Autism Assessments for Children and Youth

An autism assessment is used to determine if your child meets the diagnostic criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It is completed by a psychologist, pediatrician, or doctor with training and experience in assessment and diagnosis of ASD. In order to get a thorough understanding of your child's functioning, several different tests will be used. These include a structured in-person parent/caregiver interview, an observation of your child during a series of structured play tasks, the completion of a parent-report questionnaire of your child's ability to complete daily living tasks, and measures of your child's social, emotional, and behavioural functioning. Following the completion of the assessment, the psychologist will meet with you to discuss the results and to respond to any questions and concerns you may have. 

The different portions of the assessment require varying amounts of time. Depending on your schedule or preference, all portions may be completed in the same day, or over two separate visits. 

Please ensure you bring along or send ahead of time any prior medical or speech-language reports that have been completed for your child. If you child has not completed a hearing assessment before, had inconclusive results in the past, or there is a family history of hearing loss, consider scheduling a hearing screen with the Public Health Center (Virene Building), in Grande Prairie.

1. What is the psychologist's training and experience in assessing and diagnosing ASD?
2. What tests will be used and how are they relevant to a diagnosis of ASD?
3. What can the results be used for?
4. How long will it take for you to receive the final report following the in-person appointment?
5. What is the cost of the assessment based on? (flat fee versus hourly rate)
6. Will the recommendations provided be based on my child's unique profile?