Adult Autism
Assessment
At Westside Psych, our Autism assessor can provide Autism assessments for adults 18 years and older.
Why test for Autism?
You might be seeking an Autism assessment for a variety of reasons:
A medical practitioner or psychologist has suggested you might be Autistic and you’re ready to investigate further
Someone in your family has recently been identified as Autistic and you’re curious about whether you too are Autistic
You have recently learned more about Autism and discovered some of the common experiences and traits of Autistic people resonate with you
You want to understand yourself better, and gain insight into your unique profile of strengths and challenges
You’re already pretty certain you’re Autistic, but want to know for sure, or would like help to get the support and accommodations you need at work or in education through formal assessment.
Referral information
You do not need a referral from a GP, psychiatrist, or other health practitioner for an Autism assessment as an adult. You can contact us directly to book.
Location
Assessments are conducted in person at Westside Psych (23 Hyde St, Footscray, Victoria) or via Telehealth (Zoom), depending on your location and preferences.
Fees
There is a private cost for most Autism assessment services at Westside Psych, which includes the costs of reviewing your pre-assessment paperwork and results of psychometric testing, your clinical interview, feedback session, and report preparation (if applicable).
A Medicare rebate is available for clients under 25 years old. Referral by a psychiatrist or paediatrician is required in order to be eligible for this rebate. If you have private health insurance, it is worth contacting your provider to discuss whether any costs associated with adult Autism assessment are covered.
There are two options for your assessment service: delivery of a summary letter or a comprehensive report. These options are priced separately.
Please head to the Contact us page if you want to request more information or book an assessment.
Structure of the assessment
The assessment process consists of a number of components:
Pre-assessment information collection. After you book a time for your assessment, you will receive some online forms and questionnaires to fill out. With your consent, we will also ask another person who has known you since childhood (such as a parent or other trusted caregiver) to fill out a questionnaire. This information will be reviewed by the assessing psychologist before the first session. You will also be asked to provide any school reports, letters from school, or earlier psychological reports to which you have access. All of this information is treated confidentially.
Clinical interview. This is an interview of approximately three to four hours (conducted over one or two sessions) about your life experiences across a range of different areas. You might also be asked to fill in additional questionnaires/assessment tools at this time.
You are welcome to bring a loved one (such as a parent, family member, friend, or partner) and items that help you to feel comfortable or safe. We can make accommodations to help ensure you have a positive experience in this session – please discuss this with your assessing psychologist in the pre-assessment stage to help us meet your needs.
Feedback session. This one-hour session will take place approximately one to two weeks after your clinical interview (where possible). Your psychologist will present the results of the assessment, and you can ask any questions you have. You and your assessing psychologist will work together to develop ideas to support you and your needs.
Delivery of report (if applicable). If you have opted to receive a comprehensive report, this will be prepared and delivered to you via email approximately 4-6 weeks after your feedback session. This document will include some background information, the scores of tests you have taken in the assessment and interpretation of those results, your profile of strengths, and a list of recommendations developed in collaboration with you at the feedback session.
A note on ADHD
Many of the clinicians at Westside Psych are happy to work with you to assist with management of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Please check with our Admin team as to which of our clinicians might be best to assist you with this.
While we do not offer formal assessment for ADHD at this time, we do offer screening assessment. If the results of screening indicate you might benefit from formal assessment of ADHD, we might recommend you visit your GP for a referral to a psychiatrist for this and ongoing management.
A note on NDIS applications
Please note that specific requirements need to be met when applying for funding under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Please let me know if applying for NDIS funding is a goal for you, and be aware that a formal diagnosis does not guarantee your eligibility for NDIS funding.
Booking
For more information and to proceed with booking an adult Autism assessment, please submit an enquiry at the Contact us page.
We look forward to hearing from you!