Multidisciplinary Autism Diagnostic Assessment

Multidisciplinary Autism Diagnostic Assessment (psychology, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy)

Why Choose Sensational Kids for Autism Assessments?

At Sensational Kids, our goal is to provide a compassionate, thorough, and personalised assessment experience. By integrating multiple sources of information and using a variety of assessment tools, we strive to offer a comprehensive understanding of your child’s needs. Our dedicated team works closely with families to ensure they are informed and supported throughout the assessment process.

We all want to support the growth and development of our children, but sometimes it can be challenging to know the best way to help. At Sensational Kids, we understand that children experience the world in diverse ways and that some may have unique needs requiring extra support as they grow.

 

If your child receives a diagnosis, such as autism, it can open up a range of support options, including assistance in school. If a diagnosis is not given, the assessment can still provide valuable insights and suggest other avenues to explore, making it easier to find the help you need.

Regardless of the assessment’s outcome, our team will guide you through the results, explain what they mean for you and your child, and offer practical advice on the next steps. We are here to support your child’s development and growth every step of the way.

Autism Diagnostic Assessment Pathway – what to expect when bringing your child for an autism assessment

  1. Information will be collected from you and your child’s teachers in the form of questionnaires allowing us to start to understand your child, their characteristics, their strengths, challenges and personal preferences..
  2. A clinician will then meet with you to complete the Autism Diagnostic Interview – Revised (ADI-R). This will take about 2 hours
  3. You and your child will then attend a session with 2 clinicians present. At this appointment the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) will be completed with your child. One clinician will engage with your child and the other will observe and score. The ADOS presents different activities that allow the clinician to observe your child’s responses in the areas of communication, social interaction and play. Their behaviour and interests will also be observed. This can take between 40 – 60 minutes.
  4. The assessments will then be scored by the clinicians and the multidisciplinary team will meet to discuss the assessment findings and determine if a diagnosis is indicated.
  5. We will then meet with you again to discuss the findings and recommendations and to develop a plan together for the next steps. Additional assessments might be recommended at this stage to ensure a holistic understanding of your child’s strengths and needs to ensure that the most effective supports are implemented.
  6. A detailed report will be provided.

 

Autism Assessments are available from Sensational Kids Child Development Centre Kildare, contact the centre directly on 045 520900 or email info@sensationalkids.ie

FAQs

At what age can my child be assessed?

  • Children from the age of 3 – 18 can be assessed. Children progress at varying rates, and some may experience delays in their development due to numerous factors affecting their social communication skills. It’s crucial to allow these children adequate time to develop before considering an assessment for autism.

What is the waiting time for assessments?

  • Our waiting times can vary each month. We’ll provide you with the current waitlist information during the initial phone consultation.

Will my insurance cover the cost of the assessment?

  • Please check directly with your provider. We can supply any additional details they may need.

Will my diagnosis be recognised by the HSE?

  • Certainly. All Sensational Kids chartered psychologists are professionally qualified and registered with the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI).This ensures that your diagnosis is recognised within the Irish health and social care systems, granting access to appropriate support services.

Do I need any form of referral to start the process?

  • No, we do not require a referral.

What is included in the Autism Diagnostic Assessment cost?

  • Parent and teacher questionnaires and sensory profile are sent to parents and teachers to be completed and returned to Sensational Kids for review in advance of the first appointment
  • Appointment 1: ADI-R (parent interview with psychologist) (parents attend only)
  • Appointment 2: ADOS (child, play based assessment; psychologist and Occupational Therapist/Speech & Language Therapist) (parents and child attend)
  • Scoring of all assessments
  • Multidisciplinary Team meeting to discuss all information and assessment findings and determine a diagnosis if indicated
  • Report writing: Psychology
  • Appointment 3: Parent feedback to discuss findings and recommendations (parents attend only)