Assessment & Diagnosis
Do you know a child showing signs of autism or Asperger's syndrome? Contact us if you would like to book an assessment.
In order to be accepted for support services through Autism SA, children need to have an assessment by two different professionals experienced in the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders, and accredited by Autism SA. Assessments are available publically through Autism SA, and Child Development Units at the Lyell McEwin Health Service, Women's and Childen's Hospital and Flinders Medical Centre. Waiting times apply to these services so families may opt for a private assessment.
Private assessments are available through accredited private speech pathologists, paediatricians and psychologists. Autism SA can provide a list of accredited professionals. Children must be assessed by two people from different professions i.e. a speech pathologist and a paediatrician or a psychologist and a speech pathologist. Some Talking Matters speech pathologists are accredited with Autism SA to do diagnosistic assessments.
Assessments at Talking Matters
For information on fees and rebates available for these options, see Talking Matters Assessment Fees.
Individual assessments including report, requires two, one hour appointments, one with the child and one in which information is gathered from the parents. These sessions may be claimed under the assessment schedule of the Medicare Autism Initiative.
You will be asked to download the appropriate set of forms and complete them and return them before your assessment so your clinician has time to prepare before meeting you. We also need information from your child's teacher. To help you talk to your teacher about this form we have written this letter to the teacher (pdf) that you can print and take to school or childcare. Please follow up and ensure your teacher does complete this information as their input is important also.
This set of pdf forms can be completed on your computer, be saved with your changes and emailed back to us at the address on the top of the forms.
- Electronic Parent Questionnaire forms for Autism/Asperger's assessment (pdf) for preschool children
- Electronic Teacher/Carer Questionnaire forms for Autism/Asperger's assessment (pdf) for preschool children
- Electronic Parent Questionnaire forms for Autism/Asperger's assessment (pdf) for school aged children
- Electronic Teacher Questionnaire forms for Autism/Asperger's assessment (pdf) for school aged children
If you would prefer to write your answers instead of typing them, you can print these forms below, complete them and drop them in, or mail them to us at PO Box 3027, 53 Midway Road, Elizabeth East SA 5112.
- Teacher Questionnaire forms for Autism/ Asperger's assessment (pdf) for school aged children
- Teacher/Carer Questionnaire for Autism/ Asperger's assessment (pdf) for preschool children
- Parent Questionnaire for Autism /Asperger's assessment (pdf) for school aged children
- Parent Questionnaire for Autism/Asperger's assessment (pdf) for preschool children