Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Assessment
Children and Adults
Interventions are the most impactful when implemented early on.
Our interdisciplinary team is trained to administer all gold-standard Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) assessment tools and follow best practices. Engaging in an ASD assessment allows us to determine and tailor an intervention plan unique to your/your child’s strengths to promote success. The assessment may include psychological tests, clinical interviews, information gathered through questionnaires (completed by family members, teachers, and friends), and school/daycare onsite observation. The onsite observation allows us to gather important data in a familiar and comfortable environment for your child, which cannot be recreated in a clinical office setting.
What is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?
Autism Spectrum Disorder is a complex condition that can manifest in various ways. People on the spectrum may experience difficulties with communication, social interaction, and learning. However, it's important to remember that everyone with ASD is unique and may exhibit different characteristics.
ASD develops before age two and affects social and communication skills. But, ASD diagnoses are most reliable at or after age two. We pride ourselves on recognizing and understanding the complexities of the condition and how it varies from person to person. By providing personalized recommendations for support and accommodations, we can help individuals with ASD overcome challenges and achieve their goals.
What are some signs and symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?
Difficulties understanding how to interact with other people or engage in social grouping (such as initiating, progressing, or knowing how to end conversations)
Having intense areas of interest that are difficult to stop engaging in
Engaging in repetitive body movements such as hand and finger flicking, hopping, etc.
Having extreme sensitivities to sensory input, such as being bothered by lights, sounds, tactile feelings, food textures etc.
Having either extreme or extremely limited responses to pain
Compulsive rituals (such as wanting things to be said a certain way, needing to flick the light switch ten times before bed)
Differences in nonverbal communicative behaviours used for social interaction (such as abnormalities in eye contact and body language, deficits in understanding and use of gestures)
What a comprehensive ASD assessment typically explores:
cognitive ability
language and communication
social interaction and relationships
developmental history
patterns of behaviour and thinking
review of previous reports from physicians, schools, psychologists, SLPs, OTs
What does the assessment process look like?
Free 20-Minute Phone Consultation
We like to have a free 20-minute phone consultation with all new clients to hear your initial concerns, determine what the best next steps are, and determine if we are the right fit.
Initial intake
Your initial intake session will be with one of our intake specialists. This 1.5-hour session provides us with the facts and background information required to determine which assessments are needed.
Assessment Summary
From the information gathered during the initial intake, we provide you with an assessment summary, which includes the number of billable hours broken down by assessment, potential interviews needed, and indirect hours such as scoring and report writing.
Assessment Sessions
Once you confirm that you want to proceed with the assessment, we will start booking your tests. This may include (but is not limited to) a cognitive portion, a social interaction assessment, and an interview portion with your parent regarding developmental history. Depending on the assessment, we may require you and a parent, only a parent, or you.
Assessment Questionnaires
An essential aspect of our assessment process is gathering information from the important people in your life. We believe hearing from individuals in all areas of your life is crucial, including family members, teachers, significant others, and close friends. They have a unique perspective on who you are and how you interact with others, and we value their input greatly. After all, they have known you longer than we have and can provide us with a complete picture of who you are in a familiar and comfortable environment.
Debrief and Psychological Report
Once all assessments and questionnaire forms are completed, we will begin the scoring and report writing. You will receive a comprehensive report with the findings, potential diagnoses, and recommendations. Once everything is completed, we will provide you with a thorough report that includes the findings, potential diagnoses, and recommendations. We aim to finish the entire process, from the initial intake to the final debrief, within 6-8 weeks.