relevant to the person’s circumstances.
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The total cost of the assessment typically varies between $2800 and $3080. Please note that this approximation is the cost before any eligible rebates are applied, and the complexity of your situation will influence the overall total cost.
The assessment usually involves 5-6 hours of face-to-face assessment and feedback which costs $280 per hour. The exact number of face-to-face hours may vary depending on your needs. There is also a fixed cost for the indirect work and report writing of $1400. These two costs make up your total.
You may be eligible for a Medicare rebate for part of the face-to-face assessment time, depending on your referral and individual circumstances. A private health insurer may cover part of the assessment - check directly with your insurer before starting. Medicare does not provide rebates for diagnostic reports or non-face-to-face assessment tasks. -
The simple answer to this is ‘no’.
Some people choose to share assessment findings with people they trust, while others prefer to keep the information private. The decision is personal and individual experiences vary.
After you receive the diagnosis, you may need to take some time to come to terms with it and figure out how you feel about it. In addition, the reality is that there is still a lot of stigma and false information about autism in our society and there are some people who will not understand your diagnosis.
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If you believe that you may also have ADHD, talk with your psychologist about it before your assessment begins. You have some choices about how to proceed.
You may wish to pursue an ADHD diagnosis with a medical professional who can also prescribe medication after your autism assessment is complete.
If you want your psychologist to assess for both autism and ADHD this can also be done - your psychologist will discuss with you the additional costs involved.