Autism Assessment & Diagnosis Sydney
Screening and diagnosis for children and adults
New Vision Psychology Provide Autism Screening & Diagnosis Within Our Clinics in Sydney
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition impacting approximately 1 in every 150 Australians. While diagnosis in adolescents, teenagers, and adults is growing more common, ASD usually manifests and can be identified in infancy (around 2 or 3 years old). It is typically identified through symptoms affecting communication, social interaction, and behaviour. Individuals with ASD are considered on a spectrum that ranges from low-functioning autism to high-functioning autism (also known as Asperger’s syndrome).
Detecting autism early on will not only significantly improve the quality of life for the affected individual, but it will also provide valuable guidance for their parents, family, friends, and teachers. At New Vision Psychology, we provide private autism assessments, screening, diagnosis and treatment for children and adults at our Sydney CBD clinic. If you think your child or someone you know might be on the autism spectrum, consider booking an assessment with us, as we have the qualifications, experience and clinical assessment tools to diagnose and treat ASD in line with best practice.
Learn more about what makes us different from any other psychology clinic.
What Does A Complete Autism Assessment Involve?
At New Vision Psychology, we strive to make autism diagnosis clear and manageable for Australian families. Our comprehensive autism assessment includes multiple sessions spanning over 10 hours, tailored to evaluate behavioural history and current functioning in a caring and empathetic way.
A complete ASD assessment at New Vision Psychology involves:
1st Session
Initial Consultation
Who: Caregiver/Parents only
Duration: 1 hour
Location: Any of our 5 clinics or Telehealth
In this session, we will advise you if formal assessment is necessary.
2nd Session
Clinical Interview (ADI-R)
Who: Caregiver/Parents only
Duration: 2 hours
Location: Any of our 5 clinics or Telehealth
3rd Session
Autism Assessment (ADOS-2)
Who: Caregiver/Parents and Child
Duration: 1 hour
Location: Sydney CBD or Castle Hill Clinic
4th Session
Psychologist Report
Who: Psychologist
Duration: 6-7 hours
Desc.: Assessment scoring, results interpretation and report writing
*The first three sessions must be conducted on separate days.
*The complete autism assessment process takes around 10 hours in total.
What are the Signs That I Need to Book an Autism Assessment?
Identifying autism spectrum disorder is always challenging, particularly when it is your own child. However, there are some common signs and symptoms to look out for — mostly related to the individual’s development and behaviour, how they communicate, and how they interact with others. Detecting ASD early on is immensely beneficial. We recommend keeping an eye out for the following common indicators of ASD in your child or loved one:
- Limited or lack of interest in social interactions with others
- Restricted eye contact and verbal communication
- Unusual obsessions with specific activities, objects, or topics (for older children – excessive talking about a single topic)
- Challenges adapting to changes in daily routine and patterns
- Trouble engaging in cooperative play or forming enduring relationships
- Unusual physical movements, such as finger flicking or rocking
- Intense sensitivity to sensory stimuli, such as textures, sounds, or smells
- Engaging in repetitive behaviours or movements
- Speech and language difficulties
- Challenges with non-verbal communication
- Struggle to understand other people’s feelings
- Hyperactivity
These symptoms will vary in intensity, and they can manifest differently in everyone – but if you notice your child displaying several of these signs or intensely showing one of them, consider booking an autism assessment. Our team at New Vision Psychology are highly experienced in supporting families in Sydney to assess and diagnose autism; our compassionate psychologists will ensure that the experience is comfortable for you and your family.
Autism Diagnosis Tools
Autism diagnosis is a thorough process based on developmental assessments and behavioural observations. While there is no singular test to diagnose autism spectrum disorder, our diagnosis combines medical evaluations, comprehensive needs assessments, and specific, standardised autism assessments such as ADOS-2, ABAS-3, ADI-R and MIGDAS. Taking a complete approach ensures that we provide families with a precise diagnosis and tailored guidance and support for the individual child.
At New Vision Psychology, our registered and clinical psychologists use the following standardised diagnostic tools to provide autism diagnosis.
Autism Assessment Fees
We provide assessments for both adults and children across Sydney, New South Wales.
Initial Session
$260
For a complete diagnosis
$2,600
For clinical psychologists: The initial session is $280; a complete diagnosis is $2,800.
The complete assessment process involves around 10-hours of interviews, observations, testing, scoring, interpretation and report writing.
After the initial consultation, we will advise you if formal assessment is necessary and should you wish to proceed, the initial $260 fee will be deducted from the total of $2,600.
* Medicare rebates are available to assist with the cost of seeking a diagnosis. Call us on 1300 001 778 for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is autism diagnosed?
No single test or method exists to diagnose autism, instead, this will require multiple steps.
We begin with an initial consultation to gather behavioural and family history. Then if a formal assessment is deemed necessary, we employ standardised autism tests such as ADI-R, ADOS-2, and ABAS-3 – conducted across separate sessions. This testing includes a clinical interview, an autism assessment, and an extensive report from our psychologists, who interpret the results to provide tailored guidance.
For more information on the process, see this resource from autismawareness.com.au.
We have also put together a guide for caregivers. Click here to learn more about autism spectrum testing specific to Australia.
How long will the assessment take?
Our comprehensive autism assessments involve a 4-part process, typically taking 10 hours. A meticulous approach is crucial to understanding the individual and providing an accurate diagnosis. The New Vision Psychology ASD diagnosis process includes a 60-minute initial consultation, a clinical interview, and an autism assessment. It finishes with evaluating and preparing an extensive report from our psychologists tailored to the individual to provide actionable feedback and guidance.
As part of the autism assessment process, our clinical and registered psychologists employ standardised tests such as ADOS-2, ABAS-3, and ADI-R, combined with behavioural history and observations. The entire process is broken over multiple days to provide an accurate diagnosis, as the tests can be lengthy and tiring. The four sessions are broken down as follows:
1st Session: Initial Consultation
1 hour with caregiver/parents only
2nd Session: Clinical Interview (ADI-R)
Duration: 2 hours with caregiver/parent only
3rd Session: Autism Assessment (ADOS-2)
1 hour with caregiver/parents and child
4th Session: Psychologist Report
6-7 hours of assessment scoring, results interpretation and report writing from our psychologists
Do you provide autism assessments for adults?
Yes. This is done on a case-by-case basis, depending on your age and circumstance. Please call us at 1300 001 778 to discuss your situation with our clinical intake team.
Our clinical and registered psychologists conduct detailed interviews to evaluate behavioural and medical history, communication patterns, and current functioning. The outcome of our autism assessment provides valuable and actionable insights to enhance the quality of life for each individual. We firmly believe in a person-focused approach that recognises each individual’s unique strengths and challenges, allowing them to thrive past their diagnosis.
Will I need a referral?
A referral is not required. However, we usually find that a teacher, GP, speech pathologist, or paediatrician will refer someone for autism assessment or ADHD assessment.
Can I claim this on Medicare?
Out of the total cost of $2,600, you can claim $280.05 from Medicare with a referral from a psychiatrist or paediatrician (if the child is under 13).
Why should I choose New Vision Psychology for autism assessments?
New Vision Psychology is one of Sydney’s leading psychology practices, providing best-in-class autism assessments and diagnoses to Australian families. With decades of experience, we understand the autism spectrum and conduct thorough assessments across our five locations in Sydney. Our clinical and registered psychologists leverage internationally recognised, standardised diagnostic tools, including ABAS-3, ADOS-2, ADI-R, and MIGDAS to evaluate behavioural history and current functioning, and provide diagnosis and recommendations.
At New Vision Psychology, we have various psychologists who are experienced in autism assessments and can typically accommodate you within 1 to 2 weeks for an initial session. We won’t put you on a long waitlist for this vital testing. We are also a registered NDIS provider, and our autism assessments offer actionable insights, enabling a better quality of life for the individual diagnosed and their parents or caregivers. With competitive pricing and Medicare rebates, we offer convenient and accessible autism diagnosis and screening to Australian families.
What is the difference between provisional, registered and clinical psychologists?
Provisional psychologists are interns who are undergoing training and being supervised by fully registered psychologists. They have studied for 4 or 5 years, and require 1 or 2 more years of supervised practice, before they may receive their full registration from the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Provisional psychologists are not eligible to provide a Medicare rebate.
Registered or general psychologists have received their full registration from AHPRA. They have completed at least 6 years of studies and training. More than 60% of Australia’s psychologists are registered psychologists. Psychologists with a general registration apply their skills across a broad range of professional settings. They assess, diagnose and treat a wide range of clients and areas of concern. They also conduct psychological assessments and write psychological reports. They do not have an endorsement in a specific area of practice. Registered psychologists are eligible to provide a Medicare rebate of $93.35 per session under the Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative.
Clinical psychologists have an endorsement in the area of clinical psychology. They have completed at least 8 years of studies and training. Clinical psychologists design and implement treatment strategies in clinical settings such as primary care, psychiatric and rehabilitation settings. In private practice, clinical and registered psychologists often do similar types of work. Clinical psychologists are eligible to provide a Medicare rebate of $137.05 per session under the Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative.
At New Vision Psychology, all our psychologists are registered or clinical psychologists. They meet high standards in education, training, supervised practice, ethics and ongoing professional development. They are also able to provide Medicare rebates. Whether you’re seeing a clinical or registered psychologist, you should expect the same quality of care, ethical behaviour and standard of practice.