Autism Assessments
Gaining Understanding, Celebrating Strengths
An autism assessment is about far more than determining whether someone meets diagnostic criteria. It is an opportunity to better understand how a person experiences the world, communicates, learns, builds relationships, and navigates everyday life.
At Maple Psychology, we provide comprehensive, neuroaffirming autism assessments for children, adolescents, and adults. We understand that every autistic person is unique, and our assessments are designed to recognise both strengths and areas where additional support may be helpful.
Many people seek an assessment after years of wondering why they have always felt “different,” while others are referred because parents, teachers, health professionals, or family members have noticed differences in communication, social interaction, emotional regulation, sensory experiences, or behaviour.
Whether the assessment results in an autism diagnosis or not, our goal is to provide greater clarity, understanding, and practical recommendations that help individuals and families move forward with confidence.
What does an autism assessment involve?
Every assessment is tailored to the individual. Depending on age and presentation, your assessment may include:
- Comprehensive clinical interview
- Developmental history
- Parent or caregiver interview (where appropriate)
- Standardised questionnaires
- Cognitive assessment
- Behavioural observations
- ADOS-2 assessment
- Review of previous reports
- Collaboration with schools or other professionals (with consent)
- Feedback appointment
- Comprehensive written report
We recognise that no single assessment tool can diagnose autism in isolation. Diagnosis is based on a combination of clinical expertise, developmental history, behavioural observations, and multiple sources of information.
Who might benefit from an assessment?
An assessment may be helpful if you or your child experiences
- Social communication differences
- Sensory sensitivities
- Strong routines or preference for predictability
- Emotional regulation difficulties
- Difficulties understanding social situations
- Special/deep interests
- Masking or camouflaging
- Feeling different from peers
- Ongoing uncertainty about whether autism may explain lifelong experiences
After your assessment
Following the assessment, we provide a detailed feedback session to discuss the findings in clear, supportive language. We explain how the assessment relates to everyday life and provide practical recommendations that may assist at home, school, work, or within the community.
Whether or not a diagnosis is made, our goal is for every person to leave with a greater understanding of themselves and practical strategies for moving forward.