Autism/ADHD Assessment
Our Autism/ADHD assessment process is generally as follows:
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Book appointment time online via the Booking Portal shortcut above, choosing between assessment with summary letter only, with report, or with report and Clinical Psychologist review (this review can be added/cancelled later if booking assessment with report)
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Get sent conditions of services and background information forms to complete.
Assessment with Summary Letter
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Get sent invoice, full payment required to confirm appointment (minimum 2 weeks prior).
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Once payment and forms received you will be sent online questionnaires to complete.
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Appointment session
o 2-3 hour interview via zoom
o encouraged to have a friend/family member with you, but not required
o sometimes informant questionnaires will be sent to partner/family member/friend if needed for diagnostic clarity (will be discussed with you)
o aim for results to be discussed in session, unless further information needed, in which case an email or phone call (depending on client preference) will be arranged post gathering information
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Summary letter emailed to you within two weeks of session/collating final information (whichever is latest).
Assessment with Report
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Get sent invoice, 50% deposit required to confirm appointment (minimum 2 weeks prior).
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Once deposit and forms received you will be sent online questionnaires to complete.
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Appointment session
o 2-3 hour interview via zoom
o encouraged to have a friend/family member with you, but not required
o sometimes informant questionnaires will be sent to partner/family member/friend if needed for diagnostic clarity (will be discussed with you)
o feedback session scheduled with clinician (time frame discussed with you, to allow enough time for clinician to write report, and for you to pay remaining 50%, can usually be within 2-4 weeks from appointment if everything complete)
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Feedback session
o 30min-1hour via zoom
o discuss results and report
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Report emailed to you after feedback session.
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Optional Clinical Psychologist review and co-sign available for an additional $400. A support needs summary will also be completed with you as part of assessment or feedback session and scheduling of Clinical Psychologist review will be discussed with you.
Further notes:
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If autism diagnosis is reached, you can use the standard report for applying for NDIS along with any other documentation from other allied health/GPs etc, though we can never guarantee outcome or funding. NDIS has been asking for additional information from speech therapists, occupational therapists, or clinical psychologists lately so it is important to note that you may require further information from elsewhere post diagnosis to access NDIS funding.
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If an ADHD diagnosis is reached you will need to see a psychiatrist to discuss eligibility for medication. How much of their own assessment they complete will be up to each individual psychiatrist.
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Due to the large overlap between autism and ADHD it is generally our practice to assess for both as the process is quite similar (and does not add much more to the length or therefore cost of assessment). Though if you are fairly certain you have ADHD, wish to trial medication, and do not feel autism is part of the picture for you, then we do recommend that you go straight to a psychiatrist as they may be able to do their own assessment and prescribe for less cost than a psychology assessment. Psychology assessments can still be really helpful if you are not sure or want to gain confidence in the diagnosis before approaching a psychiatrist, or if you are not interested in pursuing medications yet/at all.
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Very occasionally we need further assessment to determine a diagnosis, if this is the case this will be discussed with you and you will be informed of all options to proceed.