What is Autism?
Autism is a neurotype; a developmental condition that includes differences in the structure and function of a person’s brain, creating a different way of working for that person.
Every autistic person experiences and interacts with the world in their own unique way. At Superyou, our strengths-based approach focuses on the positives of being a unique individual.
As we like to say, if you’ve met one autistic person, you’ve met one autistic person! Everyone is different.
Receiving an autism diagnosis enables kids and adults with autism to access better help and support that empowers them to live their lives to the fullest.
Service Spotlight
An autism diagnosis enables kids & adults with autism to access better help & support that empowers them to live their lives to the fullest.
Our diagnostic team promotes a neurodiverse affirming approach that priorities our client’s individual strengths & differences.
We accept referrals from GPs, paediatricians, psychiatrists, & other allied health professionals.
Appointments available in our Perth clinics (Currently offered at our Fremantle clinic).
Assessment costs:
- Comprehensive (Speech Pathologist & Psychologist) – $3997
- Single (Speech Pathologist or Psychologist - for Adult Assessments only) – $2747
Clients receive diagnostic reports within 4 weeks after assessment.
What’s the Purpose of an Autism Assessment?
The primary purpose of an autism assessment is to determine whether a person meets the criteria for autism.
Receiving a formal diagnosis is another step in the journey of understanding someone better, whether that someone is you, your child or a loved one!
It also helps you gather valuable insights into their strengths and the support requirements they need across various settings, like school, work and home.
AUthentic Assessments at Superyou
Autism assessments at Superyou involve a diagnostic team made up of psychologists and speech pathologists.
Our team meets with the individual and uses a range of different methods and tools to support that individual in exploring whether they meet an autism diagnosis.
We conduct autism assessments in a neurodiverse affirming way that prioritises each client’s individual strengths and differences.
This authentic approach incorporates a whole person perspective to our autism assessments, empowering clients with a report that provides the most accurate results and ideal recommendations that best suit them and their needs.
The role of a paediatrician in autism assessments for kids
- You do not need a referral from a paediatrician to begin. At Superyou, our autism assessments can be started right away, even while you’re on a paediatrician waitlist.
- Our comprehensive assessments are conducted by a psychologist and a speech pathologist. These are aligned with best practice guidelines and provide a solid foundation for diagnosis and support planning.
- We strongly recommend that your child see a paediatrician, but there’s no need to wait to get started with us. Many families face a 6–12 month wait for a paediatrician appointment, and we can begin the process in the meantime.
- When your child does see a paediatrician, they can review our completed assessment and contribute their own medical report. This completes the diagnostic team required by the Autism CRC’s National Guideline, which includes a paediatrician, psychologist, and speech pathologist.
From referral to report: Receiving an autism assessment in 5 steps
Step 1: Complete the Onboarding Process
To get started, simply fill out our online form. Referrals aren’t required, but we accept them from GPs, paediatricians and psychiatrists. From here, you will be contacted by a Superyou Client Relationship Officer to begin receiving the necessary information and details to progress with the assessment.
Step 2: Pre-Assessment Details
Next, you will be contacted by a Superyou Client Relationship Officer to begin receiving the necessary information and details to progress with the assessment.
Step 3: Interview & Assessment
Then, you'll have a formal assessment scheduled in with our diagnostic team. During the assessment, the team will consider individual differences and strengths, to ensure the most accurate assessment outcome.
Step 4: Finalising Diagnostic Report
Once the assessment is finished, our team will analyse, score and interpret the assessment into a diagnostic report before sending it through to you and/or your referrer for review.
Step 5: Optional Feedback Session
We offer a completely optional feedback session where clients can ask any questions about the report and our recommendations.
Get started on your journey with Superyou!
Fill out our assessment form or enquire now about our authentic autism assessments.
FAQ's
General Questions
What’s the difference between a single and a comprehensive assessment at Superyou?
A Single Assessor Assessment involves either one of our psychologists or speech therapists and is suitable for cases where a full multidisciplinary team may not be required. Such as, the client has already been assessed by one of these clinicians and needs the other to contribute to the team consensus. This type of assessment is available for adults only (18yo +).
A Comprehensive Assessment includes both our psychologist and a speech therapist and is recommended for anyone under 18yo to ensure a multidisciplinary team consensus. These clients may still require paediatrician input either before or after our assessment for the diagnosis to be acknowledged by some government departments, such as the NDIS or the Education Department.
How do I know if I need a single or comprehensive assessment?
The type of assessment depends on the individual’s age and goals:
· Children under 18yo require assessment by a paediatrician, psychologist, and speech therapist.
· Adults aged 18+ can see either a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist that are trained in completing autism assessments or both a psychiatrist and psychologist. We recommend clients wishing to obtain funding through the NDIS to see a psychiatrist in conjunction with our adult assessment.
A comprehensive assessment may be required by agencies like the NDIS or schools for funding or support eligibility.
What is the cost of an Autism Assessment?
- Comprehensive Assessment (Psychologist & Speech Therapist): $3,997.00.
- Single Assessment (Psychologist or Speech Therapist): $2,747.00.
How does payment for the assessment work?
We take a $100 booking confirmation fee once clients advise they want to proceed. This is sent in the form of an invoice for payment. Appointments cannot be booked without this fee paid and the service agreement signed.
The $100 booking fee will be deducted from the final invoice.
We will send the invoice on the day of assessment for payment, which is then due 3 weeks after the assessment, and before the report is provided. Reports cannot be released without final payment.
Does the NDIS cover the cost of Autism Assessments?
No, the NDIS does not cover the cost of autism assessments.
Can I claim a Medicare rebate for the assessment?
Yes, you may be eligible for a Medicare rebate if you have a referral from a paediatrician or psychiatrist. The rebate you’re eligible for depends on your individual circumstances though, so we cannot advise on the exact amount.
What does the onboarding process involve?
You will need to complete an online referral form (self-referrals accepted). You’ll then receive an email providing further information.
If you choose to progress, we will send a Service Agreement via DocuSign and a $100 booking fee invoice. Once the Service Agreement is signed and the booking fee is paid, we will schedule the assessment.
A confirmation email follows with a pre-assessment form and a request for supporting documents (e.g., school or clinical reports). These must be submitted at least one week before the assessment for review. If no issues arise, the assessment proceeds as scheduled.
Assessment Process
Assessment Process
What happens during the assessment?
For children, the process includes a clinical interview with the parent/guardian, a standardised assessment and informal play or cognitive and speech evaluations.
We use two rooms to carry out both parts separately. Our psychologist will interview the parents in one room while our speech pathologist does assessments in the other room with the child. Then once this portion of the assessment is completed, they will swap, with the psychologist meeting with the child and the speech pathologist meeting with the parents.
Additional observations, such as school or daycare visits, may be arranged, if necessary, after the assessment date.
For adults, it involves a clinical interview and specific diagnostic tools tailored to their experiences, done with the psychologist only.
Adult assessments are usually split into two sessions, one session is the clinical interview and the second diagnostic tools and assessments. One in-person interview is preferred.
What diagnostic tools are used?
We use a combination of:
- Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 (ADOS-2)
- DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for autism
- Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales-3 (optional online questionnaire for caregivers)
- Cognitive or language assessments if required
- Clinical interview
How long does the process take?
- The pre-assessment form can take someone anywhere from 30-60 minutes to complete depending how detailed they are.
- The in-person assessment appointment lasts 3–4 hours on the day. We offer 9am appointments only at the Fremantle clinic. We can look at other clinic locations and telehealth if requested by clients on a case-by-case basis.
- The diagnostic report is typically finalised within 4 weeks, although delays can occur depending on case complexity and any additional observations or request for support evidence.
What happens after the assessment?
- An invoice is sent to the client on the day of their assessment for payment.
- Payment of the invoice is due 3 weeks after the assessment date to allow for release of their report.
- A detailed diagnostic report with tailored recommendations is provided 4 weeks after the assessment. Please note that delays in the assessors receiving the necessary intake information or supporting documentation can extend the time it takes to finalise Autism Assessment reports.
- Upon receipt of the report, an optional 30-minute Telehealth feedback session is offered to clients to clarify findings and discuss next steps. These Telehealth feedback sessions are offered on Tuesday only from 2pm onwards.
Will my child still need to see a paediatrician?
We don’t require a referral from a paediatrician in order to complete our assessment. But you will likely still need to see a paediatrician for a full diagnosis for children.
This is because an autism diagnosis must be made by a diagnostic team of a psychologist, a speech pathologist and a paediatrician before the NDIS will consider it a formal diagnosis.
The Autism CRC’s National Guideline for the Assessment and Diagnosis of Autism states it’s best practice for an autism assessment to be completed by a diagnostic team (inclusive of a paediatrician, psychologist and speech pathologist) as this ensures diagnostic accuracy and also tailored support planning.
Is a comprehensive assessment required for individuals over 18 years old?
While it depends on individual needs, a comprehensive assessment is not generally recommended for individuals over 18yo.
We would recommend a single assessor assessment with the psychologist and for clients to see a psychiatrist to sign off on diagnosis. If the client has communication/speech challenges we may recommend a comprehensive assessment so that speech input can be assessed, this will need to be flagged to the clinical team, if mentioned.
Why is there a $100 booking confirmation fee?
The fee secures clients appointments and is applied toward the total cost of the assessment. This ensures clients are committed to the service and guarantees their place, given the availability for high-demand services like Autism Assessments, we need to confirm bookings.
What recommendations are included in the report?
The diagnostic report includes tailored recommendations for interventions, therapy options, school accommodations, and, where applicable, strategies for accessing support like the NDIS.
Specific Situations
Can overseas assessments or reports be used?
Overseas assessments and reports can be reviewed as supporting evidence towards our assessment but must be supplemented with assessments from Australian-recognised professionals to meet local requirements.
We do not ‘sign off’ on overseas autism assessments done by professionals in other countries, Australian standards require a full assessment is done by a registered Australian clinician. We can use the assessment as evidence for consideration only.
Will my child still need to see a paediatrician?
We don’t require a referral from a paediatrician in order to complete our assessment. But you will likely still need to see a paediatrician for a full diagnosis for children.
This is because an autism diagnosis must be made by a diagnostic team of a psychologist, a speech pathologist and a paediatrician before the NDIS will consider it a formal diagnosis.
The Autism CRC’s National Guideline for the Assessment and Diagnosis of Autism states it’s best practice for an autism assessment to be completed by a diagnostic team (inclusive of a paediatrician, psychologist and speech pathologist) as this ensures diagnostic accuracy and also tailored support planning.
Why is there a $100 booking confirmation fee?
The fee secures clients appointments and is applied toward the total cost of the assessment. This ensures clients are committed to the service and guarantees their place, given the availability for high-demand services like Autism Assessments, we need to confirm bookings.
What recommendations are included in the report?
The diagnostic report includes tailored recommendations for interventions, therapy options, school accommodations, and, where applicable, strategies for accessing support like the NDIS.
