Could My Child Have Autism?
Autism testing is not an easy step to take for many parents.
There is great diversity under the autism spectrum and it can be harder to spot children with milder forms of autism (previously Asperger Syndrome). They can be highly intelligent, verbal and sociable but struggle with understanding certain social situations or thinking flexibly. More obvious signs could include a lack of eye contact, speech delays, meltdowns, poor social skills, or obsessions about certain objects or topics (e.g. MRT trains, dinosaurs, cars).
Early intervention can make a big difference in child outcomes. Thus, we encourage parents to seek advice early if they observe persistent signs that may indicate social difficulties. Before you decide to do a formal assessment, it is important to first have your child’s hearing checked to rule out hearing issues that may be resulting in language or social delays. Autism assessments can be done accurately by experienced clinicians from the age of 18 months.
You can refer to these websites for reliable information about autism:
Autism Symptoms
We assess and diagnose using gold standard tools with reference to DSM-5 symptoms for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This includes Asperger Syndrome or mild autism, which is usually assigned the lowest support needs (Level 1). The symptoms broadly outlined below are manifested in different ways and to varying degrees in different individuals:
- Difficulties with social interactions e.g. not knowing how to socialize, converse with or interact appropriately with peers
- Difficulties with nonverbal communication, e.g. eye contact, body language, gestures, facial expressions
- Difficulties in developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships, e.g. difficulty forming friendships.
- Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities, such as:
- Repetitive play, speech or movements (e.g., lining up toys, echolalia)
- Inflexibility and resistance to change (e.g., extreme distress at small changes, rigid thinking patterns)
- Highly restricted, fixated interests (e.g., “obsessed” with certain topics or objects)
- Sensory differences (e.g., adverse response to specific sounds or textures, visual fascination with lights).
Autism Testing / Diagnosis
Testing for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) requires a high level of specialism and experience with the population under the diverse autism spectrum umbrella. There is no single test that is 100% accurate in diagnosing autism. Proper diagnosis requires gathering and synthesizing information from multiple sources to form a full clinical picture of the child. At Bloom, we seek to work with our children and their families through an inclusive, neurodiverse lens. This means that while we assess and identify areas for support, we also want to discover each child’s unique strengths and abilities.
At the intake consultation, you will have the opportunity to discuss your questions, concerns and observations with the psychologist to determine if autism testing is indeed necessary. Autism testing at Bloom involves a careful evaluation of the following sources of information:
- Rating scales completed by parents and teachers
- Diagnostic interview with parents
- Qualitative feedback from teachers
- Analysis of work samples and school records
- Cognitive assessment
- ADOS / MIGDAS assessment
- Social language test
- Testing/screening for co-morbid conditions
- Child interview
- Parent feedback
Please expect the assessment process to take about 2-3 sessions with the child and 2 sessions with parents. After that, we take about 2 weeks to analyse the information and formulate the diagnosis and recommendations, which are discussed with parents at the feedback session.
Contact Us
Book Your First Session
We value your feedback and inquiries. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please feel free to reach out to us. Our dedicated team is here to assist you and provide the information you need.
Conatct Us
Book Your First Session
We value your feedback and inquiries. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please feel free to reach out to us. Our dedicated team is here to assist you and provide the information you need.
