Autism Assessment
A thorough, neuroaffirming assessment that helps your child — and everyone who supports them — truly understand how their mind works.
Understanding autism — celebrating difference
An autism assessment is a comprehensive process designed to build a detailed, holistic picture of how your child experiences and engages with the world. It's not about finding something wrong — it's about understanding a profile of strengths, differences, and needs that is entirely unique to your child.
Autism presents differently in every person. It can involve differences in social communication, sensory processing, language, behaviour, and how the world is experienced from the inside. A thorough assessment looks at all of these areas together, drawing on information from multiple sources and professional perspectives.
Because autism often intersects with differences in communication and language, our autism assessments are conducted as a collaboration between our psychology and speech pathology teams. This multidisciplinary approach gives a far richer and more accurate picture than a single-clinician assessment alone.
Our team approaches every assessment with genuine curiosity and deep respect for neurodiversity. We celebrate the autistic experience and work from a framework of understanding — not deficit.
"Understanding autism isn't about finding a problem to fix. It's about seeing a person clearly — and making sure the world around them can do the same."
Who conducts the assessment?
Our autism assessments are conducted collaboratively by a psychologist and a speech pathologist, both experienced in autism assessment across childhood and adolescence. Our psychologists can provide comprehensive assessment reports to support an autism diagnosis.
Enquire About an Assessment →Signs that a family might enquire about an assessment
Autism presents in many different ways and looks different in every person. These are some of the things families and educators commonly notice — not a diagnostic checklist, just a guide.
Communication differences
Differences in how a child communicates — including delayed language development, very literal language use, difficulty with back-and-forth conversation, or a preference for communicating in specific ways.
Social differences
Finding social interaction more effortful or confusing than peers — including difficulty reading unspoken social cues, navigating friendships, or understanding the unwritten rules of social situations.
Routines & predictability
A strong preference for routine and sameness — including significant distress around transitions, unexpected changes, or disruptions to familiar patterns and structures.
Deep, focused interests
Intense, absorbing interest in specific topics or activities — often with a depth of knowledge and passion that goes well beyond what peers typically show, and that may be a significant source of joy and identity.
Sensory sensitivities
Being significantly more or less sensitive to sensory input than peers — including strong reactions to sounds, textures, lights, smells, or movement. Sensory differences can have a big impact on everyday participation and comfort.
Emotional regulation & meltdowns
Experiencing intense emotional responses that can be hard to recover from — including meltdowns, shutdowns, or significant distress in response to sensory overload, transitions, or unexpected events.
Repetitive movements or behaviours
Engaging in repetitive movements, sounds, or behaviours — often referred to as stimming — which serve an important self-regulatory function and are a natural part of how many autistic people manage sensory input and emotional states.
Masking & exhaustion
Some autistic young people — particularly girls and gender-diverse children — become very skilled at masking autistic traits in social settings. This can make autism harder to identify, and often results in significant exhaustion, anxiety, or emotional difficulties after school or social events.
Please note: Autism presents in many ways and doesn't always look like the descriptions above — particularly in girls, gender-diverse young people, and those who have developed strong masking strategies. Many autistic people also have significant strengths that aren't captured here. If you have a feeling something is going on for your child, it's always worth having a conversation with us or your GP.
What does an autism assessment involve?
Our autism assessments are thorough, multi-method, and multidisciplinary — drawing on standardised tools and real-world information from multiple sources across multiple sessions.
Initial enquiry & intake
We start with a conversation about your child, your observations, and what you're hoping to understand from the assessment. We'll confirm the assessment is a good fit and match you with the right psychology and speech pathology clinicians.
Parent & carer interview
A detailed interview with you covering your child's developmental history, early milestones, how they present at home, in social settings, and at school — and the specific observations that led you to seek an assessment.
Standardised rating scales
Validated questionnaires completed by parents and teachers to gather structured information about your child's communication, social interaction, sensory experiences, and behaviour across different settings.
Direct assessment — psychology
Your psychologist will complete direct observations and standardised assessment activities with your child, including the ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule), which is the gold-standard observational tool for autism assessment.
Direct assessment — speech pathology
Your speech pathologist will assess your child's communication profile in detail — including language comprehension and expression, social communication, pragmatic language, and nonverbal communication — all areas central to an autism assessment.
Integrated reporting & feedback
Your psychologist and speech pathologist collaborate to write a single, integrated report bringing together all findings. You'll then receive a dedicated feedback session where we walk you through the report, answer your questions, and discuss next steps together.
What happens after the assessment?
Our psychologists can provide comprehensive assessment reports to support an autism diagnosis. Please note that our psychologists are not able to prescribe medication. If you are seeking to access medication for co-occurring conditions such as ADHD, you can take our report to a paediatrician (for children) or a psychiatrist (for adolescents and adults) to explore this further. Following the assessment, we are happy to provide ongoing therapy — including psychology, occupational therapy, and speech pathology — to support you or your child with the strategies and skills that make a real difference.
Frequently asked questions
We know seeking an autism assessment can bring up a lot of questions. Here are some of the ones families ask us most often.
How long does an autism assessment take?
Our autism assessments typically span several appointments across a number of weeks. This includes the parent interview, sessions with your child with both the psychologist and speech pathologist, teacher questionnaires, and the integrated feedback session. We'll give you a clear timeline when you enquire.
Does my child need a referral for an autism assessment?
No referral is required to book an autism assessment with us directly. If you plan to use Medicare funding under the M10 program, a referral from a paediatrician or psychiatrist will be needed — a GP referral is not sufficient for the assessment component of this program. Get in touch and we'll help you work out the right pathway for your family.
What age can children be assessed for autism?
We assess children, adolescents, and young adults. Autism can be identified from a young age, though the assessment process and tools used may differ depending on your child's age and developmental stage. We'll discuss what's most appropriate for your child when you get in touch.
Why does the assessment involve both a psychologist and a speech pathologist?
Autism involves differences in social communication and language alongside other areas — so a speech pathologist's input is a core part of a thorough, best-practice assessment, not an add-on. Together, our psychologist and speech pathologist build a richer and more accurate picture of your child than either could alone. The result is a single integrated report that reflects your child's full profile.
My daughter presents very differently to what I've read about autism — could she still be autistic?
Yes. Autism in girls and gender-diverse young people is frequently missed or identified later because it often presents differently to the more widely recognised presentations in boys. Autistic girls in particular are often very skilled at masking — adapting their behaviour to fit social expectations — which can mean their autistic traits are less visible in structured settings, even if they're exhausted and struggling behind the scenes.
Our team is experienced in assessing autism across a range of presentations, including those that are less immediately obvious. If you have a feeling something is going on, your observations are worth exploring.
Can autism and ADHD be assessed at the same time?
Yes. Autism and ADHD frequently co-occur, and many families choose to complete both assessments together or in sequence. We can discuss a combined approach if this seems relevant for your child. Please see our ADHD Assessment page for more information.
My child has already been diagnosed — can they still access support?
Absolutely. If your child already has an autism diagnosis and you're looking for ongoing support, our team offers occupational therapy, psychology, and speech pathology — all delivered with a neuroaffirming approach. You don't need to complete a new assessment to access therapy services. Visit our Occupational Therapy, Psychology, or Speech Pathology pages to find out more.
Will an autism diagnosis change how my child is seen?
We understand this is one of the most common concerns families bring to us — and it's a deeply human one. An assessment report doesn't change who your child is. What it can do is give your child, your family, their school, and their support team a shared language and a clearer understanding of how their brain works — and what they need to thrive.
Many autistic young people describe finally having an explanation for their experiences as a profound relief. Understanding is a foundation — not a ceiling.
How to fund an autism assessment
Autism assessments can be funded in a number of ways. Because our assessments involve both a psychologist and a speech pathologist, funding may apply across both disciplines. Get in touch if you'd like help working out what applies to your family.
Medicare — M10 Program
Medicare rebates may be available for autism assessment sessions under the M10 Complex Neurodevelopmental Conditions program, for both psychology and speech pathology components.
To access M10 for assessment, a referral from a paediatrician or psychiatrist is required — a GP referral is not sufficient for the assessment component of this program.
Please note that not all assessment sessions attract a Medicare rebate — our team can clarify what applies when you enquire.
Private Health Insurance
Some private health funds offer rebates for psychological and speech pathology assessments under extras cover. Coverage varies depending on your fund and policy level. We recommend checking with your fund before booking.
Self-Funded (Private Pay)
No referral required. Autism assessments are available on a self-funded basis. Please contact us for current assessment fees — as the assessment involves two disciplines, our team will provide a full fee outline when you enquire.
Medicare information is provided as a general guide only. Eligibility criteria and rebate amounts can change. Please refer to MBS Online or speak with your GP for the most current information. A gap payment will apply for most assessment sessions — our team can provide a detailed fee estimate when you enquire.
Also looking for a different assessment?
We offer a range of assessments at Therapy for Kids Perth. Explore our other options below.
ADHD Assessment
A thorough, neuroaffirming ADHD assessment for children, adolescents, and young adults.
Cognitive Assessment
Understanding your child's cognitive profile — including intellectual ability, processing speed, and memory.
Functional Capacity Assessment
Commonly used for NDIS planning purposes, completed by our occupational therapists.
GPs, Paediatricians & Schools
We welcome referrals for autism assessments from GPs, paediatricians, psychiatrists, schools, and other health professionals. Our psychologists and speech pathologists provide comprehensive integrated written reports and are happy to liaise with referrers with the family's consent.
Families can also self-refer — no referral is required for private bookings. For Medicare referrals, please include the relevant program details for both psychology and speech pathology components where applicable.
What to include in your referral:
- Child's name, date of birth, and contact details
- Reason for referral and relevant clinical or developmental history
- M10 referral from a paediatrician or psychiatrist if Medicare funding is being used for the assessment
- Your provider number, practice address, and referral date
- Any previous assessments, school reports, or relevant documentation
- Whether an ADHD assessment has been completed or is also being considered
Get in touch
Phone
08 6384 7041Administration hours
Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm