Autism
Diagnostic Assessments:
AUTISM
SPECTRUM DISORDERS (ASD), including Asperger’s Syndrome, is a type of
neurodevelopmental disorders. It is a lifelong diagnosis. With the right kind
of support, people with ASD often lead successful and fulfilling lives.
However, there are particular areas of their lives where they experience
genuine barriers:
Managing
social situations and social interactions;
Communicating
with other people, and;
Developing
and maintaining social relationships.
Additionally,
people with ASD may find it hard to cope with changes and rely on
extraordinarily strict routines to manage their lives. Some have very intense
interests in certain areas, and dedicate most of their energy and time in
pursuing these interests. Sensory sensitivities (e.g. sensitivity to light, sounds,
textures) are also frequently reported amongst people with ASD.
When
to consider an Autism Diagnostic Assessment?
If
you experience the aforementioned symptoms, it would be helpful to explore an
Autism Diagnostic Assessment and see if a diagnosis of ASD is a useful way of
understanding your difficulties.
Who
will carry out the assessment?
You
will meet with one of the clinic psychologists who specialises in ASD. All of
these psychologists are formally trained in autism diagnostic assessments and
employ a range of ‘gold standard’ autism diagnostic tools. They have extensive
clinical experience of assessing people with ASD across the lifespan.
What
to expect at an Autism Diagnostic Assessment?
An
Autism Diagnostic Assessment is a comprehensive process. It usually requires at
least three hour-long meetings. We will explore different aspects of your life,
before arriving at a diagnostic conclusion. Your clinician will go through each
step of the diagnostic assessment with you.
Typically,
an Autism Assessment will comprise of the following:
A
clinical interview to understand your current difficulties and early life
experiences;
A
social communication observation assessment, and;
(If
available), a developmental history interview with a parent or an informant
interview with a person who knows you well.
Sometimes,
we may require additional assessment meetings to gather further information,
and we will discuss this with you.
What
to expect at the Feedback Session?
After
we have gathered all the necessary information, we will meet again to discus
the diagnostic outcome. We will discuss the diagnosis of ASD.
There
are three possible outcomes:
You
meet the diagnostic criteria for ASD
We
will explore therapy options for your difficulties.
You
do not meet the diagnostic criteria for ASD.
We
will think about differential diagnoses or more appropriate ways of
understanding your difficulties. We will also discuss the kind of help that you
would benefit from.
We
are not able to conclude at this stage
People
may have experienced complex trauma or mental health difficulties. The effects
on their well-being and functioning may need to be addressed before considering
a neurodevelopmental diagnosis.
Ultimately,
our aim is to find the best way to understand you and your needs, and identify
the most helpful way forward for psychological interventions.