Autism Assessment

In your autism assessment, a team of professionals with different areas of expertise will work together to create a well-rounded understanding of your needs. According to DHA (Dubai Health Authority) guidelines, this team includes specific qualified specialists to ensure a comprehensive and high-quality assessment.

Typically, a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist will lead the evaluation, providing insights into emotional and behavioural aspects. Alongside specialised psychotherapists assessing communication skills and language development, and sensory and motor skills. These specialists each play a unique role, assessing different areas that are relevant to autism.

The DHA guidelines ensure that these assessments are thorough and follow best practices, requiring the use of standardised tools like the ADOS-2. DHA also emphasises a multidisciplinary approach, meaning these professionals collaborate and share their observations to provide a holistic understanding of your strengths, needs, and unique traits.

This team effort is all about creating a supportive, accurate, and personalised assessment that respects your individuality and helps guide you toward meaningful support and resources.

Autism is a spectrum, and each person has unique traits, strengths, and challenges.

An introductory consultation is a crucial first step as it sets the foundation for a more accurate assessment and gets to know the person at hand.

At the Psychiatry and Therapy centre we understand the importance of providing Neuro diversity affirming care and have specialised clinicians in this field to conduct these sessions. Within the first meeting, the clinician will help establish communication preferences, interaction styles and gather information on subtle behaviours of the client. Most importantly, the introductory consultation is to build rapport. As it can be anxiety provoking going in for an assessment or meeting with a clinician for the first time, this initial session will allow the clinician to create a trusting space which will help to reduce stress and encourage openness and ease.

We understand the importance of collecting information from other key people in your or your child’s life. With your consent, questionnaires will be sent for people to fill out on your behalf to help gather information. These questionnaires could be sent to: Teachers, SENCO, school counsellors, speech and language therapist, occupational therapist, colleagues, therapists, psychiatrists and family doctors.

The ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition) is a well-regarded assessment tool used to help identify autism spectrum characteristics. It provides a supportive and structured setting where a trained professional observes social interaction, communication, and behaviour to gain a clearer understanding of how an individual experiences and engages with the world.

During the ADOS-2, you or your child will participate in various tasks, like conversation, play, and problem-solving activities, depending on age and developmental level. These activities are designed to feel natural and allow the assessor to see patterns in communication, social interaction, and responses to sensory input. The ADOS-2 is often just one part of a larger assessment process and works alongside other tools to form a complete picture.

The goal is to identify strengths as well as areas where extra support may be helpful. An ADOS-2 assessment is about understanding individual needs, empowering you or your child with information, and guiding next steps toward meaningful support and resources.

A psychiatric assessment is a valuable part of your, or your child’s autism assessment, helping us build a complete and personalised understanding of your or your child’s mental health and well-being. Autism often coexists with other conditions, like anxiety, depression, or ADHD, which can impact your day-to-day experiences and quality of life. By including this evaluation, we’re ensuring we see the full picture of your or your child’s strengths, needs, and the unique ways you/ they interact with the world.

This assessment gives you or your child a chance to express any challenges or areas where you/ they might want additional support, so we can make recommendations that are genuinely helpful. The goal is to create a holistic and supportive plan that considers all aspects of your/ your child’s mental health, allowing us to offer resources and guidance that are aligned with your/ your child’s personal goals and values. Ultimately, we want you/your child to feel understood and supported as you/ your child move forward with a clearer, more empowering perspective on your strengths and needs.

A multidisciplinary clinical meeting is an important step in the autism assessment process, where professionals from different backgrounds come together to discuss the results and insights gathered from your evaluation. This team may include psychologists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, assistant psychologists and sometimes other specialists, depending on your needs.

Each professional brings their unique perspective, contributing observations and findings from their specific area of expertise. By working together, they ensure that every aspect of your strengths, challenges, and experiences is fully understood. This collaborative approach allows the team to create a well-rounded understanding of your needs and to make more tailored recommendations for support and resources.

The goal of a multidisciplinary meeting is to build a supportive, personalised plan that empowers you. It’s all about providing you with a comprehensive, thoughtful pathway forward that considers your unique qualities, preferences, and goals.

An autism assessment report is a comprehensive document that brings together all the information gathered during the assessment process. This report typically includes detailed observations, test results, and insights from each specialist involved. It starts with background information, such as developmental history and any relevant medical or educational details, to provide context.

The report then outlines findings in key areas, like social communication, behaviour, sensory responses, and any specific strengths or challenges identified. It may also include results from standardised tools, such as the ADOS-2, which help to create a clearer picture of how autism characteristics might apply to you. Summary of the psychiatric evaluation will be included, highlighting any coexisting conditions, like anxiety or ADHD, that may need attention.

The final section of the report focuses on recommendations, offering personalised guidance on supports, therapies, or resources that align with your needs and goals. This could include suggestions for therapeutic services, community resources, or strategies to support day-to-day well-being. Ultimately, the report is designed to empower you with a clear, compassionate understanding of yourself and a roadmap for meaningful support moving forward.

The feedback meeting is the final part of the autism assessment process, where you meet with the professionals involved to discuss the results of your evaluation in a clear, supportive way. During this meeting, the assessment team will go over their findings with you, explaining any specific strengths, challenges, and patterns observed. They will also review the conclusions of the report and how they reached them, answering any questions you may have along the way.

This meeting is designed to help you understand the assessment results in depth, including any diagnosis made and its meaning in your life. Most importantly, the team will discuss personalised recommendations, focusing on resources, therapies, or strategies that may be beneficial for you.

The feedback meeting is your opportunity to ask questions, clarify information, and discuss how you feel about the results. It’s intended to empower you with knowledge and a clear, actionable plan moving forward, with the support of the assessment team as you start your next steps.