Froese Psychological Services

CHILDREN - ADOLESCENTS - ADULTS

What is an Autism Assessment

At Froese Psychological Services we offer a variety of psychological assessments to try and answer different questions. The purpose of an autism assessment is to provide individuals and families with a deeper understanding of a person’s development and overall functioning.

An autism assessment offers the opportunity to better understand an individual’s behaviors, communication style, and ways of thinking. It can help identify both strengths and challenges, including areas such as social communication, interpersonal interactions, and sensory processing.

The assessment involves a comprehensive evaluation of developmental history and current functioning to determine whether diagnostic criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are met. The goal is to provide clarity and guide appropriate supports and next steps.

What to Expect from an autism assessment

Pre-Appointment

After booking your appointment, you will be sent various forms that will help gather background information.

Appointment

On the day of the assessment the psychologist will conduct an initial interview to collect some additional information to make sure all aspects of an individuals life are taken into consideration when conducting the assessment. The interview allows us to see if there are any social, emotional, or behavioural functioning that may be impacting your functioning during testing.

Testing

Following the interview, the psychologist will use a variety of different tests and measures to gain information. Testing will look at different main areas:

- Cognitive ability: How a person may use reason, problem solving skills, memory, thinking with visual information, vocabulary and processing efficiency.

- Academic skill: Reading, writing, math, and oral language skills.

- Behavioral observation: Standardized tests are used to better understand social communication, interaction, and behavior.

- Adaptive functioning: Everyday life skills such as communication, personal care, socialization, and independence in daily activities.

Debrief

Following the assessment the psychologist will debrief the results and conclusions (you are welcome to invite others to this meeting if you feel it would be beneficial for them to be present). During this time the psychologist will work to help you understand the results and talk about recommendations moving forward. Our goal is to make sure you leave feeling comfortable with all the new information we talked about and make sure you receive the proper supports.

Interpretatoin and Report Wrting

Following the assessment all information collected will be analyzed and compiled into a comprehensive report, including all recommendations and guidance for next steps. It takes around 2-4 weeks for the report to be written and a secured PDF copy will be shared with you via Email.

Austism Spectrum Disorder Assessment