How To Get An Autism Assessment In Adelaide

How do I book an autism assessment at Autism SA?

The Diagnostic Team at Autism SA provides diagnostic assessments for people of all ages.

If you, your child, or someone you know is displaying some of the signs and characteristics associated with autism as described in our checklists, an autism assessment by the Autism SA Diagnostic Team can be conducted to help answer whether the individual is on the spectrum or not.

Please note that due to current funding arrangements Autism Sa’s diagnostic service is not able to accept referrals from, or conduct assessments with, individuals from interstate or overseas.

There are a number of ways in which you can arrange an autism assessment with the Diagnostic Team for yourself or for someone in your care:

1. Self-referral to Autism SA

Although you can be referred to Autism SA by a GP or an allied health professional, it is possible to make a self-referral, i.e., to arrange an assessment yourself directly with Autism SA. All referrals must be in writing.

This can be done by parents or carers of a child, or on your own behalf if you are an adult. There is no upper age limit for seeking an autism assessment, and it is not uncommon for people in later life to want a formal diagnosis.

You can make a self-referral in a number of ways:

Complete an online referral form
Complete a hard copy of the referral form and post it to Autism SA
Telephone the Diagnostic Team via the Autism SA Infoline, and they can email or send you a referral form, or
Email the Diagnostic Team.

2. Referral to Autism SA by a healthcare professional

It might be that you have sought advice from your doctor after you have noticed some signs and characteristics of autism in yourself, your child or someone you care for. Or it may be that an education professional, or someone you know with experience of autism, has suggested that you seek some professional support for your child or yourself.

GPs can be an important part of the referral process for an autism assessment. They will likely ask you questions about your child’s development (or your own, in the case of an adult), and may undertake screening and observations to determine whether an assessment for autism is appropriate, or to help them rule out other possible health or developmental issues.

If your GP or another healthcare professional decides to make a referral to Autism SA on your behalf, they will be required to complete a Diagnostic Assessment Referral Form, and so will likely need your assistance with some of the background information the form requires.

Please note that if you are not satisfied with the outcome of a screening test or informal assessment conducted by your GP or another healthcare professional, you can still proceed with a self-referral to Autism SA.

Diagnostic Assessment Referral form

The referral form (both online and hard copy) is designed to be simple and straightforward to use. A parent, carer or an individual who wants an assessment can complete the form, or it can be completed with the assistance of, or by, a medical, allied health or education professional.

Although it is helpful at this initial stage for the Diagnostic Team to have as much information as possible about the individual for whom the referral is being made, the responses do not need to be overly detailed if the required information is not known, or you have difficulty in answering, as there will be more opportunities to provide information. Reports by other professionals about the individual can also be sent.

The most important thing is to start the process, so that you can move on to the next stage on the assessment journey.

Next steps in the autism assessment process

Once your Diagnostic Assessment Referral form has been received, a package of information will be sent to the relevant parent, career or individual seeking an assessment.

This will include a letter detailing:

Approximate waiting time for an assessment
An explanation of the diagnostic assessment process
The information that is required in the accompanying questionnaire and why this is needed, and
The fee charged for the assessment.

You will also receive a Consent For Services Form and a questionnaire. It is important that the information requested in the questionnaire is completed in full and in as much detail as possible.

There will also be a separate questionnaire for children which should be given to your child’s teacher, childcare worker, support worker, special education teacher or school counsellor to complete.

In the case of adults requesting an assessment for themselves, there is a questionnaire for you to complete, and it is also requested that a member of your family or someone who knows you very well also complete a questionnaire.

The questionnaire can be completed with the assistance of a partner, parent, carer or a health professional, if necessary.

Alternative procedures for completing the forms can be arranged in conjunction with the Diagnostic Assessment Team.

The questionnaire and Consent For Services Form should be completed and returned to Autism SA as soon as possible. A reply paid envelope will be enclosed to assist you in this. If the Diagnostic Team does not hear from you after 5 months, they will close the file.

An appointment time for an assessment cannot be made until the questionnaire and other requested information is returned to Autism SA.

Your autism diagnostic assessment appointment

Once you have returned the questionnaires completed in full and the Consent For Services Form, you will receive a letter from the Diagnostic Assessment Team. This will include:

The date, time and location of your assessment
Travel and parking details
A fee schedule
A date by which you must confirm that you accept the allocated appointment time and date
How long your assessment is expected to take
A brief outline of what to expect as part of the assessment, and
Other information that you should provide at the assessment (if possible).

If there is anything you are unsure about, or you need more information, the letter will include contact details so you can get in touch with the Diagnostic Assessment Team directly.

How much does an autism test cost?

The cost of a diagnostic assessment will vary depending on the age of the individual and the type of assessment required.

For current costs and waiting times, please contact MyPathways at mypathways@autismsa.org.au, on 1300 288 476 or via LiveChat on the bottom right corner of our website.

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