CANBERRA PSYCHOLOGY CENTRE FOR CHILDREN & FAMILIES

“Each person with Autistic Disorder experiences these challenges in different ways and to different severities.”

SERVING CANBERRA & SURROUNDS – EST. 2014

Autism

Autism Assessment

Autistic Disorder is known by several different names: Autism, High Functioning Autism, Asperger’s Disorder and Spectrum Disorders.

What is involved in an Autism assessment at CPCCF?

Each person with Autistic Disorder experiences these challenges in different ways and to different severities.

Some children may be more challenged by social difficulties while others are more challenged by behaviour and sensory difficulties.

Autistic Disorder is therefore diagnosed through the use of a range of assessments and information gathering.

This is completed in a comprehensive process that includes psychometric testing.

Please see our description of Autism Assessments for further information.

CANBERRA PSYCHOLOGY CENTRE FOR CHILDREN & FAMILIES

“Each person with Autistic Disorder experiences these challenges in different ways and to different severities.”

– EST. 2014 –

CANBERRA PSYCHOLOGY CLINIC FOR CHILDREN & FAMILIES – CPCCF

CANBERRA PSYCHOLOGY CLINIC FOR CHILDREN & FAMILIES – CPCCF

The key features of Autistic Disorder are:

  • Deficits in social-emotional behaviour, ranging from abnormal or inappropriate social approach and failure of normal back-and-forth conversation; to reduced sharing of interests, emotions, or affect; to failure to initiate or respond to social interactions appropriately.

  • Deficits in nonverbal communicative behaviours used for social interaction, ranging from poorly integrated verbal and nonverbal communication; to abnormalities in eye contact and body language or deficits in understanding and using gestures; to a total lack of facial expressions and nonverbal communication.

  • Inflexible adherence to routines, or patterns or verbal nonverbal behaviour such as rigid thinking patterns, greeting rituals, need to take same route or eat food every day, and distressed if routines are changed without warning or preparation. Furthermore, a pattern of restricted interests or obsessive interest in certain topics or toys or things that tend to dominate their play or conversations.

  • Deficits in developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships, ranging from difficulties adjusting behavior to suit various social contexts; to difficulties in sharing imaginative play or in making friends; to absence of interest in peers.

  • Sensory sensitivity to the environment around them. This can present as being sensitive to touch by others, not liking hugs or wanting extremely firm hugs; being distressed by having their nails and hair cut, their hair washed or brushed; being a very fussy eater, or only eating certain types of foods by texture or colour, and not wanting foods to touch each other on their plate; having sensitive hearing, covering their ears or becoming distressed when you’re using electrical equipment such as the blender or vacuum.

  • Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities, such as lining up toys, repetitive body movements of jumping, flapping or spinning, or repetitive speech.

Child & Adolescent Autism Assessments:

  • The Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) is a structured clinical interview conducted with the parent(s) of individuals who have been referred for the evaluation of possible Autism or ASD’s.

    It can also be used in Adult Autism assessments.

    This measure is recognised worldwide as the gold standard assessment measure for the parent component of the assessment.

  • The ADOS-2 is a semi-structured, standardised assessment of: Communication, Social interaction, Play and Restricted and repetitive behaviours.

    The assessment presents various activities that elicit behaviours directly related to a diagnosis of ASD.

    This measure is recognised worldwide as the gold standard assessment measure for the child component of the assessment.

    The ADOS is also designed to be used in Adult Autism assessments.

  • Our Autism assessments also include a cognitive/IQ assessment using the WPPSI-IV, WISC V or WAIS IV (the test used will vary depending on the age of the person being assessed).

  • We utilise best practice screening forms including:
    – Adaptive Behaviour Assessment System (ABAS)
    – Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS)

    *The structure of an Adult Autism assessment may vary and will be designed to suit the need of the individual during the initial consultation session.

CANBERRA PSYCHOLOGY CENTRE FOR CHILDREN & FAMILIES

” our psychologists are well trained using play therapy,

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and

other interactive techniques to support and help children to heal, to learn

and to reflect on their world around them.”

SERVING CANBERRA AND SURROUNDS SINCE 2014

Jo Richardson

What does Neurodiversity mean?

The word neurodiversity refers to the diversity of all people, but it is often used in the context of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Neurodiversity describes the idea that people experience and interact with the world around them in many different ways, and that there is no one “right” way of being.