More Assessment Detail

Every assessment is different because everyone is different. Check out how we can design an assessment process that suits your needs.





Screening Tools

We will ask you to provide relevant personal information, such as family background and medical history. For children, we will also contact their schools or early years setting. You or your child will then be asked to complete some questionnaires. The questionnaires we select will depend on the age and circumstance of the person being assessed.
All of our questionnaires are validated diagnostic tools used internationally to assist in the screening of autism. They include:

Autism Quotient (AQ)

The AQ measures the expression of autistic traits in an individual by their own subjective self-assessment (completed by parents on behalf of young children).

Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT)

The M-CHAT specifically screens toddlers, between 16 and 30 months of age, for autism.

Childhood Autism Spectrum Test (CAST)

The CAST is for parents to identify the expression of autistic traits in their child.

Repetitive Behaviour Questionnaire (RBQ3)

The RBQ3 is designed to identify repetitive behaviours associated with autism for both children and adults.

Empathy Quotient (EQ)

The EQ measures empathy levels in adults.

Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q)

The CAT-Q measures social camouflaging behaviours in adults, to help clinicians understand if an individual is masking their autistic traits.

Appointments

For both children and adults, your assessment will involve one observation based appointment, using the ADOS-2 test, and one interview based appointment, using one of the ADI-R, the RAADS-R, or the ACIA tests.

Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2)

The ADOS-2 is a semi-structured, standardised assessment of communication, social interaction, play and restricted and repetitive behaviours. It presents various activities that elicit behaviours directly related to autism.

Autism Diagnostic Interview Revised (ADI-R)

The ADI-R is one of the most widely used diagnostic tools for determining whether or not someone has autism. This will not directly involve the person being assessed, as it is an interview for a parent or guardian who knew them well as a child.

Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale Revised (RAADS-R)

The RAADS-R is a clinically administered questionnaire to identify a range of behaviours that associated with autism in adults.

Autism Clinical Interview For Adults (ACIA)

The ACIA is a semi-structured direct interview designed to provide a developmental history of someone aged 16 or older who is being assessed for autism.

Diagnostic Criteria

Our multi-disciplinary team will compare your assessment information to the autism criteria outlined in the ‘Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders’ (DSM), which is the authoritative diagnostic guide for mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions. The DSM contains descriptions, symptoms, and other criteria for diagnosing these conditions, ensuring a standardised approach to diagnostics. Their five criteria for autism spectrum disorder are:

  1. Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts, as manifested by all of the following, currently or by history:
    1. Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity
    2. Deficits in nonverbal communicative behaviours used for social interaction
    3. Deficits in developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships
  2. Restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests, or activities, as manifested by at least two of the following, currently or by history:
    1. Stereotyped or repetitive motor movements, use of objects, or speech
    2. Insistence on sameness, inflexible adherence to routines, or ritualized patterns of verbal or nonverbal behaviour
    3. Highly restricted, fixated interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus
    4. Hyper- or hypo reactivity to sensory input or unusual interest in sensory aspects of the environment
  3. Symptoms must be present in the early developmental period, but may not become fully manifest until social demands exceed limited capacities, or may be masked by learned strategies in later life. (Must be met)
  4. Symptoms cause clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of current functioning. (Must be met)
  5. These disturbances are not better explained by intellectual disability (intellectual developmental disorder) or global developmental delay. (Must be met)

Immediate Support

No need for a clinical referral. Submit an enquiry now to receive personal support to help you decide if a private autism assessment if right for you or your child.

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