Our screening forms collect specific information to learn more about your child. It also enables us to determine if an assessment is the appropriate pathway. Additionally, we ask you to complete specific questionnaires, including the Autism Quotient (AQ) (child or adolescent version depending on age) and the Childhood Autism Spectrum Test (CAST). These questionnaires provide insight into the strengths of your child and identify possible characteristics of autism.

Our neurodevelopmental specialists meet with parents / guardians to gather an in-depth developmental history, along with specific information around their language and communication, social development and play, and interests and behaviours. Our clinicians are trained and skilled at administering the Autism Diagnostic Interview – Revised (ADI-R) to obtain this information and this assessment is completed online.

The ADOS-2 is a standardised assessment and integral part of the assessment process. This is administered by one of our friendly and skilled neurodevelopmental specialists during a face-to-face assessment in one of our clinics. This assessment is carried out with the child and can last approximately one hour. Please find our child friendly video at the bottom of this page for more information.

We will contact your child’s school and recommended point of contact (with your permission) and kindly ask them to complete a comprehensive school information form to provide insight into their presentation in this setting.

When all assessment components are completed, our multi-disciplinary team meet to review information. Our skilled team work through the DSM-V diagnostic criteria for autism and decide on an outcome, also considering differential diagnosis. Each case is overseen by one of our dedicated and experienced clinical psychologists. If additional information is required we will contact parents/guardians accordingly and discuss next steps.

Our reports are extremely comprehensive, so we allow you time to read and process information within the report before booking in with your lead clinician for a feedback meeting. During this meeting, you are able to ask any questions about the outcome, assessment process and recommendations.

You will be provided with a comprehensive report, detailing all information collected by each assessment and the clinical outcome. This report highlights your child’s strengths and areas they may find more difficult. Each report includes personalised recommendations to support you child going forward.

Here is a child friendly video that details their face-to-face ADOS-2 Assessment.