COVID-19: We are offering face to face appointments, but can also provide the option of telehealth sessions (phone or video call).
Laburnum Psychology is now offering cognitive, educational, developmental, ADHD and Autism assessments for children and adolescents.
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Autism Assessments

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At Laburnum Psychology, our autism specialist psychologists offer comprehensive autism assessments for children, adolescents, and adults in Blackburn and the surrounding eastern suburbs, including Box Hill, Nunawading, Forest Hill, Mitcham, Burwood, and beyond. Our assessments are structured, thorough, and tailored to each person’s age, context, and individual presentation.

What is an autism assessment?

An autism assessment is a structured clinical process designed to determine whether an individual meets the diagnostic criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The assessment also explores how autism may be affecting the person’s daily life, relationships, learning, and wellbeing. For many individuals and families, the assessment process provides long-sought clarity after years of uncertainty.

What our autism assessment includes

Our assessment process typically includes the following elements:

  1. A developmental history interview (conducted with a parent or caregiver for younger children, or with the individual for older adolescents and adults)
  2. Standardised behavioural questionnaires completed by the individual, parents, or teachers
  3. The ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule), where clinically appropriate
  4. Cognitive testing where relevant to the presentation

This combined approach allows us to build a detailed picture of how a person thinks, communicates, relates to others, and regulates their emotions and behaviour.

At Laburnum Psychology, we embrace a neurodiversity-affirming approach. While we recognise that neurodivergence can present significant challenges for many individuals, we also acknowledge and value the unique strengths, perspectives, and abilities that often accompany it.

We believe that assessment should not only identify areas of difficulty but also support individuals in understanding, accepting, and embracing who they are. This includes recognising personal strengths, making space for self acceptance, and reflecting on the ways in which societal expectations, including the pressure to mask or conform, may have shaped one’s experience.

In many cases, this process of self-understanding and affirmation can play a meaningful role in reducing associated distress, including symptoms of anxiety and depression, and in fostering a stronger sense of identity and wellbeing.

We are here to create a comfortable and supportive environment where we'll work to achieve the goals together

Differences Between Child & Adult Assessments

While autism assessments typically follow the same core principles across ages, there are some differences in approach depending on whether we’re assessing a child or an adult.

In the case of children, we typically include input from parents or carers, as well as using observational tools like the ADOS-2, or observer information from schools or early childhood settings. In the case of adults, we focus more on self report, life history, and current functioning across work, relationships, and daily life. Some adults also involve a partner or family member in the process as this can assist with added context.

Whether we are assessing a child or an adult, we aim to provide a respectful, evidence based assessment that leads to greater self-understanding and clearer pathways forward.

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Diagnostic Tools Used (e.g., ADOS-2, Cognitive testing)

At Laburnum Psychology, our autism assessments usually involve a combination of well established tools, such as the ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule) and cognitive assessments. The ADOS-2 is used to observe and assess key areas like social interaction, communication, and behaviour patterns. Cognitive testing provides insight into learning strengths and challenges.

Each assessment is tailored to the individual’s age and background, and referral questions. Where some assessments rely more heavily upon structured observation tasks, others involve more third party data collection involving interviews and questionnaires from significant others.

Our ADHD psychologist do not rely on any single test to definitively determine a diagnosis. Rather, a full picture is built based on the combining multiple tools along side clinical expertise to build a reliable, well-rounded understanding, and to recommendations that are both accurate and practical.

Medicare & NDIS Support Options

Autism assessments can be a significant financial investment. At Laburnum Psychology, assessments are billed at standard hourly rates, which reflect the time involved in testing, scoring, analysis, and detailed report writing. While we use a core set of evidence based tools, the exact process may vary depending on the individual’s age, presentation, and referral questions. As a guide, the total cost of an autism assessment typically falls between $2400–$3100.

Currently, Medicare does not offer rebates for autism assessments. However, if therapy is recommended after diagnosis, clients may be eligible to access rebated psychology sessions through a Mental Health Care Plan from their GP. A Mental Health Care Plan will offer up to ten rebated sessions per calendar year, significantly reducing the out of pocket expense.

Families sometimes ask whether NDIS funding can be used for the assessment. Unfortunately, NDIS typically requires a diagnosis first before providing funding, so it can’t usually be used to fund the assessment itself. For many people, part of their reasoning to seek an assessment is to support applications for NDIS supports. Typically, a comprehensive report from the assessment is highly relevant to such applications.

In-person vs Online Autism Assessments

Autism assessments typically need to be conducted in person rather than online. This is because many of the tools we use, such as the ADOS-2, are highly interactive and rely heavily upon structured observation of social communication, behaviour, and play. These subtle observations are difficult to capture accurately over video.

At Laburnum Psychology, our ADHD psychologists conduct almost all autism assessments in-person, so as to ensure they are as thorough and reliable as possible. This enables us to observe body language, nonverbal cues, and spontaneous interactions, all of which are essential to forming a clear diagnostic picture.

Families sometimes ask whether an assessment can be done online for convenience or to overcome access barriers. While we can offer some limited interviews or background discussions via telehealth, the core components, especially for children, require in-person appointments. This is critical to our capacity to uphold best practice standards and deliver assessments that are clinically sound, have high levels of reliability, and are useful for pathways like NDIS.

People sometimes ask, “What exactly is involved?” or “Will this help us access support like NDIS or school adjustments?” The answer is yes, our reports are designed to support both diagnostic clarity and access to appropriate services, and in the case of children or adolescents, to resource care-givers or educators with useful insights and tools.

Our autism assessments are thorough, evidence based, and delivered with care and respect. Whether you’re seeking answers for yourself or a family member, we’re here to guide you through the process.

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Choosing a Qualified Autism Psychologist

Choosing the right psychologist for an autism assessment is an important step. At Laburnum Psychology, our autism specialists who conduct autism assessments have specific training and experience in identifying autism across different age groups and presentations, including in children, adolescents, and adults.

We use gold standard tools such as the ADOS-2, cognitive assessments, and developmental history interviews, and we take time to examine and consider the broader picture, including sensory profiles, masking behaviours, and co-occurring concerns like anxiety or ADHD.

Families often ask how to know if a psychologist is qualified for autism assessment. We encourage people to look for clinicians who:

  • have formal training in autism specific assessment tools
  • understand neurodiversity-affirming practice
  • take a thoughtful, collaborative approach to diagnosis and support

We believe autism assessments should not just meet diagnostic criteria, but also help clients understand themselves and access the supports they need, in a respectful, affirming way.