Autism assessments for children, young people and adults
Autism is a lifelong developmental condition which can affect how people communicate and interact with the world around them.
Autism is not an illness or disease; it means an individual’s brain may work slightly differently to other people’s.
People with autism are born with it. Signs of autism might be noticed when people are children, however sometimes signs won’t be recognised until someone is older and in adulthood,.
Autism is a spectrum disorder and is nowadays more commonly referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC). A spectrum disorder means that each person with autism has a distinct set of strengths and challenges. Some people with ASD may require significant support in their daily lives, whilst others may need less support and, in some cases, live entirely independently. So goes the saying from Stephen Shore to the right (or below if you are on a mobile device):
Signs of autism
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Autism can present differently in each person, however if you feel you or your child are experiencing difficulties and experience any of the following signs of autism, please get in touch with us to discuss further.
Signs of autism in children and autism can be found on the NHS website below:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/autism/signs/
In addition to the traits highlighted in the link above, you may find you or the person you refer have some sensory processing differences. It is been predicted that up to 90% of individuals with autism have some difficulties regulating sensory input. Please click on the link below to see how sensory differences can exhibit in different people:
How can we help?
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As an Occupational Therapy service we support many children and young adults who have autism. We are now very pleased to be able to offer an autism assessment service which is available to children 3 years and over, young people and adults. As part of the assessment we will also undertake a full assessment of your or the person’s sensory needs, as sensory processing difficulties are often seen in individuals exhibiting traits of autism.
Our assessments are compliant with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Clinical Guidelines. We provide, or a rule out, a diagnosis based on the diagnostic criteria set out in the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Fifth Edition).
We use the ‘Gold Standard’ assessment tools for diagnosis of autism: The Autism Diagnostic Interview – Revised (ADI-R) and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule – Second Edition (ADOS-2).
The ADI-R is a structured interview conducted with the parents and/or carers of individuals who have been referred for an autism assessment.
The ADOS-2 is a semi-structured play or interview session which is determined by the age and communication level of the individual.
The sensory assessment that will be undertaken as part of the autism assessment will provide us with a comprehensive picture of your sensory needs and allow us to provide strategies on how to manage these on a daily basis. We use an assessment called the Sensory Profile 2 for children up to 15 years old, and the Adult/Adolescent Sensory Profile for individuals 16 and over.
Our approach
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We pride ourselves on our friendly, person-centred and rigorous approach by using the best available diagnostic tools.
The ADOS-2 will always be carried out by two clinicians – an Occupational Therapist and Speech and Language Therapist, whilst the ADI-R will be carried out by an Occupational Therapist.
Whether the outcome of our assessment confirms a diagnosis, or if an individual does not meet the diagnostic criteria for autism, we aim to support you and the individual better understand your or their needs and provide you with strategies that can be used to make daily life easier.
Assessment Outcome
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Each assessment tool is scored on the day it is completed. Once all assessments are completed and scored, we will call you within 2 days to either confirm a diagnosis of ASD, or to discuss whether you or the individual assessed hasn’t met diagnostic criteria for ASD.
You will receive a comprehensive diagnostic report within 14 days of the outcome. We can also arrange an appointment or phone call to discuss the outcome and recommendations.
The outcome of the Sensory Profile will be included with the diagnostic report. We will also provide you with a sensory diet and sensory profile documenting your or the individual’s sensory needs and preferences, along with strategies that can be used on a daily basis to support sensory self-regulation.
The final report can also be shared with relevant medical professionals such as the GP, CAMHS and mental health services.
Our Fees
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We feel we offer one of of the most person-centred, holistic and supportive services to our clients and families. We also offer full sensory assessments as part of our diagnostic process which is unique to our service.
A full autism assessment and diagnostic report, along with a full sensory assessment, costs £2000. We are happy to discuss different payment terms as we want our service to be accessible as possible.
If you have any queries then please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Manchester
info@dragon-ot.co.uk
07920 828059
