What is Autism?

Autism is a spectrum running along a continuum from very mild (a quirky individual) to moderate (someone who needs a degree of support with aspects of communication, imagination or restricted and repeated behaviours/thoughts) to severe (an individual who needs significant assistance with daily living).
Some people with ASD are non-verbal, and some never stop talking.

It is a common mistake to think that all people with ASD do not speak much, if at all, and that they are very aloof and stand offish.
Some people with ASD have little knowledge of when to stop chattering, and are very generous with hugs and attention. The same applies to social interaction and restricted and repeated behaviours.

Accordingly, every person with ASD is very different.
Mostly, your Public Health Nurse (PHN), GP, or staff at a crèche or national school will have said they have concerns about ASD to you. Or, there may be ASD in your family. If you have concerns that have been flagged, or you feel yourself that you or your child/pupil have ASD, then a diagnosis is appropriate.

For children aged 3-11 years seeking an ASD assessment

There are two main assessments that I use. The Gilliam Autism Rating Scale-Third Edition (GARS-3) and the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R).

Both are surveys/ interviews with the parent or a person who knows the individual very well, and they cover pregnancy, birth, developmental milestones, sensory issues (sight, smells, hearing, touch and taste) as well as questions about skills gained and lost, rituals, and quirky behaviours.

The entire process takes 60 to 90 minutes.

Scores are added up and analysed and a severity level (mild/moderate/severe) is calculated.

A Report is typically ready in 10 working days. You can read a DRAFT version first and check you are satisfied. Once that is sorted, it can be signed off on, and you get one e-copy, and two signed and dated hard copies. These are not written for use in legal settings and should not be used in part or in full for such purpose.

Whilst I am an ASD specialist, if I see other disorders such as Anxiety, Depression, or ADHD, these will be flagged in the Report.

Should you wish to have a Court Report, this can be accommodated at a different costing.

For adolescents aged 12-17 years seeking an ASD assessment

For adolescents seeking a potential ASD assessment The Gilliam Autism Rating Scale-Third Edition (GARS-3) and the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R).

Both are surveys/ interviews with the parent or a person who knows the individual very well, and they cover pregnancy, birth, developmental milestones, sensory issues (sight, smells, hearing, touch and taste) as well as questions about skills gained and lost, rituals, and quirky behaviours.

Whilst I am an ASD specialist, if I see other disorders such as Anxiety, Depression, or ADHD, these will be flagged in the Report.

For adults seeking an ASD assessment

Coupled with these two assessment tools, I use the Royal College of Psychiatrists Diagnostic Interview Guide for the Assessment of Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This covers areas across social communication, social interaction and restricted and repeated behaviours.

Assessing adults can take between 60 and 120 minutes and a Full Report is ready in 15 working days.

Adults are welcome to have a support person with them on the day and are asked to have all previous referrals /paperwork with them on the day.

All documents will be returned with the Report via Registered Post.

Whilst I am an ASD specialist, if I see other disorders such as Anxiety, Depression, or ADHD, these will be flagged in the Report.