ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) assessments/reports for adults cost around $1000.
I realise there's a lot of expertise/effort/time to produce the report (at least there was pre ChatGPT).
But it's a lot of cash.. so wondering if anyone has a lead on somewhere sub $800?
Brisbane area or via webcam.. but I assume they have to be australian registered psychologist.
Cheers
My partner.. adult female 30yo+, brisbane.
Some places are charging $2500+ for the report.. One $600 (south australian residents only).
I've found my way to the reddit thread so should be able to get advice there.
I meant, is it for NDIS or other reasons? If it is for personal reasons, like, you want to have a confirmation for what you suspected, it will be less formal in terms of who conducts the assessment.
If it is for NDIS or other more formal reasons, I'd check with whoever is requesting/requiring that report for the qualification/endorsement that they need for the psychologist or psychiatirst.
It might be worthwhile to have a chat with your GP as they might be better suited for that kind of advice.
I heard in SA though the state autism organisation or whatever you can assessed by a panel of three psychologists/psychiatrists, so for $600 it must be heavily subsidised by the state or donations or both. Most psychiatrists wouldn't even pick their nose for $600.
A formal report or a formal diagnosis is not something easy to write, it'd take multiple assessments, review of developmental history, other tests to rule out other causes etc etc.
As much as I feel like they are asking for too much money, I wouldn't want to be in their shoes and write the report even if i had their qualification and experiences.
@iridiumstem: Especially if it's for an adult who won't use the diagnosis for anything, when you have loads of kids who you'd rather use the funding for, kids who might be deeply misunderstood and maybe even facing abuse from parents or their schools because they aren't understood. But I guess the state autism organisation should be helping all autistic people in the state regardless of their level of need, otherwise they would need to change their name to "Autism 4 Some Of SA".
@AustriaBargain: With more focus on neurodiversity, I don't necessarily agree that adults won't benefit from a diagnosis.
Masking can be draining and can lead to self loathing and an explanation that it's not you but how your brain is can be a powerful one.
Diagnosis I find is a double edged sword, some use the diagnosis as an explanation and move forward, some use the diagnosis as an excuse and dwell. There are ethical dilemmas that's laced with diagnosing someone. As I said, wouldn't touch it even if I somehow get the skills, knowledge and qualifications.
@iridiumstem: I view high functioning autism, or rather people with autism who have normal/higher than normal intelligence, as more of a personality trait than a disorder. Sure it's very disordering in childhood, so much so that teachers and parents abuse the (profanity) of the kids, but by adulthood they are often among regular workers, business owners, experts in certain areas, or owners of Facebook/Twitter. Or basically homeless/homebound, but genetics gives with one hand and takes with the other.
I view high functioning autism, or rather people with autism who have normal/higher than normal intelligence, as more of a personality trait than a disorder.
agreed, it's a good insight into what someone with no professional training or detailed knowledge thinks.
next up: "i view my car as a sort of moving demon that obeys my instructions due to the sigils carved on my car keys"
@AustriaBargain: Just because someone could function relatively well within society with great effort, doesn't mean that it's not going to have impact on their quality of life.
Everyone's unique, their needs and their strenghts are unique, just because it is something effortless for you doesn't mean it would take someone else hours of preparation and complete exhaustion afterwards and vice versa.
For personal reasons, not for NDIS.
I believe a recent news article said something about a new wheelchair cushion costing a lady $1000 via the NDIS, due to the redtape/assessments involved.. so I imagine a detailed NDIS psych report would cost the equivalent to a mid-range Tesla :)
Op curious what are mild symptoms of autisim like?
I assume it is mild if it wasnt diagnosed from childhood?
Thanks
Girls with mild autism are very good at masking/camouflaging their symptoms which makes it harder to identify compared to boys. In young girls, they might look like they're playing with others but in fact they're following or copying. It may sound like they're creating imaginative storylines but the storylines might be the same all the time. They could be interested in various dolls but dolls might be only thing they're interested in. Most laypeople would miss these signs.
Prior to the NDIS, even with an Autism diagnosis, there's limited funding for allied health support. Most parents would have paid out of pocket. Even now with the NDIS, they usually allocate funding only to individuals requiring level 2 to 3 support. Young children with Autism could access an early intervention package via the NDIS but that finishes around 6-7 years. After 6-7 years, parents are either relying on the Helping Children with Autism (HCWA) program or a GP mental health care plan which attracts a rebate rather than covering the full cost.
Thanks
i think fossilfuel answered your question thoroughly.
I think the reason why she wasn't diagnosed in childhood is because (I believe) ASD wasn't part of the diagnostic guidelines back then.
I don't even think Aspergers (now part of ASD), or ADHD (commonly co-exists with ASD) were being diagnosed as such.
Thanks
I had a look at the rates. $600 might just be the assessment fee which does not include the report. The report/confirmation of diagnosis outlined in their schedule is another $500. So possibly, all up $1100. Some clinics do not include GST in their fees so that might be another 10% to add.
That being said, it's very cheap for an Autism assessment. Most places I know are charging at least $2500+ excluding GST.
Some measures could be completed online in your own time like an adaptive assessment. Other assessments like the ADOS/observation would have to be done in person. Adult ASD assessments could be trickier if there's lack of a developmental history but there's ways around it.
The commenters have some good ideas. I would also check with university clinics to see if they offer adult autism assessments. Very few do but you could run into a researcher investigating adult autism that could do it for free or offer a competitive rate. I'm not sure if they're allowed to provide a report or give feedback if they are assessing for research purposes.
Try Headspace or equivalent. In SA, theyre about $600 but waitlist is massive.
I paid $1000 in 2017 for a dual panel assessment. Never bothered with NDIS but it has been incredibly helpful from a workplace and self understanding perspective.
Doesn't matter if you have autism
We are awesome and unique
Who is it for? Diagnosis can be given out by any registered psychologists who has adequate training on the field, that doesnt mean the organisation that needs that report will accept one from any psychologists (i.e. they may need to be clinical psych or it may need a psychiatrist input so on and so forth).