Getting a diagnosis

What is an autism, ADHD or cognitive diagnosis?

There’s no medical test (such as a blood test) that can diagnose these neurodivergent conditions. Instead, medical or allied health professionals will generally want to meet in person and ask individuals questions about their life and experiences.

Aspect assessment services are delivered by Clinical Psychologists or Neuropsychologists, with experience and post-graduate training in the assessment and diagnosis of learning disabilities (eg: autism, ADHD & cognitive ability).

We provide child, adolescent and adult diagnostic assessments across their lifespan. Our comprehensive assessment can identify developmental difficulties and determine what strategies and supports will assist an individual to achieve their goals and reach their full potential.

What to expect from an assessment with Aspect

At Aspect, an ADHD or autism assessment takes around 4 to 6 hours and is typically conducted over the course of one day, whereas a cognitive assessment is approximately 3 to 4 hours. We will work with you to make the process as comfortable and accessible as possible. With both children and adults, we encourage you to bring a trusted family member or support person along to support you in the process, and just to keep you company. If you don't have someone available, the Aspect team will make you feel supported, including having access to a private quiet room for the duration.

For children, we usually start with both child and parent/carer present, and then once the child is ready, the clinician usually spends some time one-on-one with both child and parent/carer. At the end of the process, we will spend time with the parent/carer to go through the initial results and will send a more detailed formal report to review later.

Social Stories

We've created animated social story videos to help you learn about the assessment process and to know what to expect. We have videos for both face-to-face and Telehealth assessments for children and adults. Click the relevant link below to watch the video.

Assessments aren’t always easy to access due to lengthy waitlists, so some adults may choose to self-identify. Self-identification is helpful for connection with their identity and the Autistic community, and may lead to seeking formal support when possible.