Assessments for children and teens
Autism assessments for children and teens.
Monday to Friday, 9am to 4:30pm, or leave a message and we’ll call you back.
We’re away from the phones right now. Send an enquiry and we’ll get back to you by the next business morning.
- Our psychologists assess and diagnose
- A written report and a feedback session
- Reports take 4 to 6 weeks
Is this assessment for your child?
Autism is a neurotype, not a problem to fix. We look at how your child feels and functions at home, at school and in the community, including masking and energy across the day.
What it answers
- Does autism explain the patterns you’ve been noticing?
- What else is part of the picture, such as ADHD, language, learning or anxiety?
- What are your child’s strengths, sensory needs and communication style?
- What could help at home, at school and in the community?
Who it’s for
Common signs include:
- Differences in eye contact, gestures or facial expression
- Language delay or unusual language, such as scripts or echolalia
- Deep interests and strong focus on favourite topics
- A preference for routine and distress with unexpected change
- Differences in play, such as lining things up or less pretend play
- Sensory seeking or sensory avoiding in busy places
- Movement differences like toe walking or clumsiness
- Finding groups or friendships hard to read
- Big meltdowns with overwhelm, or shutdowns after school
- Strong memory, detail focus or early reading skills
These are differences, not failings, and no single sign means autism.
What you get, and what it takes.
The number of sessions depends on your child and what we need to understand. We’ll explain the plan before you start.
What it takes
- Intake session With parents or carers.
- Questionnaires For home and school.
- Assessment sessions With your child, with breaks and play built in.
- School or preschool observation Optional, when helpful.
What you get
Feedback session
To go through the findings and next steps.
Your report
A written report with your child’s results and recommendations, in plain language. Reports take 4–6 weeks. Your report covers:
- A plain-English explanation of the findings, for home and school
- Your child’s strengths, sensory needs and communication style
- Recommendations for home, school and the community
Follow-up
An optional extra session, with its own fee, to review progress and next steps.
Who does it
One of our psychologists carries out your child’s assessment and writes the report.
A clinical psychologist, a registered psychologist, or a provisional psychologist working under the supervision of a Board-approved supervisor. Our Client Care team will tell you who is doing your child’s assessment, and their registration type, before you book. All our psychologists are registered with AHPRA.
Funding
What we assess, and tools we may use
- Developmental history and clinical interview
- ADOS‑2 play-based observation
- Parent and teacher questionnaires, such as SRS‑2 and SCQ
- Adaptive functioning, such as Vineland‑3
- Cognitive testing, such as WPPSI‑IV or WISC‑V
- Learning and language tools where indicated, such as WIAT or CELF
- Sensory profile, where relevant
- Screening for co-occurring needs such as ADHD, anxiety, language and learning
If the findings don’t point to autism
From the start, we look at what else could explain what you’re noticing, such as ADHD, language, learning or anxiety. We do this first when we talk with you at intake, then throughout the assessment.
If the findings don’t point to autism, your feedback session and report explain what we found and what could help next.
What the assessment does and doesn’t do
- It does look at what’s behind the difficulties you’ve noticed, and set out the findings and recommendations in the report.
- It doesn’t prescribe medication.
You can share the report with your GP or paediatrician if you choose.
See what a report looks like.
A fictional sample, so you can see what you’ll receive before you book.
Questions, answered.
Can’t see yours? Our Client Care team can help on 1300 151 110.
Why would I seek an autism assessment for my child?
An assessment can provide clarity about your child’s development, explain the challenges you’ve been noticing, and guide supports at school, at home and in the community. A diagnosis can also support an application to the NDIS, which makes its own decision about eligibility.
What does the assessment process involve?
It usually includes a developmental history with parents or caregivers, structured observation of your child, standardised assessment tools, and a feedback session where we explain the results clearly and answer your questions.
How long does the assessment take?
The number of sessions depends on your child and what we need to understand. We’ll explain the plan before you start, so there’s time to gather information from different settings and observe your child carefully. Reports take 4–6 weeks.
What happens after the assessment?
You’ll receive a written report outlining the findings, as well as practical recommendations for next steps. These may include strategies for home and school, referrals to other professionals if needed, or pathways to therapy and support services.
Can Unbound Minds provide a formal diagnosis of autism?
Yes. Our psychologists assess for autism and give a formal diagnosis when the findings support one. A diagnosis can guide school supports and therapy, and support an application to the NDIS, which makes its own decision about eligibility.
Start with a phone call.
Not sure whether your child needs an assessment or therapy? We’ll help you work out the right next step.
Monday to Friday, 9am to 4:30pm, or leave a message and we’ll call you back.
We’re away from the phones right now. Send an enquiry and we’ll get back to you by the next business morning.
Locations
Gledswood HillsLevel 2, 25/13 Digitaria Drive, Gledswood Hills. We call from (02) 8319 1945.
KingswoodLevel 3, 302/13 Barber Avenue, Kingswood. We call from (02) 8528 4620.
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Unbound Minds provides general mental health information and professional psychological services. This website is not a substitute for personalised advice, diagnosis or treatment.