Autism and ADHD Assessments

Access Psych offers comprehensive Autism and ADHD assessments for adults. These assessments are typically offered via telehealth by appropriately qualified clinicians, and can also be provided face-to-face in certain locations.

Following the assessment, you will receive a comprehensive psychological report including recommendations for potential strategies and supports. For many people, receiving a diagnosis can enable self-compassion, validation and understanding by both self and others. It can also provide access to needed support and development of strategies for managing daily challenges.

Please note: completing the adult ADHD or Autism assessment does not guarantee you will receive a diagnosis of ADHD or Autism.

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What is the assessment process?

Initially, you will be offered a 30-minute intake session to answer any questions you might have and determine if further assessment is right for you at this time. As part of this, you will be asked to provide detailed background information and complete screening questionnaires which your clinician will view prior to the session.

The assessment itself includes completing further questionnaires and participating in a clinical interview with your clinician. You may wish to be accompanied in the clinical interview by a close family member or friend who knew you during childhood. Where possible, we also try to gain information via questionnaires or a phone interview from a person who knows you well, so that we have information from your perspective and from that of another person.

After the assessment, you will attend a feedback session to discuss your results and to aid understanding and interpretation of the written report, which is sent after the feedback session.

Please note: If you are seeking ADHD assessment to access ADHD medication, you will need to consult a psychiatrist. If you are seeking documentation as part of an NDIS application, this requires an additional Functional Capacity Assessment. At the time of booking, Access Psych will advise you on possible options.

How much does it cost?

The cost of an assessment reflects the amount of time it takes for a clinician to complete a comprehensive assessment and prepare a detailed report. The price will be confirmed after your intake appointment. We aim to keep fees as low as possible.

Assessment	Fee estimate (ex GST)
ADHD or Autism	$2,000 (total of $2,250 including intake fee*)
Combined Assessment	$2,500 (total of $2,750 including intake fee*)

*$250 Intake fee (required for all assessments, may be waived for existing clients or EAP clients who can incorporate intake into their session packs)

Please note: Employee Assistance Services (EAP) and Compensation Schemes do not typically cover the cost of these assessments, nor are they eligible for Medicare rebate.

Frequently asked questions

ASSESSMENTS ADHD AUTISM

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Frequently asked questions about Assessments

What are the benefits of a diagnosis?

For many people, receiving a diagnosis can enable self-compassion, validation and understanding by both self and others. It can also provide access to needed support and development of strategies for managing daily challenges.

Do I need a GP referral for an assessment?

No, a GP referral is not required for an assessment. Psychological assessments are not currently eligible for Medicare rebates. If you have a current NDIS plan, it may be possible to allocate funding to cover all or part of the assessment costs. Please consult with your support coordinator to determine whether this is possible for you.

What does the assessment process involve?

You’ll work with a psychologist across 2-3 appointments to fully understand your thoughts, presentations and lived experiences. Your psychologist will gather information from multiple sources, including symptom checklists and behaviour rating scales and may contact family members or other people who know you well, with your consent.

Can the assessment be completed via telehealth?

Yes, the assessment can be completed via telehealth. Please contact us if you are seeking a face-to-face appointment.

Is there a waitlist?

There is a 1-2 week waitlist for adult assessments. We currently do not offer child assessments via telehealth, however please contact us to discuss your needs and we may be able to see your child at our in-person clinic or they may be placed on a waitlist.

Do you provide assessments for all ages?

We currently provide online assessments for adults only, however please contact us if you are seeking an assessment for your child as this may be possible at our in-person clinic.

How much does an assessment cost?

ADHD or Autism Assessments cost $2,000 (total of $2,250 including intake fee*)

Combined ADHD and Autism Assessments cost $2,500 (total of $2,750 including intake fee*)

What sort of questions will I be asked?

Your psychologist will ask you about your current concerns as well as your lived experiences of ADHD or Autistic traits from childhood through to adulthood. Your psychologist will also ask about your early developmental history, family history, medical history, schooling and employment. This is to ensure they provide a comprehensive assessment and rule out other possible causes of your concerns.

Why does the assessment involve a family member or friend from childhood?

With your consent, your psychologist may contact somebody who knew you during childhood to gather information about your experiences from their perspective. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR), Autism and ADHD are neurodevelopmental disorders, and some symptoms must have been present in the developmental period (i.e., younger than 12 years of age).

Why should I complete a psychological assessment rather than seeing a psychiatrist?

Completing a psychological assessment provides you with a comprehensive, neuro-affirming psychological report that answers your diagnostic questions as well as screens for other commonly co-occurring mental health disorders. The assessment process follows Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines, ensuring your concerns are comprehensively explored. Your report includes personalised recommendations and options for support, regardless of whether you receive a diagnosis.

Will I need to see a psychiatrist if I am seeking medication?

Yes, you will need to consult a psychiatrist to discuss medication treatment options. Clinical Psychologists in Australia with relevant training can diagnose neurodevelopmental disorders and provide recommendations for further support, however, they do not prescribe medication.

Can I access psychology therapy following my assessment?

Yes, if you would like to access psychological support following your assessment, your psychologist can internally refer you to one of our clinicians at AccessPsych.

Will I be able to access NDIS funding or other support if I receive a diagnosis?

Your psychological report can be provided to support your application for NDIS funding, however, we are unable to guarantee the outcome and whether funding will be received, as this is determined by the NDIS.

Frequently asked questions about ADHD

What is ADHD?

AttentionDeficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is currently classed as a neurodevelopmental disorder, characterised by difficulties with attention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity which adversely affect a person’s functioning in important areas of life such as psychological wellbeing, education/employment, socialising and relationships. ADHD tends to run in families.

ADHD is increasingly understood as different brain type (neurotype) characterised by lifelong differences in attentional, emotional, cognitive, behavioural regulation, and time perception, underpinned by a brain motivated by novelty, interest and urgency. These traits can adversely influence a person’s activities and participation in a majority non-ADHD society, but also lead to areas of strength including a greater ability to hyperfocus and acquire skills and knowledge in areas of interest more quickly than non-ADHD individuals.

How are adults tested for ADHD?

There are Australian Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) developed by AADPA.

Access Psych’s assessment process follows these guidelines, including:

Initial screening to determine if further assessment of ADHD is warranted
Comprehensive assessment including a clinical interview involving administration of the Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in adults (DIVA-5)
Screeners and questionnaires completed by you and where possible, a close family member/friend who knew you in childhood
Analysis of assessment findings to determine if a person meets diagnostic criteria for ADHD, as outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM–5–TR)
Consideration of alternative or additional diagnoses

Who can diagnose ADHD in adults?

Any suitably qualified and trained mental health clinician can diagnose ADHD. This can include psychologists, psychiatrists, and mental health social workers. Provisional psychologists can also conduct assessments and diagnose ADHD under supervision.

Access Psych ensures that all its clinicians have undertaken suitable training in ADHD assessment and receive regular supervision.

What are the signs or symptoms of ADHD in adults?

ADHD is currently assessed against a set of diagnostic criteria laid out within the DSM-5-TR, which defines the behavioural symptoms of attentional difficulties, hyperactivity and/or impulsivity. There are inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive, or combined presentations of ADHD, and categorisation of severity based on a number of symptoms. A diagnosis of ADHD is suggested when these traits negatively impact functioning in several areas including psychological, social, academic, occupational, and activities of daily living and leisure.

However, our understanding of ADHD is advancing towards conceiving it as a different brain type (neurotype). This neuroaffirming model includes appreciation of ADHD as a neurotype characterised by lifelong differences in attentional, emotional, cognitive, behavioural regulation, and time perception, underpinned by a brain motivated by novelty, interest and urgency. These differences in self-regulation may lead to significant mental health challenges, distress, or challenges in daily life and relationships because of the expectations on the person to behave in non-ADHD ways, not because there is anything inherently wrong with the person.

Are the symptoms of ADHD different for women?

ADHD has typically been underdiagnosed in women, because the diagnostic criteria were developed based on a classic, male presentation of ADHD, and because it was incorrectly believed to affect more men than women.

Women may present with a more inattentive presentation of ADHD, which can be less obvious to other people. They may also be better at ‘masking’ – that is hiding their ADHD traits to appear non-ADHD. However, masking often leads to exhaustion, burn out and mental health challenges, and many ADHD people are now seeking out communities of other ADHD people where they can safely unmask and practice being their authentic selves.

Clinicians are getting better at identifying ADHD in women, and non-binary people.

Why is it important to be tested for ADHD?

Undiagnosed ADHD is often a source of significant trauma, substance use and poor mental health, and people may feel defective in some way because of their struggles.

Receiving an ADHD diagnosis can lead to feelings of relief as well as validation and increased self-compassion, as well as access to treatment to ease symptoms, which may include psychological therapy or medication. Receiving diagnosis later in life can also precipitate a range of other emotions including grief and other complicated feelings related to how life may have been different if they had received a diagnosis earlier.

There are more public figures who have spoken openly about having ADHD, which means that people have role models to look up to such as Chloe Hayden, an Australian Autistic and ADHD actor and advocate.

How do you treat ADHD in adults?

There are Australian Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines for ADHD developed by AADPA. Some people choose to access a psychiatrist to explore whether medication will help ease their symptoms.

Frequently asked questions about Autism

What is Autism?

Autism is a different brain type that is more motivated by interest and information gathering/sharing than a non-Autistic brain. This is underpinned by differences in neural connectivity (hyperconnectivity in some brain areas, and hypoconnectivity in other areas) which can also lead to more/less sensory sensitivity, greater need for routine and/or repetitive movements to self-regulate, and deeper focus on a smaller range of interest compared to a non-Autistic brain, which can lead to experiences of intense joy.

Some Autistic people have a stronger drive for autonomy and fairness than non-Autistic people. Autism tends to run in families.

How are adults tested for Autism?

In Australia, there is a national guideline for the assessment and diagnosis of Autism, developed by Autism CRC. Access Psych’s assessment process follows these guidelines, which includes:

Initial screening to determine if further assessment of Autism is warranted
Comprehensive assessment including a clinical interview involving administration of the Monteiro Interview Guidelines for Diagnosing the Autism Spectrum (MIGDAS)
Screeners and questionnaires completed by you and where possible, a close family member/friend who knew you in childhood
Analysis of assessment findings to determine if a person meets diagnostic criteria for Autism, as outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM–5–TR)
Consideration of alternative or additional diagnoses

Who can diagnose Autism in adults?

Any suitably qualified and trained mental health clinician can diagnose Autism. This can include psychologists, psychiatrists, and mental health social workers. Provisional psychologists can also conduct assessments and diagnose Autism under supervision.

Access Psych ensures that all its clinicians have undertaken suitable training in Autism assessment and receive regular supervision.

What are the signs or symptoms of Autism in adults?

Current understanding of Autism recognises that it is a different brain type (neurotype), not a disorder, and that there are a wide range of different presentations of Autism. This has led to the saying “If you know one person with Autism, you know one person with Autism.”

Currently, Autism is assessed against a medical model, the DSM-5-TR, which defines the symptoms of Autism as lifelong, impactful difficulties in social reciprocity, non-verbal communication, as well as developing, sustaining, and understanding relationships, with repetitive behaviours, rigidity, narrow range of interests and/or sensory hyper- or hypo-sensitivity.

This has led to stigma, discrimination, misunderstanding, and under recognition of Autistic individuals, because many Autistic people do not identify with this description of their identities.

A more neuroaffirming view of Autism is that it is a neurotype characterised by lifelong differences (not deficits) in social communication, prioritising of verbal over non-verbal communication, greater ease in relationships with other Autistic people, as well as sensory differences, deep or special interests (SPINs), and use of routines and /or repetitive movements “stims” to self-regulate.

These differences may lead to significant mental health challenges, distress, or challenges in daily life because of the expectations on the person to behave

Are the symptoms of Autism different for women?

Autism has typically been underdiagnosed in women, because the diagnostic criteria were developed based on a classic, male presentation of Autism, and because it was incorrectly believed to affect more men than women.

Women may also be better at ‘masking’ – that is hiding their Autistic traits to appear non-Autistic. However, masking often leads to exhaustion, burn out and mental health challenges, and many Autistic people are now seeking out communities of other Autistic people where they can safely unmask and practice being their authentic selves.

Clinicians are getting better at identifying Autism in women and non-binary people. Diversity in gender identity and sexuality is known to occur at higher rates in Autistic people compared to non-Autistic people.

Why is it important to be tested for Autism?

Undiagnosed neurodivergence is often a source of significant trauma and poor mental health for Autistic people, who may feel defective in some way because of their struggles.

Receiving an Autism diagnosis can lead to feelings of relief as well as validation and increased self-compassion, but many Autistic people receiving a diagnosis later in life also experience a range of other emotions including grief and other complicated feelings related to how life may have been different if they had received a diagnosis earlier.

There are more public figures who have spoken openly about Autism, which means that Autistic people have role models to look up to, such as Chloe Hayden, an Australian Autistic and ADHD actor and advocate.

What is Asperger’s Syndrome?

Aspergers Syndrome was a previous category in the diagnostic manual that was removed in 2013 and replaced by the term Autism Spectrum Disorder.

This change reflects a shift towards a more unified understanding of autism, recognising that the characteristics previously associated with Asperger’s are part of the spectrum of Autism. Additionally, the term has become controversial due to the historical association of its namesake, Hans Asperger, with the Nazi regime and their eugenics program. While no longer a formal diagnosis, some individuals who previously received an Asperger’s diagnosis may still choose to use the term to identify themselves.

Currently, the term Autistic is preferred by most Autistic people as it avoids reference to the neurotype as a disorder and captures the central nature Autism plays in identify formation that many Autistic people experience.

What is the Autism spectrum?

The term Autism Spectrum or Autism Spectrum Disorder has typically been used to refer to the range of functioning of Autistic people. This is now thought of in terms of the range of support needs of Autistic People.

It has also been misunderstood and taken to mean that “everyone is somewhere on the spectrum/ we’re all a little bit Autistic” which is not accurate. As awareness of Autism grows, many people now think about Autism beyond even a spectrum, to something akin to a colour wheel, as a way of attempting to capture the uniqueness of every Autistic person’s experience.

How do you treat Autism in adults?

Autism is not a disorder; therefore, it is not a condition to be treated. However, Autistic people often require support and accommodations to enable them to embrace their identity and live well in a non-Autistic world.

People with Autism often also have other types of neurodivergence such as ADHD and/or giftedness as well as physical and mental health conditions for which they need support.