Autism Spectrum Disorder Assessment

At the Clinic on Dupont, our psychologists provide autism spectrum disorder assessments for children, adolescents, and adults. During the initial consultation with the psychologist, you can discuss what you are hoping to accomplish with the assessment, your goals, and you will work together to come up with a plan for next steps and whether or not a comprehensive assessment is necessary.

The assessment involves an in-depth interview with questions about current and past symptoms, academic and work history, social and developmental history, mental health history, and medical history. There are often questionnaires provided and, in some cases, standardized testing tools will be used.

At the end of the assessment, you will be provided with feedback about the results and a written report. The psychologist will tell you whether or not there is an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. Additionally, the psychologist may be able to provide information on whether there may be alternative explanations for the challenges one is facing. Aside from diagnosis, the other main advantage of an assessment is that you will be provided with behavioural strategies that can help optimize your functioning. With a diagnosis and report or letter from the psychologist, you will have access to accommodations at school or work. Such accommodations might include:

Flexible work hours
Strategic seating
Limited meetings
Clear work plans from supervisors

What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a mental health condition that involves deficits in social communication and a restricted or repetitive pattern of behaviour and/or interests. More specifically, ASD can include challenges with conversation, non-verbal communication, and difficulty maintaining relationships. There can also be certain repetitive movements, strong interests in specific subject areas, strict adherence to routines, and sensitivity to certain sounds and/or textures. Previously, the terms Asperger’s Disorder and Pervasive Developmental Disorder were used and now all fall under the umbrella of ASD. There are different severities of ASD and can vary depending on the context and change over time. Level 1 severity is the highest functioning requiring some support. Level 2 is in the middle and requires substantial support, and Level 3 is the most severe and requires very substantial support. The presentations of ASD in each individual vary significantly, which is why it is called a “spectrum” disorder. The prevalence of ASD is approximately 1 in 100 individuals. ASD is often recognized in early childhood. However, individuals with more subtle symptoms may go unidentified/diagnosed until adulthood. People with autism may have unique ways of learning, thinking, and behaving.