Adult Autism Assessment

If you’ve always felt different from others, struggled with social interactions, found it hard to understand unspoken social rules, or experience sensory sensitivities, you may benefit from an autism assessment. Some adults seek an assessment after years of masking their challenges, while others may notice their differences more when they begin to work, live independently, and learn to navigate adult relationships.

No, autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition. However, many people are only diagnosed as adults because their traits were overlooked or misunderstood in childhood. Some individuals develop coping strategies (often called masking) that can hide their difficulties until they face new challenges in adulthood.

While some people naturally prefer alone time or struggle with social situations, autism is different because:

• It affects multiple areas of life, including communication, sensory experiences, and routine preferences.
• Social challenges often come with difficulty understanding nonverbal cues, processing social rules, or managing sensory overload.
• Symptoms are present from childhood, even if they weren’t recognised earlier.

A professional assessment can help clarify whether autism or another condition (such as social anxiety) is the underlying cause.

Yes! Many autistic individuals excel academically or professionally, especially if they work in structured environments that match their strengths. However, they may still struggle with:

• Social interactions and relationships
• Burnout from masking their traits
• Sensory sensitivities or emotional regulation
• Executive functioning challenges, such as planning and organisation

Autism can overlap with ADHD, anxiety, OCD, depression, and other conditions, making self-diagnosis difficult. Our autism assessment includes a full mental health history review to determine if autism is the best explanation for your experiences or if other factors may be contributing.

Yes! A formal autism diagnosis can help you access:

• Workplace accommodations (e.g., quiet workspaces, flexible schedules)
• University adjustments (e.g., extra time for assignments, alternative communication methods)
• NDIS funding (for eligible individuals in Australia)

If your assessment results don’t meet the DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria for autism, your psychologist will still provide insights into your strengths, challenges, and strategies to improve wellbeing. They may also suggest alternative explanations, such as sensory processing differences, social anxiety, or executive functioning difficulties, and guide you on the best next steps.

Our Adult Autism Assessment Package includes:

• Comprehensive developmental and diagnostic interview (to explore your childhood and lifelong traits)
• Consultation with family or friends for additional insights
• Autism-specific questionnaires to assess social, sensory, and behavioural traits
• Feedback session to discuss results, relevant diagnosis, support options and strategies
• Comprehensive report outlining findings, strengths, challenges, and recommendations

Yes! Our autism assessment can be completed online, including virtual consultations and questionnaires. However, your psychologist may request additional in-person observations if needed to ensure a comprehensive and accurate evaluation.

Our Adult Autism Assessment Package costs $1,205. If you would like to include a cognitive assessment, we offer a combined package for $2,305.

No, a GP referral is not required to undergo an autism assessment. However, if you are seeking Medicare rebates for therapy, you may need a referral from your GP.

To prepare for your assessment, you can:

• Reflect on your childhood and lifelong traits (e.g., sensory experiences, social challenges, repetitive behaviours)
• Gather school reports, past psychological reports, or relevant medical history
• Ask a trusted family member or friend for insights on your early development and traits
• Set aside time to complete the online questionnaires without distractions