Our comprehensive assessment process consists of two parts:
PART 1: Initial Screening
The initial screening assesses whether full diagnostic procedures are warranted. This stage involves:
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- A 1.5 hour appointment exploring presenting issues and developmental history.
- Screening for mental health difficulties and other developmental conditions such as ADHD.
- Collaborative discussions to determine if further assessment is required.
PART 2: Diagnostic Assessment
Our gold-standard diagnostic process includes multiple clinic-based appointments using a range of standardised tests. Typically completed within 4-6 weeks, the process may involve:
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- Communication and social interaction assessment (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule).
- Daily living skills assessment (Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales or Adaptive Behavior Assessment System).
- In-depth developmental history (Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised or Diagnostic Interview for Social and Communication Disorders).
- IQ assessments (Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence, Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, or Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale).
- School-based observations for child clients.
- Review of existing professional reports.
- Exploration of any mental health difficulties as required.
- Additional autism-focused assessments as required, for example, the Monteiro Interview Guidelines for Diagnosing the Autism Spectrum and the Autism Clinical Interview for Adults.
Watch the videos below to learn more about what you can expect when you choose the Purple House Clinic.