What happens at the assessment?

The Assessment process may involve many different professionals for example Physichiatrist, Occupational therapist and Speech therapist. People who have been involved with your child should be involved.

The process could involve:

• Meetings to collect information regarding your child and family history
• Observations of your child in a variety of settings
• Collecting reports about your child from all settings
• Medical examination

Each stage of the process should be explained to you, and you should be given time to ask any questions.
During the process diagnostic tools will be used, these are to help identify autism within your child. Some of the more common tools used are listed below, but please note there are others :

• The Autism Diagnosis Interview-Revised (ADI-R)
• The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Generic (ADOS-G)
• The Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS)
• The Diagnostic Instrument for Social and Communication Disorders (DISCO)
• The Gilliam Autism Rating Scale (GARS)

When conducting an autism assessment there are guidelines which must be followed, please click here for more information.