WEBVTT NOTE duration:"00:05:35.8960000" NOTE language:en-us NOTE Confidence: 0.888493597507477 6e2174fd-3768-436f-814e-3788fb501d3a 00:00:00.370 --> 00:00:06.418 Australia's first National Guideline for the Assessment and NOTE Confidence: 0.888493597507477 70b65425-ef07-4ddf-8499-d23f228f7e19 00:00:06.418 --> 00:00:13.222 Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders was launched in 2018. NOTE Confidence: 0.888493597507477 3c48abf0-6723-4ecc-8626-bd7e4268b3eb 00:00:13.222 --> 00:00:20.026 The Guideline is the first unified approach to the NOTE Confidence: 0.888493597507477 ea35d010-d37f-42e4-bb92-6e5e29c53c96 00:00:20.026 --> 00:00:25.318 assessment and diagnosis of autism in Australia. NOTE Confidence: 0.865191400051117 6f23dc3c-e5cf-41bd-8e25-cfeb952a62af 00:00:26.750 --> 00:00:31.950 It aims to remove confusion and give clarity regarding the NOTE Confidence: 0.865191400051117 9a0b34c4-7025-46bf-914d-45c1a529012a 00:00:31.950 --> 00:00:36.110 process of diagnosing autism, providing greater equity in NOTE Confidence: 0.865191400051117 1889f439-70ee-4e4e-a1a2-9a900fab3e68 00:00:36.110 --> 00:00:37.670 access to assessment, NOTE Confidence: 0.887764751911163 967adab1-32ff-4319-ae62-791192f9312a 00:00:38.200 --> 00:00:41.809 transparency and confidence in the decision making process, and NOTE Confidence: 0.887764751911163 8ad442f7-bfd7-4e99-9576-8b7b16cf7bbc 00:00:41.809 --> 00:00:45.017 a clearly defined pathway to meet support needs. NOTE Confidence: 0.876892566680908 41b4dcd9-7a31-424b-8b0d-16b5e498dcaf 00:00:45.890 --> 00:00:49.976 The Guideline was developed in close consultation with expert NOTE Confidence: 0.876892566680908 8d2d3382-ecb6-4608-9c52-4037389b2bd0 00:00:49.976 --> 00:00:53.154 health professionals and the autism community. The NOTE Confidence: 0.876892566680908 5b05f101-1407-4863-a6e4-b09be196773a 00:00:53.154 --> 00:00:56.332 recommendations have been approved as best practice NOTE Confidence: 0.876892566680908 87a4b014-5bba-4472-92cb-f6f19c06dc76 00:00:56.332 --> 00:00:59.510 healthcare, reflecting global expertise and the best NOTE Confidence: 0.876892566680908 cc6a756a-6c65-4709-80bd-da718b3d9205 00:00:59.510 --> 00:01:00.872 available scientific evidence. NOTE Confidence: 0.871388256549835 07ebb779-d5da-4a8a-aa4a-a3ae2b92e2bf 00:01:02.710 --> 00:01:07.700 The Guideline does not redefine or change the specific criteria NOTE Confidence: 0.871388256549835 1e2d588b-0120-4f0e-a39e-b4021032b772 00:01:07.700 --> 00:01:13.688 for a diagnosis of autism, but outlines are clear step-by-step NOTE Confidence: 0.871388256549835 2bc17675-3986-4c9e-9892-a17a589e9b65 00:01:13.688 --> 00:01:15.185 process for assessment. NOTE Confidence: 0.884517669677734 1142cfea-a249-47d3-b4ab-e16cf3b0933a 00:01:16.140 --> 00:01:20.055 This process will help health professionals to determine your NOTE Confidence: 0.884517669677734 1211be85-9997-4d1f-8f3b-7d27b6068a70 00:01:20.055 --> 00:01:24.405 child's support needs and whether they meet criteria for a NOTE Confidence: 0.883254706859589 75ac98ad-9e91-4b98-afa3-a3f1fdce253b 00:01:24.405 --> 00:01:28.235 diagnosis. It emphasises the importance of listening to NOTE Confidence: 0.883254706859589 f8816528-c52c-4a7f-8715-7e13f6e43349 00:01:28.235 --> 00:01:31.395 individuals and their families about the impact of NOTE Confidence: 0.883254706859589 1504ebb5-9ef2-4d3c-a2fa-3b39750c150e 00:01:31.395 --> 00:01:32.975 characteristics and behaviours on NOTE Confidence: 0.891212940216064 ee3e5de5-bbe0-47f5-9971-5885ec9c2223 00:01:32.975 --> 00:01:38.014 family life. The needs and priorities of your child and NOTE Confidence: 0.891212940216064 4aa52fb9-dd34-4a06-82bc-f7e77c2a915c 00:01:38.014 --> 00:01:41.080 family are critical considerations at each step. NOTE Confidence: 0.868485569953918 ca5a92cc-1597-4075-b744-a1e59ee4f9c5 00:01:42.010 --> 00:01:46.195 The Guideline also recommends a strengths-focused approach. This NOTE Confidence: 0.868485569953918 ddaf3c8d-eb6b-42d8-bdff-097276f6ea6f 00:01:46.195 --> 00:01:49.915 approach means that identifying your child's strengths, skills, NOTE Confidence: 0.868485569953918 555d061d-1349-4442-89c7-cbddf5106f88 00:01:49.915 --> 00:01:53.635 interests, resources, and support systems, and those of NOTE Confidence: 0.868485569953918 917f58d3-59c8-4022-bcc6-0c47e107df45 00:01:53.635 --> 00:01:57.820 their caregivers is as important as identifying any challenges. NOTE Confidence: 0.868022620677948 96ddffc2-cd13-4726-8270-ef479059c984 00:01:58.560 --> 00:02:04.436 There is no biological test such as a blood test or scan for NOTE Confidence: 0.868022620677948 69a87a79-4709-4477-8b3d-8dc8461a3fd1 00:02:04.436 --> 00:02:08.052 autism. It's usually diagnosed by trained health professionals NOTE Confidence: 0.868022620677948 5c09408a-21a4-4fd9-b3d9-ccb9cf928aa2 00:02:08.052 --> 00:02:11.216 who observe certain characteristics such as social NOTE Confidence: 0.868022620677948 1f2db6f0-4a6f-48a1-9ec7-50e1e86b8ca2 00:02:11.216 --> 00:02:14.380 communication, behaviours and intense or focused interests. NOTE Confidence: 0.844135165214539 0f2fbc95-b970-4c1c-9998-04242364b9c3 00:02:15.130 --> 00:02:19.081 In Australia, primary healthcare providers such as GPs, NOTE Confidence: 0.844135165214539 4199c93b-5eeb-47eb-8624-b7bd95fa2957 00:02:19.081 --> 00:02:21.715 nurses, allied health professionals or Aboriginal NOTE Confidence: 0.844135165214539 d3486f87-ce99-48ce-9931-566890bf9de6 00:02:21.715 --> 00:02:26.544 health workers are usually the first point of contact if you NOTE Confidence: 0.844135165214539 9d2069d1-ba93-4347-a16b-6898117afca9 00:02:26.544 --> 00:02:27.861 have a concern. NOTE Confidence: 0.861766517162323 4257b7a6-d09e-4949-ada1-24571ea936c4 00:02:27.870 --> 00:02:32.380 They will begin the process by referring your child to a health NOTE Confidence: 0.861766517162323 19d272dc-a77c-4129-a5f0-ed05589cca20 00:02:32.380 --> 00:02:35.250 professional who has expertise in assessing neurodevelopmental NOTE Confidence: 0.873222768306732 8a25f73e-5f5d-4b98-8648-7b038c88df6a 00:02:35.250 --> 00:02:40.590 conditions. If you've been referred to an expert health NOTE Confidence: 0.873222768306732 0927fcc7-d1d5-4bee-8856-e105328daa1e 00:02:40.590 --> 00:02:44.590 professional, the Guideline then recommends a Comprehensive Needs NOTE Confidence: 0.842297494411469 7bec1b04-3815-4a63-8b47-e6f0fa668db9 00:02:44.590 --> 00:02:49.551 Assessment. This assessment has two parts. Firstly, an NOTE Confidence: 0.842297494411469 720d6474-3e6b-4378-bdc3-819388756f80 00:02:49.551 --> 00:02:51.120 Assessment of Functioning. NOTE Confidence: 0.890478312969208 c754c02d-4a34-4c02-ad60-48573f58e677 00:02:52.090 --> 00:02:55.074 This involves obtaining a detailed understanding of your NOTE Confidence: 0.890478312969208 076bc708-a338-481b-b0fe-4ff8f49ff6e9 00:02:55.074 --> 00:02:58.431 child's abilities and their support needs across a broad NOTE Confidence: 0.890478312969208 26808f04-5c5a-4ce8-9f04-f0eb19ab2145 00:02:58.431 --> 00:02:59.550 range of areas. NOTE Confidence: 0.840091943740845 9fd7fad9-8d6a-4d9f-aadd-5ae8df4395ca 00:03:00.720 --> 00:03:04.576 These areas include cognitive abilities, speech and language NOTE Confidence: 0.840091943740845 1b6dffbf-f6d8-40b2-890c-14d52ba658bb 00:03:04.576 --> 00:03:07.950 function, daily living skills, friendships, and school. NOTE Confidence: 0.898435771465302 a2bdbe7a-8039-49b6-87bd-0411008473e1 00:03:08.930 --> 00:03:11.650 And secondly, a Medical NOTE Confidence: 0.884471893310547 09232c9c-3b69-4d0a-b77e-1b38c83feeec 00:03:11.650 --> 00:03:15.560 Evaluation. This involves a physical examination and other NOTE Confidence: 0.884471893310547 9ee1a59b-983d-4c7d-9707-6fd0f091b619 00:03:15.560 --> 00:03:19.160 medical tests to understand if there could be medical causes NOTE Confidence: 0.884471893310547 c6d7d5b1-b3e6-4afc-b292-1d626c7926d2 00:03:19.160 --> 00:03:21.680 for the behaviours or characteristics that prompted NOTE Confidence: 0.885128080844879 0c72cb19-b722-4ea3-b34e-110a452ccde7 00:03:21.680 --> 00:03:26.590 the referral. Depending on you and your child's needs, your NOTE Confidence: 0.885128080844879 45c0935f-a40a-437d-b153-2347d6542919 00:03:26.590 --> 00:03:30.460 child may then be immediately referred to various support NOTE Confidence: 0.885128080844879 9bdd8e67-769a-42e6-b742-728bbd672c4a 00:03:30.460 --> 00:03:34.330 services. If there is still uncertainty about an autism NOTE Confidence: 0.885128080844879 22dcd5ca-72d6-4f2a-b574-79b78cc6af03 00:03:34.330 --> 00:03:37.340 diagnosis, the Guideline then recommends a Diagnostic NOTE Confidence: 0.885128080844879 4bbec075-0a91-4119-ac18-ab04acb2b05b 00:03:37.340 --> 00:03:40.780 Evaluation to establish whether your child's behaviour is NOTE Confidence: 0.885128080844879 2c4529ad-a28e-4340-aed7-88119cd02e34 00:03:40.780 --> 00:03:42.500 consistent with autism or NOTE Confidence: 0.874974310398102 08fdc144-4a25-4807-8da6-70043c48bdb2 00:03:42.500 --> 00:03:47.032 another condition. This may involve a review of your child's NOTE Confidence: 0.874974310398102 167dbe5d-2789-4e9d-b098-bf0b4ec369db 00:03:47.032 --> 00:03:50.398 information, an interview with your child and their caregivers, NOTE Confidence: 0.874974310398102 1a840ba8-8acc-45c7-a6b0-6e8c215e3668 00:03:50.398 --> 00:03:53.764 and professional observation and assessment of the signs and NOTE Confidence: 0.874974310398102 d6578f3f-690e-4de9-9e33-97d5d8f6c24e 00:03:53.764 --> 00:03:55.260 behaviours that your child NOTE Confidence: 0.879386961460114 f9ac018e-4a5f-48b8-bf13-7a69c0435cf2 00:03:55.260 --> 00:03:58.445 displays. One health professional with specific NOTE Confidence: 0.879386961460114 e9af66dc-9114-4a73-bc03-0a0f22ca1f3b 00:03:58.445 --> 00:04:01.605 expertise may conduct the diagnostic evaluation, or they NOTE Confidence: 0.879386961460114 5132b198-6869-45ee-8c93-b861e5de3a53 00:04:01.605 --> 00:04:05.555 may invite a team of health professionals to make a NOTE Confidence: 0.879386961460114 5e6ea51f-82cb-4788-a7e0-8681f20c9739 00:04:05.555 --> 00:04:08.320 consensus diagnostic decision together. The professionals who NOTE Confidence: 0.879386961460114 003e25fa-fd77-4457-9ace-16307670b246 00:04:08.320 --> 00:04:13.060 are involved will depend on a range of factors such as the NOTE Confidence: 0.879386961460114 e6080390-fc14-4012-a8b2-3607311faac5 00:04:13.060 --> 00:04:16.220 type or complexity of the characteristics your child NOTE Confidence: 0.879386961460114 c609d290-6e7f-4647-93f5-e82761853dc5 00:04:16.220 --> 00:04:19.380 displays and any other conditions they may have. NOTE Confidence: 0.886471211910248 65ee849f-00c0-4831-bce8-fcf5dc2c69e9 00:04:23.920 --> 00:04:26.472 After the assessment, the Guideline recommends that the NOTE Confidence: 0.886471211910248 54cc32c6-c4ce-4b2f-8163-7b825f78177a 00:04:26.472 --> 00:04:29.024 health professionals involved provide you with a written NOTE Confidence: 0.886471211910248 0e0699e7-6672-45dd-b590-4d4c7c6d9ecf 00:04:29.024 --> 00:04:32.852 report and that the contents of the report are explained to you NOTE Confidence: 0.886471211910248 6e087f86-17e7-465f-b950-81725c3c65c3 00:04:32.852 --> 00:04:34.447 and, if appropriate, your child NOTE Confidence: 0.89253181219101 a8920c76-e9d2-4afc-b3f2-d3c4d494f4cd 00:04:34.447 --> 00:04:38.632 in a meeting. The report will summarise the information NOTE Confidence: 0.89253181219101 3510260a-3183-4dd4-a9fc-0f2cf0095ec8 00:04:38.632 --> 00:04:42.520 collected during the assessment and what this information means. NOTE Confidence: 0.89253181219101 d53ee52e-6433-470f-be47-087bf73160f4 00:04:42.520 --> 00:04:46.840 It will also explain any decisions that have been made NOTE Confidence: 0.89253181219101 1e8cb12a-4d70-41cf-8579-8a9551ff6bb4 00:04:46.840 --> 00:04:51.160 about a diagnosis and suggest next steps for accessing support NOTE Confidence: 0.858416140079498 e4055212-3de1-4a73-85a7-c2788a21e03d 00:04:51.160 --> 00:04:57.450 services. In summary, if your child has been referred for an NOTE Confidence: 0.858416140079498 6d356e92-7935-4582-a560-14e884e50f0f 00:04:57.450 --> 00:05:01.322 assessment, you should expect a timely and thorough assessment,  NOTE Confidence: 0.858416140079498 6f43f1c4-9682-4295-9a4a-8ec5464c4ecc 00:05:01.322 --> 00:05:05.194 consideration of your child's unique needs, strengths, and NOTE Confidence: 0.858416140079498 96d54e64-983f-4cd8-b6ac-d94fc8f9cb2f 00:05:05.194 --> 00:05:10.034 resources, prompt referral for services based on your child's NOTE Confidence: 0.858416140079498 d78b4d46-a474-4400-8b00-be5a5a864c8f 00:05:10.034 --> 00:05:13.906 functioning and needs, not a clinical diagnosis, and a NOTE Confidence: 0.858416140079498 59758e05-74a3-4c1d-9d17-c8e1d089eec7 00:05:13.906 --> 00:05:16.810 detailed final report summarising the assessment NOTE Confidence: 0.858416140079498 224ff248-68f0-43a2-867f-6e406b19bbc3 00:05:16.810 --> 00:05:21.650 findings and diagnostic decision, explained in person by an expert NOTE Confidence: 0.844135284423828 b638cb68-0292-420b-bce2-a8448f33d9c1 00:05:21.650 --> 00:05:26.253 health professional. For further information on the Guideline or NOTE Confidence: 0.844135284423828 7da9b772-74c3-4de0-8be0-8750a1e1c736 00:05:26.253 --> 00:05:29.886 to download the Guideline recommendations, please visit NOTE Confidence: 0.844135284423828 fb9822cd-aa7b-412c-bf37-7d64c22c66c1 00:05:29.886 --> 00:05:31.962 the Autism CRC website.