Package 4

Autism Assessment

This assessment is from 3 to 16 years. At Growth Mindset Centre, our approach is to use the gold standard in autism assessment using the ADOS-2 and ADI-R comprehensive assessments. Collaboration will also be sought from different practitioners to obtain a wholistic team approach that will best support the unique characteristics of each child.

The autism assessment includes the following:

Pre-Session

After making a referral, the clinician will make phone contact with the parent/guardian and organise autism screeners using the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) and Behaviour Assessment System for Children - Third Addition (BASC-3) for both home and school settings. This pre-session is essential to determine if an autism assessment is the correct path to follow and if any co-morbid diagnoses should be considered (e.g. ADHD; Cognitive; Functional). If further assessment of ADHD, Anxiety, cognitive or adaptive functioning is warranted, we may recommend your child undergo the Comprehensive Autism Assessment package.

Time - 1 Hour. Cost - $180

Session 1

Parent/guardian comprehensive interview using the Autism Diagnostic Interview - Revised (ADI-R) and the DSM-TR ASD criteria. This is a parent/guardian only session. The face to face session may take up to 90 minutes and the clinician will use the remaining time scoring and interpreting the assessment.

Time - 2 Hours. Cost $360

Payment of Pre-Session and Session 1 due at this time.

Session 2

Formal observation assessment session with child using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule - 2nd Edition (ADOS-2).

Time - 1 Hour. Cost $180

Session 3

Parent/guardian feedback session, recommendations for intervention and referrals to other practitioners for the best wholistic support of the child will be discussed.

Time - 1 Hour. Cost $180

At the end of session 2, the clinician will score the assessments, interpret results from the parent/teacher screeners, comprehensive interview and observations and write a diagnostic report (5 hours). The overall time for the report will depend on appointment times and the feedback from teachers, although the aim is for 3 weeks after Session 2. The report will be provided after final payment.

This package is based on 10 hours of clinician time. Total cost $1,800.

Payments are made at the end of each session via cash, credit card and internet banking. We are able to claim your Medicare rebate with our EasyClaim facility at the time of paying when you attend in person.

Rebates:

Medicare rebates may apply for assessments. Currently there is a rebate of $92.90 per session for seeing a Registered Psychologist under Medicare’s Complex Neurodevelopmental Disorders. To be eligible to receive psychology services under Medicare, a child must be referred by a psychiatrist or paediatrician.

Some private health funds also give rebates for psychology services.