Autism Assessments in Penrith

When you choose The Wellness Practice for your child’s autism assessment, you’re choosing:

Skilled professionals: our experienced autism assessment psychologists deeply understand ASD and are skilled in working with individuals of all ages, from toddlers to adults.

Patient-centred approach: we prioritise your child’s unique needs and tailor our assessment process to their individual strengths and challenges.

Comprehensive evaluations: we offer combined ADHD and Autism assessments to provide a more complete picture of your child’s cognitive and behavioural profile. This streamlined approach can save you time and money.

The Autism Assessment Process

To provide a comprehensive evaluation of your child’s development and identify any signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), our autism assessment process typically includes the following components:

1. Initial Clinical Interview

The initial interview is a crucial step in the assessment process. During this session, we will gather important information about your child’s:
Developmental history: we will discuss key milestones like crawling, walking, and talking.

• Social skills: we will assess your child’s ability to form friendships, engage in social play, and understand social cues.
• Communication abilities: we will evaluate your child’s verbal and nonverbal communication skills, including language development and understanding.

2. Psychological Assessments

A series of standardised tests will be administered to assess your child’s:
Cognitive abilities: we will evaluate your child’s intelligence, problem-solving skills, and learning style.

• Language skills: we will assess your child’s receptive and expressive language abilities, including vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension.
• Adaptive behaviours: we will evaluate your child’s daily living skills, such as self-care, social, and academic skills.

3. Behavioural Observations

Direct observation of your child’s behaviour can provide valuable insights into their social interactions, communication patterns, and play preferences.
By combining these components, we can comprehensively understand your child’s strengths and challenges. This information will help us to provide an accurate diagnosis and develop a tailored treatment plan.

Autism Assessment Process Overview

At The Wellness Practice, we understand that the autism assessment process can be exciting and daunting. We are committed to providing a supportive and understanding environment for you and your child throughout the assessment process.

1. Initial interview
The first step in the assessment process is an initial interview with one of our experienced autism assessment psychologists. During this meeting, we will discuss your child’s developmental history, social skills, communication abilities, and any concerns you may have.

2. Testing sessions
The next step involves a series of testing sessions. These sessions may include:

• Standardised assessments: these tests help us assess your child’s cognitive abilities, language skills, and social skills.
  Behavioural observations: we will observe your child’s behaviour in various settings to gain insights into their social interactions, communication patterns, and play preferences.
• Parent and teacher interviews: we may also interview your child’s parents and teachers to gather additional information about their development and behaviour.

3. Feedback session
Once the assessment is complete, we will schedule a feedback session to discuss our findings and recommendations. During this session, we will provide you with a comprehensive report that outlines your child’s strengths and challenges and recommends therapy, education, and other support services.

Combined ADHD and Autism Assessments

If you suspect that your child may be struggling with both ADHD and Autism, a combined assessment can provide a more comprehensive understanding of their needs. By simultaneously assessing both conditions, we can identify underlying causes, develop a tailored treatment plan, and save you time and money.
Our experienced psychologists are skilled in diagnosing and treating both ADHD and Autism. A combined assessment allows us to:

Identify comorbidities: determine if ADHD and Autism are present together or if other conditions may be contributing to your child’s challenges.
Develop a tailored treatment plan: create a comprehensive treatment plan that addresses the specific needs of your child, taking into account both conditions.
Optimise treatment outcomes: by addressing both conditions simultaneously, we can maximise the effectiveness of interventions and improve your child’s overall well-being.

If you have any questions or concerns about a combined ADHD and autism assessment, please don’t hesitate to contact our team. We’re here to help you make informed decisions about your child’s care.