Package 5

Comprehensive Autism Assessment and co-morbid diagnosis

As each child with Autism can present with very different weaknesses and strengths, so too must the assessment process consider their unique profiles. The Comprehensive Autism Assessment package will commence like Package 3 but with three pre-session screeners. From this, it can be determined what areas should be assessed to best understand your child.

Pre-sessions

Your child’s unique profile will be determined by using screeners across different settings. This will include screeners for both the parent/guardian and teacher using the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), Behaviour Assessment System for Children - Third Edition (BASC-3) and Adaptive Behaviour Assessment System - Third Edition (ABAS-3).

Time - 2 Hours. Cost $360.

If the child has already completed Package 2 Autism Assessment Pre-Session - 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 to score and interpret 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). Depending on the child’s age, this is a child only session.

Time - 1 Hour. Cost $180

Session 3

Cognitive assessment using either the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - 5th Edition (WISC-5) or Wechsler Pre-School and Primary School of Intelligence - 4th Edition (WPPSI-4). The face to face time of this session may be 60-90 minutes and the clinician will spend the remaining time scoring the assessment. This is a child only session.

Time - 2 Hours. Cost $360

Session 4

Parent/guardian feedback session, recommendations for interventions 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 4, the clinician will score the assessments, interpret results from the parent/teacher screeners, comprehensive interview and observation and write a diagnostic report (5 hours). This package is based on 13 hours of clinician time. Total cost - $2,340

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.

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