Autism & AuDHD Assessments
Overview
Minds of Colour Psychology offers autism assessments and combined Autism + ADHD (AuDHD) assessments for older adolescents aged 16+ and adults.
ADHD is not currently offered as a stand-alone assessment. Where ADHD is part of the assessment question, autism and ADHD can be explored together through a combined AuDHD assessment.
Assessments are collaborative, strengths-based and neuroaffirming, and are adapted to communication preferences and access needs wherever possible.
The process is conversational and telehealth-based, with a focus on lived experience, developmental history and current functioning rather than relying on questionnaires or observable behaviours alone.
Who seeks assessment?
You may seek assessment to:
better understand long-standing patterns in thinking, communication, attention and daily functioning
explore experiences of masking, burnout or feeling “out of step”
understand whether autism and/or ADHD may help explain your experiences
gain clarity, validation or formal diagnosis
support access to workplace or education adjustments
inform therapy, healthcare or other supports
make sense of patterns noticed over time or identified by others
Many people seeking assessment have spent years adapting to expectations or having their experiences overlooked, particularly people presumed female at birth and gender-diverse people.
Assessment is not about proving whether someone is “neurodivergent enough”. The focus is on developing a meaningful understanding of your experiences, whether or not diagnostic criteria are ultimately met.
Assessment options
Autism Assessment
For people wanting to explore whether autism may help explain their experiences.
The standard Autism Assessment Package includes:
pre-assessment intake forms and questionnaires
review of relevant previous reports or information provided
one 90-minute initial assessment appointment
one 50-minute follow-up assessment appointment
conversational autism assessment informed by the MIGDAS-2
integration of developmental history, lived experience, current functioning and assessment findings
diagnostic formulation
brief diagnostic report
one 50-minute feedback appointment
recommendations and suggested next steps
Package fee: $1,850
Most autism assessments can be completed within the appointments included in the package.
Occasionally, further assessment time may be recommended where additional information is needed before reaching a diagnostic conclusion. If this is required, it will be discussed with you before an additional appointment is booked.
Additional assessment appointment, if clinically required: $280 / 50 minutes
Optional Comprehensive Report
The standard package includes a brief diagnostic report.
A more detailed comprehensive report can be requested where additional documentation would be useful for purposes such as education, workplace accommodations, healthcare or more detailed treatment planning.
A comprehensive report may include:
more detailed developmental and clinical history
fuller integration of assessment information
expanded description of strengths, differences and support needs
detailed clinical formulation
more extensive individualised recommendations
Comprehensive report upgrade: +$600
A comprehensive report is not required to receive a diagnosis.
Combined Autism + ADHD (AuDHD) Assessment
For people wanting autism and ADHD explored together.
Autistic and ADHD experiences can overlap considerably, while also interacting in ways that can make each harder to recognise in isolation. A combined assessment allows these experiences to be considered together rather than approaching them as entirely separate questions.
The standard AuDHD Assessment Package includes:
pre-assessment intake forms and questionnaires
review of relevant previous reports or information provided
two 90-minute assessment appointments
conversational autism assessment informed by the MIGDAS-2
ADHD assessment informed by the DIVA-5 and developmental history
integrated consideration of autism, ADHD, overlapping experiences and alternative explanations
diagnostic formulation
brief diagnostic report
one 50-minute feedback appointment
recommendations and suggested next steps
Package fee: $2,100
Most combined assessments can be completed within the appointments included in the package.
Occasionally, further assessment time may be recommended where additional developmental, collateral or clinical information is required before reaching a diagnostic conclusion. If this is required, it will be discussed with you before an additional appointment is booked.
Additional assessment appointment, if clinically required: $280 / 50 minutes
Optional Comprehensive Report
The standard package includes a brief diagnostic report covering the assessment findings and diagnostic outcome.
A more detailed comprehensive report can be requested where additional documentation or more extensive formulation and recommendations are required.
Comprehensive report upgrade: +$800
A comprehensive report is not required to receive a diagnosis.
What to expect
Before your first appointment
You will complete intake forms and questionnaires relevant to your assessment.
Relevant previous reports or other documentation can also be provided for review. Developmental or collateral information may be gathered where clinically useful and with your consent.
Initial assessment appointment — 90 minutes
The initial appointment provides space for a detailed, collaborative exploration of your experiences, assessment goals, developmental history and current functioning.
Follow-up assessment appointment — 50 minutes
The follow-up appointment is used to explore relevant areas in greater depth, clarify information gathered during the initial appointment and complete the assessment process.
Assessment appointments are conversational and collaborative and may explore areas including:
developmental history
communication and relationships
sensory experiences
attention and executive functioning
routines, interests and patterns of focus
masking and adaptation
emotional regulation
daily functioning
education and employment experiences
strengths, difficulties and support needs
Not every assessment will look exactly the same. The process is adapted according to the assessment question, your experiences and your communication needs.
Clinical review and report preparation
Following assessment appointments, professional time is used to review and integrate information from appointments, questionnaires, developmental history, collateral information and relevant documentation.
This information is considered alongside DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria, other relevant clinical measures and clinical judgement.
Feedback appointment
A 50-minute feedback appointment is included in each assessment package.
This provides an opportunity to discuss:
assessment findings
diagnostic outcome, where applicable
how the findings relate to your lived experience
recommendations
Report
A brief diagnostic report is included in the standard assessment package.
For people requiring more detailed documentation, an optional comprehensive report is available for an additional fee.
Timeframe
Most autism assessments are completed within the 90-minute initial assessment appointment and 50-minute follow-up assessment appointment included in the package.
Combined Autism + ADHD assessments generally include two 90-minute assessment appointments, reflecting the additional areas explored as part of the combined assessment.
Occasionally, an additional 50-minute assessment appointment may be clinically useful where further information is needed before reaching a diagnostic conclusion. Additional appointments are not routinely required and will always be discussed with you in advance.
Reports are generally provided within three weeks of completion of the assessment process.
Assessment approach
This assessment approach is:
neuroaffirming and strengths-based
collaborative and conversational
informed by the Monteiro Interview Guidelines for Diagnosing Autism (MIGDAS-2) for autism assessment
informed by the Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults (DIVA-5) when ADHD is being explored
guided by DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria alongside clinical judgement, lived experience, developmental history and current functioning
attentive to masking, burnout, sensory experiences and context
adapted to communication preferences wherever possible
Sessions may include:
pacing and use of pauses
written or chat-based responses
flexibility in how experiences are explored
breaks where needed
At times of high stress, some people may be temporarily non-speaking or find verbal communication difficult. Alternative communication methods can be incorporated where possible.
The ADOS-2 is not routinely used within this practice. This reflects a preference for approaches that prioritise lived experience, context, and relational understanding alongside established clinical assessment frameworks.
For older adolescents
For young people aged 16–17, the assessment remains centred on the young person and their own lived experience.
Where appropriate, the process may also include developmental information from a parent, caregiver or another person who knows the young person well.
The extent of family involvement is considered collaboratively and will depend on age, developmental context, consent and the individual assessment.
Additional services
Where clinically appropriate or requested, additional services may be available, including:
additional reports or letters
school, university or workplace documentation
case conferences
professional liaison
review of extensive external documentation
Work outside the inclusions of the assessment package will be discussed with you before it is undertaken and is generally charged at the standard professional rate of $280 per hour.
Payment
Assessment package fees are paid in stages across the assessment process rather than as one upfront payment.
Payment is due at each appointment, with the remaining professional review and report component invoiced prior to the feedback appointment.
Any additional assessment appointment or optional comprehensive report will only be added after discussion with you.
Important information
Assessments are provided via secure telehealth across Australia.
Medicare rebates are generally not available for adult autism and/or ADHD assessments.
Limited Medicare rebates may be available for some people under 25 when referred by an eligible paediatrician or psychiatrist under relevant Medicare requirements.
Psychologists do not prescribe medication.
If your assessment is intended to support ADHD medication prescribing, requirements vary between prescribers. Please check with your treating psychiatrist or other prescribing medical practitioner regarding the assessment or documentation they require before proceeding.
Assessments are conducted for clinical assessment, diagnosis where applicable, treatment planning and healthcare purposes.
If your primary goal is obtaining NDIS access, funding or evidence specifically for an NDIS application or plan review, a service specialising in functional capacity assessment or NDIS-specific reporting may be more appropriate. NDIS processes commonly require detailed evidence of functional impact and support needs beyond diagnostic assessment alone.
Not sure which assessment is right for you?
If you are primarily wondering about autism, the Autism Assessment may be the most appropriate starting point.
If both autism and ADHD are significant questions for you, the Combined Autism + ADHD (AuDHD) Assessment allows these experiences to be explored together.
You are welcome to make an assessment enquiry if you are unsure which option best fits your situation.