Little Tree provides comprehensive Autism assessment. This can be initiated by a General Practitioner, Psychologist or other specialist practitioner. GPs can then refer to a psychologist or neuropsychologist, or to a psychiatrist. A psychiatrist will use their clinical assessment skills to formulate a diagnosis of Autism, and they will usually refer to a psychologist( if this has not been completed already) in order to have a consensus on diagnosis – ie two clinicians giving the same diagnosis.
The National Guideline for the assessment and diagnosis of Autism launched in 2018 and revised in 2023 by the government’s Autism CRC (Cooperative Research Centre) states that two clinicians should reach a consensus about the diagnosis of Autism. Most commonly this will be either a psychiatrist or a paediatrician (medical doctor), plus a psychologist, neuropsychologist, occupational therapist, or speech therapist (allied health practitioner). Usually the psychologist or neuropsychologist will undertake comprehensive testing use a validated assessment tool such as the ADOS (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule) and the ADI-R (Autism Diagnostic Interview – Revised) in order to make the diagnosis. A detailed report will be discussed in a followup session to convery the diagnosis to the person and their family and to provide information about pathways for accessing support and care.
Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition or neurotype which predisposes the person to social and sensory overwhelm. Accompanying difficulties with language and communication can range from very subtle to very obvious. The social, sensory, and communication difficulties can result in a high level of anxiety and unease in situations at home, at school, and at work. Repetitive patterns of behaviour or thinking emerge as ways to self-soothe when the world is overwhelming. These repetitive behaviours are often camouflaged when the young person or adult is aware that the behaviour could be seen as socially inappropriate.
Masking is a phenomenon where the Autistic person performs neurotypical (non-Autistic) behaviours in order to conform to social expectations. This can cause enormous exhaustion and form a syndrome which may appear as depression, but is actually Autistic burnout. The concept of burnout refers to the inability to comply with expectations or demands, with resulting withdrawal from school, work and relationships.
The benefits of confirming a diagnosis of Autism include:
- Better support from school, university or work staff for the person
- A tailored approach from therapists and doctors
- An increased understanding from parents and partners about the person’s needs, challenges, and what works best to manage these together
- An increase in self-esteem and self-understanding, so that the person does not experience shame or self-blame about how they have behaved or reacted in past social or sensory overwhelm situations.
To book with our Registered Psychologists Haylee Johnson or Jordan Smith, please email Little Tree at admin@littletreepractice.com.au or call us on 02 8999 1183.
