Assessment Process
Initial Consultation
An initial consultation is required to gather information on referral questions and the client’s developmental and medical history before deciding on the appropriate assessment tools. For clients under 12 years old, an intake form will be sent out before the first appointment, and a parents-only session will be conducted instead to minimise the level of distress that may cause the child during the initial phase. Clients and families are encouraged to provide relevant reports, including school letters, recent academic report cards, and any previous allied health assessment reports. For child clients, hearing and eye tests are strongly recommended before the assessment. After an initial consultation, a detailed quote will be given based on individual needs. The cost for Autism and/or ADHD assessment ranges from $1500 to $3500. Most of the assessment costs are not funded by Medicare.
Assessment Session
Depending on the referral, clinicians may choose various assessment tools to gather the information required to form a conclusion. The length of the assessment could range from 2 to 6 hours over 2-3 separate sessions, depending on the client’s circumstances and referral questions. This may include providing questionnaires to the client and significant others, liaising with teachers and allied health and medical professionals, completing daycare/kindy observations for younger children, administering standardised cognitive and academic tests, and conducting clinical interviews.
Feedback Session
After gathering all information, it generally takes 2-3 weeks for the clinician to complete data analysis, review evidence and complete the assessment report. A feedback session and a comprehensive report that includes background information, testing results, and diagnostic opinion will be provided. A list of recommendations based on the individual’s needs will also be included. In most cases, paediatricians or psychiatrists are involved in the assessment of ADHD and Autism; the report will assist in the diagnostic process, treatment planning and accessing government and school funding.
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