Australia's first National Guideline for the Assessment and
Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders was launched in 2018.
The Guideline is the first unified approach to the
assessment and diagnosis of autism in Australia.
It aims to remove confusion and give clarity regarding the
process of diagnosing autism, providing greater equity in
access to assessment,
transparency and confidence in the decision making process, and
a clearly defined pathway to meet support needs.
The Guideline was developed in close consultation with expert
health professionals and the autism community. The
recommendations have been approved as best practice
healthcare, reflecting global expertise and the best
available scientific evidence.
The Guideline does not redefine or change the specific criteria
for a diagnosis of autism, but outlines are clear step-by-step
process for assessment.
This process will help health professionals to determine your
child's support needs and whether they meet criteria for a
diagnosis. It emphasises the importance of listening to
individuals and their families about the impact of
characteristics and behaviours on
family life. The needs and priorities of your child and
family are critical considerations at each step.
The Guideline also recommends a strengths-focused approach. This
approach means that identifying your child's strengths, skills,
interests, resources, and support systems, and those of
their caregivers is as important as identifying any challenges.
There is no biological test such as a blood test or scan for
autism. It's usually diagnosed by trained health professionals
who observe certain characteristics such as social
communication, behaviours and intense or focused interests.
In Australia, primary healthcare providers such as GPs,
nurses, allied health professionals or Aboriginal
health workers are usually the first point of contact if you
have a concern.
They will begin the process by referring your child to a health
professional who has expertise in assessing neurodevelopmental
conditions. If you've been referred to an expert health
professional, the Guideline then recommends a Comprehensive Needs
Assessment. This assessment has two parts. Firstly, an
Assessment of Functioning.
This involves obtaining a detailed understanding of your
child's abilities and their support needs across a broad
range of areas.
These areas include cognitive abilities, speech and language
function, daily living skills, friendships, and school.
And secondly, a Medical
Evaluation. This involves a physical examination and other
medical tests to understand if there could be medical causes
for the behaviours or characteristics that prompted
the referral. Depending on you and your child's needs, your
child may then be immediately referred to various support
services. If there is still uncertainty about an autism
diagnosis, the Guideline then recommends a Diagnostic
Evaluation to establish whether your child's behaviour is
consistent with autism or
another condition. This may involve a review of your child's
information, an interview with your child and their caregivers,
and professional observation and assessment of the signs and
behaviours that your child
displays. One health professional with specific
expertise may conduct the diagnostic evaluation, or they
may invite a team of health professionals to make a
consensus diagnostic decision together. The professionals who
are involved will depend on a range of factors such as the
type or complexity of the characteristics your child
displays and any other conditions they may have.
After the assessment, the Guideline recommends that the
health professionals involved provide you with a written
report and that the contents of the report are explained to you
and, if appropriate, your child
in a meeting. The report will summarise the information
collected during the assessment and what this information means.
It will also explain any decisions that have been made
about a diagnosis and suggest next steps for accessing support
services. In summary, if your child has been referred for an
assessment, you should expect a timely and thorough assessment,
consideration of your child's unique needs, strengths, and
resources, prompt referral for services based on your child's
functioning and needs, not a clinical diagnosis, and a
detailed final report summarising the assessment
findings and diagnostic decision, explained in person by an expert
health professional. For further information on the Guideline or
to download the Guideline recommendations, please visit
the Autism CRC website.