Autism assessment – the process
Intake Interview – this gives you an opportunity to discuss the reasons for your assessment. You can provide relevant background information and other information that informed your decision to seek assessment. We will go through the diagnostic criteria as per the DSM-V-TR as the final report will need to provide evidence for these criteria. We would then decide collaboratively whether further assessment is warranted.
Online testing – I will forward you a battery of online tests that include assessment of social responsiveness, a comprehensive Autism screen and an assessment of adaptive behaviours. Adaptive behaviours are essentially functional skills pertaining to daily living. Understanding a person’s adaptive behaviour is an important part of the assessment of Autism.
IQ test – for very young children, this would be the Wechsler Pre-primary Scales of Intelligence, Fourth Edition (WPPSI-IV), for older children, the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children, Fifth Edition (WISC-V), and for adults the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scales, Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV). People often ask why the IQ test is conducted. One of the DSM-V-TR criteria for a diagnosis of Autism states that the presenting symptoms are not better accounted for by intellectual disability. Although there is often sufficient evidence to suggest that the client is not intellectually disabled, the IQ test provides strong evidence.
The IQ test also provides a score to compare with adaptive behaviour scores. Many people on the spectrum have discrepancies between their adaptive behaviours and their IQs. The literature informs us that adaptive behaviours of autistic people are often more impaired than their cognitive skills would suggest. This aligns with my experience when working with- and assessing autistic clients.
The IQ test also gives a good indication of working memory and processing speed skills, which is important when perhaps considering ADHD as a co-morbidity. A large proportion of people with autism have ADHD as well and the IQ, although not a measure for ADHD on its own, provides helpful information.
Autism Diagnostic Interview – Revised (ADI-R)
I conduct an interview with parents of children and young adults who still live at home. It is a three-hour long interview that covers all aspects of development.
Observation
I use the Autism Diagnostic Observation Scales, Second Edition (ADOS-2) with children and some adults. The ADOS-2 is a semi-structured assessment of communication, social interaction, and restricted and repetitive behaviours. Behaviour and interaction are observed and then coded.
I may elect to observe adults over the course of two sessions without doing the ADOS-2. This is usually decided in the first interview session.
Report
The report provides results from the testing and answers to the DSM-V-TR criteria. The report is sent to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) for their review.
Costs:
The total cost will be approximately $2000.00 The assessment is tailored to each individual and the cost will be determined at the intake interview. The price will not exceed $2000.00 unless an ADHD assessment is conducted at the same time.
Prepared by:
Dr. Linda Basson, Clinical Psychologist
Lakeside Psychotherapy