Autism Spectrum and the Assessment Process

Heidi assesses children, tweens and teens for Autism in Malvern East or online via Telehealth. She uses a neurodiversity-affirming, trauma-informed lens to do so. Heidi is passionate about creating a space that welcomes all identities, and views the assessment process as a collaborative exploration of a person's life story. Through her work with children and families, she has observed a typical pattern of adults discovering their children are neurodiverse, then suspecting they too present with autistic and/or ADHD characteristics. Heidi is particularly interested in supporting Neurodivergent individuals to understand their neurology and tune into their bodies and what they need.

Autism affects how a person thinks, feels, and interacts with others in the environment. Autism is described as a ‘spectrum’ as everyone has their own experience and unique differences.

Autism is diagnosed using criteria from the DSM-5 written from a medical deficit model, however this process aims to empower you to see your differences as gifts. The intention is to help you understand yourself better and provide you with the support needed to improve your quality of life.

Why Should I get an Autism Assessment?

There are several reasons why parents / caretakers may choose to seek an autism assessment for their child:

Your child may have struggled with feeling socially isolated and different. Perhaps they have been diagnosed with a mental health condition or disability during childhood or adolescence, but think that they may have Autism. Maybe you want clarity around whether your chilld is on the Autism Spectrum or not.

Funding to access well needed supports

​Obtaining an Autism Assessment is a crucial step toward accessing funding for early intervention services, which have been shown to significantly improve long-term outcomes for children and adolescents with autism. Research indicates that early intervention can lead to gains in IQ, language development, and social skills, enhancing daily functioning and overall well-being.

In Australia, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provides funding for such interventions, aiming to support individuals with disabilities, including autism, from a young age. Timely assessments and subsequent access to NDIS funding can facilitate early support, maximizing developmental potential and promoting positive long-term results.

A diagnosis can often help your child understand the world around them and support them in certain areas of their life. These are some of the benefits of getting a diagnosis:

  • Self-Understanding: Gain a better understanding of your unique traits and why you may have always felt different
  • Validation: Receive confirmation and validation for your experiences, reducing self-blame and increasing self-acceptance
  • Access to Support: Obtain access to accommodations and support services that can improve your life
  • Improved Mental Health: Address co-occurring conditions such as anxiety, depression, and ADHD
  • Social and Relationship Improvements: Enhance your social interactions and relationships by understanding and managing your social communication difficulties
  • Career and Educational Support: Receive support in educational and vocational settings to help you succeed in your career and educational pursuits
  • Community and Connection: Find your allies and connect with a community of individuals with similar experiences, reducing feelings of isolation
  • Addressing Past Trauma: Understand and address childhood trauma and misunderstandings
  • Reduce Overwhelm: Learn new strategies to help manage your life
  • Funding: Gain access to NDIS funding enabling provision of resources needed to improve quality of life

What is involved in the Assessment Process?

Our Autism Assessment is a comprehensive process conducted over three clinical consultations with an experienced Psychologist. The process includes:

  1. We Listen:
    • Initial Consultation:
      • Parent/caretaker interview to discuss current challenges and difficulties over time
      • Discussion of developmental and medical history
    • Developmental & Educational History:
      • Discussion with educators around social skills, communication, and behavioral patterns in the school context
      • Collection of information from educators
      • Exploring developmental history in depth
      • School observation
  2. We Assessment your child
    • Detailed discussion with your child
    • Completion of several online questionnaires,
    • Migdas assessment
  3. Scoring and Reporting
    • Synthesis of assessment, questionnaires, conversations with parents, school, and child in a comprehensive assessment report
  4. Feedback Session:
    • Discuss the findings in detail with you and your child
    • Offer the possibility for questions, sharing the results, recommendations and next steps

Migdas-2 (Neuro-affirming Assessment Tool)

When assessing Autism, we are looking at person's patterns of behaviour. These are compared against a set of criteria and characteristics of Autism. These criteria appear in a manual called the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders version 5). We use a neuro-affirming, strengths-based assessment tool called the MIGDAS-2 to investigate any mental health or clinical issues that may affect the diagnosis.

The MIGDAS-2 is supported as the new gold standard for autism assessments due to its comprehensive, evidence-based, and versatile nature, its integration with other assessment tools, endorsement by clinical experts, and its focus on individualized and strengths-based approaches.

Child and Teen Autism Assessment:

What is included in Option 1.

  • 4 clinical consultations 
    • 1. includes a parent interview
    • 2. the assessment with your child or pre-teen / teenager
    • 3. communication with an educator and a school observation. Our Psychologist will only speak to the educator you provide details for.
    • 4. a feedback session.
  • Administration of several Autism validated measures (MIGDAS-2, SRS-2, RAADS-R, CAT-Q, MIA-2)
  • Full developmental, mental health and medical history
  • Careful assessment in the following areas:
    • Social skills and communication
    • Restricted and repetitive interests
    • Stereotyped patterns of behaviour
    • Memory and attention
    • Adaptive and functional skills
  • Psychologist observational reports of symptoms or mental state in different contexts (school and clinic)
  • Comprehensive assessment report 
  • Recommendations for future support 

What is included in Option 2.

As above, however, a brief letter plus recommendations will be provided. Please note this option does not provide a comprehensive report. It is more affordable and will provide clarity around your child's neurotype.

What is included in Option 3.

A multidisciplinary team Autism assessment, including a Paediatrician, Speech Pathologist and Psychologist. The Assessment will take place at one venue for your convenience. The team will provide a comprehensive evaluation of your child's developmental, communicative, and behavioral characteristics. This collective expertise ensures a more accurate diagnosis by examining the individual from multiple perspectives, leading to a nuanced understanding of their strengths and challenges. Please contact us for further information.

Payment and Booking Information:

Option 1. The assessment package (with comprehensive report) is $2250. Reports will take 3-5 weeks.

Option 2. The assessment (with a brief letter) is $1740. This can be completed within 3 weeks.

Option 3. Please contact us to discuss this option further. Reports will be completed within 4 weeks of your initial appointment. Assessments take place monthly on Wednesday mornings.

Payment Options: Full payment via bank deposit or credit card. We also accept three interest-free payments (Option 1. $750 Option 2. $580) at the following times:

  • 1. After your first parent interview
  • 2. After your child's assessment
  • 3. After discussions with an educator & a school observation

Booking: Please send a text to 0420 568 722 for a callback to organise your first appointment and have any questions answered.

Functional capacity assessment: For assessments requiring a psychologist's endorsement for NDIS, please note that an additional assessment fee will apply to create this support document which is different from a diagnostic report. Fees for functional capacity assessment are an additional $2,500.

Cancellations and Rebates

  • Cancellation Policy:
    • Cancellations within 48 hours (business days) or same-day cancellations of your appointment will be charged a full cancellation fee
  • Rebates: Please use the receipt from our consultation to submit to Medicare or your private health fund directly. Medicare rebates apply for adults age 18-25 for ASD assessments with an appropriate referral from your G.P.

What do I need to do prior to my first appointment?

  1. Complete the intake and payment details form from your child's initial session appointment email
  2. Get your child to complete the online questionnaires before your first parent interview appointment. You will be emailed instructions at the time of booking. Please ensure their full attention is on the task. These are straightforward questions and come with clear instructions. Results will be discussed during the consultations and in the report. Please set aside time for this and sit with them to complete these in a quiet space.
  3. It is recommended together you write a history of their concerns and the reasons why you want them to be assessed. This can save a lot of time in the session and may help you when discussing your child's issues.

What areas will be assessed?

During your chid's autism assessment, an experienced Psychologist will ask you & them a range of questions and work through developmental and historical concerns. They will also ask about your child's current experiences to learn more about them, their language and communication style, social relationships and emotional responses, as well as their sensory use and interests.

Autism is a lifelong condition. We will help you to work out if they meet the criteria of Autism, and develop new ways to live well with their diagnosis. If we think it could be something other than ASD, we will refer you on to discover what might be happening for your child.

NDIS, Medicare and rebates

NDIS: We support NDIS participants with self-managed or plan-managed funding. While Heart Expression is not a registered NDIS provider, our services may be accessible under your NDIS plan. If you’re unsure about eligibility, check with your plan manager or NDIS coordinator. 

If you’re an NDIS participant diagnosed with psychosocial disabilities, you may be eligible to include Psychology Services in your NDIS plan. Psychology is covered in the support category “Improved Daily Living Skills” in your plan’s Capacity Building section.

It is important to understand that having a confirmation of Autism does not guarantee automatic entry into the NDIS. Eligibility for NDIS funding is determined by the level and severity of 'functional impairment,' which means how your child's disability affects their daily life.

If your child is assessed as having ASD with Level 2 severity (requiring substantial support) or Level 3 severity (requiring very substantial support), they may qualify for NDIS funding. You will need to liaise with NDIS about access to funding.

For existing NDIS participants, a functional capacity assessment is helpful to support your funding application. For those not yet linked in with NDIS, an Access Request Assessment will be neccesary. This uses tools such as the WHODAS & Vineland and takes 10-12 hours to complete. Please ask us if you need this completed. The fee is an additional $2500.

Medicare: Under Medicare, autism diagnosis appointments with health professionals for individuals aged under 25 can be covered under the Complex Neurodevelopmental Disorder Services initiative. Medicare rebates are available for these services, but they require a referral from a GP.

The referral needs to state that your child has been referred for a service that will be covered by 'item code 82000'. The service must be provided to the patient individually and in person. The Better Access to Mental Health Care plan is available for anybody (individuals with Autism, parents, siblings, carers). It is for anybody who feels that their well-being / mental health is at risk to utilise the support of a Psychologist. The rebate is $96.65 per session for up to 10 sessions over a year.

Private Health: Some funds will allow rebates for psychological testing services; however it is advisable to check with your specific fund to see if your 'extras cover' includes this and the amount of rebate. If you are eligible, you will need to pay the full cost and we will send you a receipt for you to claim your rebate online.

Could your child resonate with any of these aspects?

Your child may be an excellent logical or visual thinker, with an eye for detail, good skills with technology, and a strong memory for facts and figures. Your child might have an incredible focus and deep interest in specific topics, with exceptional skills in a specific domain.

Your child's social interactions could be misunderstood by others, they may prefer alone time to company and they might find it challenging to be in large social gatherings. They might prefer to do things the same way or eat the same foods each day which are comforting and predictable.

Their senses might feel hightened and overwhelm may be a constant daily task to manage. They might have sensory differences from others who do not even notice labels, clothing, smells, and sounds which impact them greatly. Sometimes they may notice it is difficult to switch attention from one thing to another. Their super power might be that they notice specific details, patterns or changes that other people are unaware of.

Autism is a spectrum, and people with autism can be exceptionally skilled in certain areas while facing significant challenges in others. This unique combination of strengths and difficulties is what makes each person with autism distinct and requires a tailored approach with support and understanding.

Let's start a conversation...

Autism and ADHD are now celebrated within the range of neurodiversity. Whilst these are not a disorder, they are a disability, but one that has unique talents and strengths. 

We understand everyone’s lived experience of Autism is unique. We offer empathetic and skillful autism assessments for tweens and teens 10+ who may identify as neurodivergent. For a confidential conversation, to ask any questions you may have please text or call 0420 568 722.