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 an 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.