Mobile Autism and ADHD Assessments for Children
Our Child Psychologist Comes to You
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are both neurodevelopmental conditions that can co-occur, presenting unique challenges and characteristics in children. This combination is often referred to as AuDHD. An assessment for combined ADHD and Autism is crucial to understanding the interplay between these conditions and to provide comprehensive support.
Understanding Combined Autism & ADHD Assessments
“Why does my child need combined autism & ADHD assessments?”
Children with both Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often exhibit a unique interplay of traits that can be both complementary and contradictory. For instance, while ADHD may lead to impulsivity and difficulty focusing, Autism can manifest as challenges in social communication and rigid thinking. This combination can create a complex landscape of behaviours that significantly impact a child’s social interactions, academic performance, and daily life. Without appropriate support, these overlapping conditions can contribute to low self-esteem, increased anxiety, depression, and heightened frustration. Notably, research indicates that 50-70% of individuals with ASD also present with ADHD, highlighting the importance of assessing these conditions together.
A combined ADHD and Autism assessment is essential for families seeking clarity and support. This comprehensive evaluation examines your child’s developmental, behavioural, social, and academic functioning to determine if they meet the criteria for both conditions. By understanding the co-occurrence of ADHD and Autism, we can identify cognitive strengths and limitations and provide tailored recommendations for school and learning supports.
After the assessment, you will receive a detailed report and a feedback session for parents or caregivers, offering personalized strategies and recommendations. If needed, referrals to other healthcare professionals will be made to ensure your family receives coordinated and comprehensive care.
Getting Started: The Intake Process
Intake Session
- A 30-60 minute intake session is available for families uncertain about the most suitable assessment process.
- During this session, the psychologist will work with the parent/guardian to explore your child’s developmental history, relevant family background, and presenting challenges. Rating scales may also be completed to determine the most appropriate assessment and to schedule future appointments.
Inclusions and Timeline
- The Conner’s Comprehensive Behaviour Assessment (CCBA) will be provided to the child’s teacher and parent for completion through an online questionnaire.
- Once completed, the psychologist will evaluate the CCBA results to determine the most suitable assessment for the child.
- A follow-up appointment with the parent or caregiver will be conducted via phone or video call to discuss the CCBA findings, complete additional rating scales, and outline the next steps in the assessment process.
Comprehensive Assessment Process
"What’s included as part of the assessment?”
No referral from a general practitioner is required for a combined ADHD and Autism assessment. The process involves several components, including:
1. Clinical Interview and History Gathering
The psychologist will conduct a clinical interview with the parent or caregiver to collect information about the child’s family and medical history, developmental milestones, social interactions, communication skills, and behavioral patterns.
2. Rating Scales
The psychologist will request your child (depending on age), parent/caregiver, and child’s teacher (if applicable) to complete questionnaires assessing characteristics commonly associated with ADHD and Autism.
3. Standardised Assessment
The psychologist will use standardised assessment tools specifically designed to aid in the diagnosis of both ADHD and Autism.
4. Developmental and Cognitive Testing
The psychologist will assess your child’s cognitive abilities, language skills, academic performance, adaptive functioning, and executive functioning using recognised assessment tools to provide insight into their current functional and social capacity.
5. Report and Recommendations
As part of the assessment, you will receive a comprehensive report along with tailored recommendations. Please note that reports typically have a turnaround time of 4–6 weeks. The findings will be discussed with parents or caregivers during the feedback session.
Inclusions and Timeline
Our combined ADHD and Autism assessment process consists of five sessions, each designed to thoroughly evaluate your child’s abilities and provide actionable insights.
Session 1: Autism Diagnostic Interview–Revised (ADI-R) – up to 2 Hours
- The ADI-R is a structured interview that gathers valuable information about your child’s family history, developmental milestones, and presenting challenges.
- This session can be conducted via phone or video call for your convenience.
Session 2: Autism Diagnostic and Observation Schedule, 2nd Edition (ADOS-2) – up to 1 Hour
- The ADOS-2 is regarded as the “gold standard” for autism assessment, evaluating social communication skills, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviors.
- This session involves direct interaction with your child.
Session 3: Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fifth Edition (WISC-V) – up to 2 Hours
- The psychologist uses the WISC-V to assess your child’s cognitive abilities, language skills, academic functioning, adaptive functioning, and executive functioning.
- These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of your child’s functional and social capacity and inform diagnostic decisions with appropriate specifiers.
Session 4: Test of Everyday Attention, 2nd Edition (TEA-Ch2) – up to 1 Hour
- The TEA-Ch2 measures various aspects of attention in children aged 5 to 15.
- This session utilizes a combination of paper-based and digital tests to evaluate key areas of attention: selective, sustained, and switching. Understanding these aspects is crucial for identifying challenges your child may face in everyday activities.
Session 5: Feedback Session – up to 1 Hour
- Scheduled 4–6 weeks after the final assessment.
- During this session, parents or caregivers will receive a comprehensive report, including findings and recommendations, which can be conducted via phone or video call for your convenience.
Important Notes:
- Combined assessments are currently available for children aged 5 to 15 years.
Fee Schedule and Duration
Our assessment fees are based on clinical time, charged at an hourly rate of $250.00. The total clinical time may vary depending on individual client needs, which we will discuss with families during the intake process. Additionally, a fee of $120 for assessment materials is included in all cost estimates.
Mobile Combined Autism & ADHD Assessments Fee Estimate: $3,870
(Based on 15 hours of clinical time and assessment materials)
Important Notes:
- Deposit: A non-refundable deposit of $500.00 is required at the time of booking.
- Final Invoice: An invoice will be issued following the completion of each assessment component.
- Payment: Full payment must be received prior to the feedback session.
- Medicare Coverage: Assessments are not covered by Medicare.
- Private Health Insurance: Some psychological services may qualify for rebates. Contact your insurer to confirm eligibility.
- NDIS Funding: Diagnostic assessments are not funded by the NDIS unless specifically requested by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA). Cognitive assessments may be covered under certain circumstances; please consult your local area coordinator for details.
- Medicare Rebates for Referrals:
- When referred by a paediatrician or psychiatrist, up to four hours of diagnostic assessment may be eligible for a rebate of $93.35 per hour.
- This rebate applies only to standardised assessments and developmental/cognitive testing.
