Navigating Daily Life Stresses as a Neurodivergent Adult: Practical Strategies for Success
Explore practical strategies to manage daily life, excel at work, and nurture relationships, all while embracing your neurodivergent self.
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Call : (03) 9938 9800 Email : reception at boutiquepsychology.au
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Deciding whether to have an autism assessment?
You might have seen or heard something about autism and thought, ‘Hey, I’m like that!’, or maybe a friend or family member has suggested you or your child might be ‘on the spectrum’.
Either way, a diagnosis can often help you to understand the world around you and give you some support in certain areas of your life.
We have included most of the information about Autism Assessments on this page to help you with your decision.
Keep scrolling down!
What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?
Autism Spectrum Disorder or ASD is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain. At the moment, the cause of Autism Spectrum Disorder is mostly unknown, although there can be a genetic component. Autistic people may behave, communicate, interact, and learn in ways that are different from other people, and sometimes there is not much difference at all.
Sometimes Autistic people become skilled at ‘masking’, which means they hide certain behaviours or characteristics in order to be accepted. In some cases, an autistic person might be non speaking and need a lot of support with their daily life, and other people can work and live with fewer support requirements.
Our team recognise everyone is different and use a person centred approach to ensure you “are seen” and understood. We work with individuals who identify as gender diverse and celebrate this diversity. The medical community still has much to learn about Autism, but these days, we are much better at assessing and diagnosing, and offering solutions to tackling everyday challenges.
What are the benefits of having an Autism Assessment?
Diagnose your difficulty
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Understanding why you struggle can help you focus on finding solutions.
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Identifying why some skills come easily to you, and some don’t is beneficial.
Reduce overwhelm
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Learn strategies and skills to help you manage at life.
Find your allies
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We don’t believe in labels and limits. We’ll work with you to help you realise your potential, whatever your assessment reveals.
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Our team is trained to work with clients who identify as neurodivergent, Autistic, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), learning difficulties, or educational developmental delays.
What is an ADOS-2?
You might have heard of an Autism Spectrum Disorder assessment being referred to as ADOS, which stands for Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule.
ADOS-2 is a standardised diagnostic test for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and this test is the current gold standard for assessment.
At Boutique Psychology, our Autism Spectrum Disorder assessments are designed to help you succeed.
The goal of an evaluation for Autism Spectrum Disorder is to assess the level of support an autistic person might need to find the neurotypical world more accessible.
Our Autism assessments provide comprehensive feedback on what supports could be helpful in assisting individuals to improve their overall quality of life and have more positive social and emotional outcomes.Our qualified and experienced Melbourne team is trained to work with clients who identify with neurodiversity, Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), learning difficulties, or educational developmental delays and more.
We also use the MIGDAS-2 diagnostic interview process. This is a sensory-based process for gathering and organising the qualitative information to diagnose Autism Spectrum Disorder in children, adolescents and adults.
The MIGDAS-2 is considered neurodiverse affirming by the neurodiverse community. It is not deficit-based and focuses on needs, sensitivities, habits and patterns.
How long does the assessment take?
Depending on your needs, we can complete your assessment in several sessions. Sessions can take up to 2 hours.
The Boutique Psychology team is trained in assessing Autism is children, adolescents and adults. We are aware that Autism presents differently between the genders and are trained to identify the symptoms, strengths and challenges in our clients.
We understand everyone’s lived experience of Autism is different and we treat everybody as valued and unique.
We offer empathetic and skilful psychoeducational and autism assessments for clients who identify as neurodiverse.
How does the assessment work?
We don't do 'one size fits' all assessments.Your psychologist will tailor your assessment and the tools to suit your needs.
Step One: We’re listening
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We’ll begin by talking about your experience, your history and concerns.
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We discuss your development and experiences and challenges as a learner.
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Tell us where you see strengths and stumbling blocks.
Step Two: Assessing
Based on what we discover in our discussion your psychologist will ask you to answer a series of standardised questions, sometimes on an iPad, sometimes using pen and paper.
Step Three: Scoring and Reporting
We score and review all of the assessments and write a comprehensive and easy to read report.
Step Four: Feedback
We schedule this session for between two and three weeks after your assessment via telehealth and go through your report and findings.
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Your assessment
At your autism assessment, a member of our qualified and experienced Melbourne team will ask you a lot of questions and work through information with you, to learn more about you.
Autism is a lifelong condition and we will help you to work out ways to live well with your diagnosis or, if we think it could be something other than ASD, work with you to discover what might be happening for you.
How much does an Autism Assessment cost?
* There are currently no publicly funded assessment clinics in Victoria.
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$1830 – Autism Spectrum Disorder (ADOS-2) assessment.
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$2484 - Autism Spectrum Disorder + Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Combined Assessment.
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$2880 – for a full comprehensive assessment.
Cancelling and rescheduling
We make meticulous preparations for your assessment appointment. If you need to reschedule the date or time, please give us at least 48 hours notice.
Cancellations or changes within 48 hours will incur a $428.82 fee added to your assessment cost.
After my diagnosis can I get support from NDIS?
You may be eligible for funding for assistance and support under NDIS.
If you’re an NDIS participant diagnosed with psychosocial disabilities, you may be eligible to include Psychology Services in your NDIS plan. Psychology is covered in the support category “Improved Daily Living Skills” in your plan’s Capacity Building section.
Information on Medicare, NDIS and rebates.
Check out our FAQ page for any other questions you may have about Medicare and Mental Health Care Plans.
Other resources on Autism Assessments
Check out these other easy to navigate information pages.
More info about Autism
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