Helping people understand themselves
NOT JUST THEIR DIAGNOSIS
Autism assessment for adults.
At Westside Psych, we offer autism assessments for adults aged 18 years and older. Assessments are conducted in Footscray and online. You do not need a referral from a medical practitioner for an adult autism assessment. Fees for this service vary depending on whether you would like a comprehensive report or summary letter.
Frequently asked questions.
General
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Autism (sometimes referred to as autism spectrum disorder or ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental difference. Autism is associated with differences in social communication and interaction, as well as repetitive behaviours, deep interests, a preference for routine, and/or differences in sensory use or interests.
Hundreds of thousands of Australians have been identified as autistic, but the real number is likely much larger, as many people miss out on identification in their early life or while at school.
Autistic people:
Feel the world differently, in that they might have different sensory and emotional experiences and needs
See the world differently, in that they might develop deep interests or passions in particular areas
Connect with the world differently, in that they might communicate in a more direct style, develop and maintain relationships in different ways, and process information with a focus on detail.
Every autistic person has a unique profile of strengths and challenges. At Westside Psych, we aim to help people understand this profile through formal identification of their ‘Autistic brain style’ or ‘neurotype’.
We believe that understanding your neurotype can help you to look at your past through a more compassionate lens, and see new possibilities for your future.
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People decide to book an adult autism assessment for a range of different reasons. Perhaps:
A medical practitioner or psychologist has suggested you might be autistic.
Someone in your family has recently been identified as autistic and you’re curious about whether you might also be autistic.
You have taken an autism test online, and your results indicated you have some autistic traits.
You have recently learned more about autism through TikTok or Instagram and discovered some of the common experiences and traits of autistic people resonate with you.
You want to understand yourself better and gain insight into your unique profile of strengths and challenges.
You’re already pretty certain you’re autistic, and you’d like help to get the support and accommodations you need at work or in education.
Our assessing psychologist is ready to help adults aged 18 and over on all stages of their learning journey about neurodivergence.
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This is a valid question. Many people find validation in taking an online autism test and for some, a self-diagnosis will be all that is needed to begin to understand themselves and their autistic neurotype better. There are a range of free online autism tests available at Embrace Autism for this purpose.
However, there are others for whom formal autism assessment can be worthwhile; for example, those who want reassurance or a sense of certainty from talking with a healthcare professional. Others might need a formal report for the purposes of a funding application or asking for accommodations at work or school.
It is also important to be aware that online autism tests are not always accurate or valid for particular populations. For example, many are not designed to pick up ‘non-stereotypical’ features of autism that often occur in people who missed out on identification early in life (in many cases, women and people born before the year 2000). Many of these tests use outdated language and methodologies.
Your autism assessment at Westside Psych will bring together information about you from a range of sources, including a series of questionnaires chosen to help understand your unique needs, as well as a comprehensive clinical interview, and if necessary, reports from other people who you know and trust. We use neuro-affirrming tools and methods of assessment endorsed by the autistic community.
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Autism assessments are conducted in person at Westside Psych (23 Hyde St, Footscray, Victoria) or via Telehealth (Zoom), depending on your location, needs and preferences.
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For more information and to proceed with booking an adult autism assessment in Melbourne or online, please submit an enquiry at the Contact us page. We would be happy to discuss the next steps.
We look forward to hearing from you!
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Fees & Rebates
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You do not need a referral from a GP, psychiatrist, or other health practitioner for an autism assessment as an adult. You can contact us directly to book.
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There is a private fee for most autism assessment services at Westside Psych, which includes the costs of reviewing your pre-assessment paperwork and results of psychometric testing, your clinical interview, feedback session, and report preparation (if applicable).
A Medicare rebate is available for clients under 25 years old. Referral by a psychiatrist or paediatrician is required in order to be eligible for this rebate.
If you have private health insurance, it is worth contacting your provider to discuss whether any costs associated with adult autism assessment are covered.
There are two options for your assessment service. You can opt to receive:
A summary letter, which provides a two-page summary of the outcome of your assessment and general recommendations, or
A comprehensive report, which is a document of 20+ pages includes background information, test results, evidence supporting the psychologist’s diagnostic decision-making, your profile of observed strengths, and detailed recommendations designed to support you post-diagnosis.
These options are priced separately.
Please head to the Contact us page if you want to request more information or book an assessment.
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Please note that specific requirements need to be met when applying for funding under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Please let us know if applying for NDIS funding is a goal for you, and be aware that further costs might be involved and that a formal diagnosis does not guarantee your eligibility for NDIS funding.
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Many of the clinicians at Westside Psych would be happy to work with you to assist with management of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Please check with our Admin team as to which of our clinicians might be best placed to assist you with this.
While we do not offer formal assessment for ADHD at this time at Westside Psych, we do offer screening assessment.
If the results of screening indicate you might benefit from formal assessment of ADHD, we might recommend you visit your GP for a referral to a psychiatrist for this and ongoing management.
Still have questions?
Send us an enquiry or get in touch with our friendly admin team below.