What we do / Child Autism Assessment
Our team has a wealth of experience in providing a seamless diagnostic assessment service for children and adolescents across Ireland. Our assessment process meets the standards in the NICE guidelines and NHS requirements, and the requirements and standards of the Health Service Executive (HSE).
All assessments carried out at Lancefield Private Clinic are delivered by a multidisciplinary team. On completion of assessment, a detailed diagnostic report will be provided.
A member of our team will have a telephone consultation with you to gather some background information relevant to the assessment. For children and young people who are still in education, a social communication questionnaire will be provided for the child's teacher to complete. This gives an insight into their presentation in the education environment. For children who are not previously known to a paediatrician, we will require further information about their medical status.
On arrival, the child and family will be welcomed by a staff member, and the plan for the session will be explained. It is useful for children to be accompanied by two adults. One adult will go with one clinician to complete the neurodevelopmental history. The child will be accompanied by their second adult to a room with a second clinician, where the clinical assessment will take place.
A detailed interview with a parent or guardian, usually lasting 90 to 120 minutes. It gathers information on the child's history, with a specific focus on areas relevant to autism, including communication, interaction and areas of interest.
In a second room, the child is assessed using the ADOS-2, which usually lasts 60 to 90 minutes. The ADOS-2 is a semi-structured play and/or conversation based assessment, designed to elicit features of autism within a relaxed and relatively informal session.
A questionnaire is supplied before the assessment for the child or young person's teacher to complete.
After the assessment, a medical appointment will be arranged with a paediatrician if required.
After both elements of the assessment are completed, your clinicians will meet for a case discussion on the same day as your appointment. They will then discuss their initial conclusions with you.
Occasionally, additional assessment may be required. This takes the form of a school observation or a cognitive assessment. When additional assessment is required, your clinician will discuss this with you, including the rationale and any additional fees.
The clinical team will then complete a diagnostic formulation and write a detailed report using the DSM-5 criteria for autism. A draft of this report will usually be shared with parents at a feedback appointment.
We offer a feedback appointment face to face, virtually or by telephone. It can take place without the child and usually lasts 30 to 60 minutes. We discuss the final outcome of the assessment, clarify the details in the report, and talk about any onward referrals or support agencies that can provide ongoing input.
We endeavour to support you to understand your child's unique profile, with suggestions on embracing their diagnosis, building on their strengths and celebrating their differences.
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