WHAT I DO -
As a psychologist I am able to make a formal diagnosis for an Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Together with other team members, I collect information from questionnaires and interviews, and observe your child to decide if your child has a diagnosis of ASD. The kind of information I might need to collect could include:
- Information about your child's medical and developmental history.
- Any problems or concerns you have about your child's development or behaviour.
- The treatments or interventions you or other service providers have tried.
- Information about your child's abilities and skills; I might do tests with your child to measure his or her abilities and skills (for example; intelligence, memory or attention).
Once your child is diagnosed with an ASD I will be a part of your child's EIIS Autism Team. Along with other team members, I give ideas for helping your child learn, and for teaching positive behaviours. I might also provide coaching about how to teach your child certain behaviours or skills.
I may also be available to provide counseling and support for you and other family members. I can help families find reliable information about autism and help them to understand research information. I can also fill out forms for you to apply for a disability tax credit (see Section 3: Financial Supports Available).
WHAT I DON'T DO -
I cannot provide drives for children and families to attend appointments.
SOME TERMS I USE -
Although I use many terms these are some that you will hear often:
ADOS: This stands for Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, which is a test we use in making a diagnosis for an Autistic Spectrum Disorder.
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Reinforcement: You will hear this term a lot when I talk about ways of encouraging your child to do what you want. Often, I'll talk about how to reward your child for doing certain behaviours.
Evidence-based: Psychologists have strong training in research methods. Like other team members, we encourage the use of treatments that have solid scientific evidence that they really work. These treatments are called "evidence-based".
WHAT I NEED FROM YOU -
- I will need information about your child's development and behaviour (for example, when your child first walked or talked).
- I may need you to keep records about your child's behaviour (for example, you might need to write down each time your child has a tantrum)
- I will need you to be persistent in trying out suggestions with your child at home.
- I need you to be open about your questions and concerns.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM ME -
As part of the EIIS Autism Team, I will review your child's referral and make a decision about whether a formal diagnostic assessment is required. If an assessment is not required I will write you to inform you of this decision.
If an assessment is needed, the team will contact you to offer you the next available opening. On the day of your child's assessment, I will conduct the ADOS and will meet with you as part of the team to review the results and to answer any questions you may have. You will also receive a written report outlining the findings of your child's diagnostic assessment.
Once a diagnosis for ASD has been confirmed, I will be a part of the team that will assess your child's abilities and work with you and your family to develop an intervention (treatment) plan that meets your needs. I will also be involved with helping to plan your child's transition to school.
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