How Autism Assessments Work in Newcastle – A Psychologist’s Guide for Families
Posted on July 27, 2025
Navigating an autism assessment can feel overwhelming for families. At Mind & Health Psychology, we provide comprehensive, evidence-based autism assessments in Newcastle (Eastlakes Medical Centre) and Sydney (Chatswood) that are aligned with NDIS requirements and tailored to individual needs. This article explains how the process works, what tools are used, and why our neuroaffirming approach matters.
🧠 What’s Included in the Assessment?
Our autism assessment battery is structured and comprehensive. It includes:
ADOS-2 – Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule
ADI-R – Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (with parents or caregivers)
MIGDAS-2 – Monteiro Interview Guidelines for Diagnosing Autism Spectrum
A Clinical Behavioural Assessment
A Wechsler Intelligence Measure (or other developmentally appropriate tools such as the Stanford-Binet or Rossetti for young children)
🔎 What is the ADOS-2?
The ADOS-2 is a semi-structured, interactive tool that assesses social interaction, communication, and play. It’s suitable for individuals 12 months through adulthood and can be adapted for those with different language abilities—from non-verbal to fluent speakers. The ADOS-2 involves structured tasks that elicit social responses, allowing natural observation of behaviors.
Who benefits from the ADOS-2?
Anyone with a developmental level of at least 12 months, free from major sensory or motor impairments (e.g. blindness), is a suitable candidate.
💬 What is the ADI-R?
The ADI-R is a structured interview with caregivers. It explores developmental history, language, social skills, and behavior patterns. Lasting 90 to 120 minutes, it offers deep insights into early behaviors and lifelong traits.
Who benefits from the ADI-R?
Children, teens, and adults suspected of having autism, particularly when developmental history is a key factor.
What is the MIGDAS-2?
The MIGDAS-2 provides a neuroaffirming, sensory-focused lens on autism. It values authentic communication, unique interests, sensory experiences, and natural routines—especially useful for individuals who may not thrive in highly structured formats. It adds warmth, insight, and individual nuance to the structured data from the ADOS-2 and ADI-R.
🔗 How Do These Tools Work Together?
The ADOS-2 and ADI-R together form the gold standard for autism diagnosis—providing both observed behaviour and developmental history. The MIGDAS-2 enhances this by offering a narrative, person-centred perspective, making the evaluation more holistic and affirming.
🧮 What About Cognitive Testing?
Cognitive assessment helps clarify learning style, verbal/nonverbal ability, and adaptive strengths. We use:
Wechsler Intelligence Scales for school-aged children and adults
Stanford-Binet (Early Edition) and Rossetti Infant-Toddler Language Scale for younger children
These assessments also allow for non-pressured observation of social functioning, often capturing strengths not visible during the ADOS-2.
🧑⚕️ Why Choose Mind & Health Psychology?
Led by Stephen O’Malley, a registered psychologist with postgraduate Clinical Neuropsychology training and over 20 years of experience, we offer:
Psychologists with current Certification in ADOS-2, ADI-R & MIGDAS-2 .
A strengths-based, neuroaffirming approach
Clear reports suitable for NDIS, school support, and therapy planning
📋 After the Assessment
We conduct a feedback session to:
Review findings
Provide a detailed report
Answer your questions
Offer tailored recommendations
Our reports highlight strengths, individual differences, and are written to support NDIS access if needed.
💡 Final Thoughts
Autism isn’t something to be “fixed”—it’s something to be understood. Our neuroaffirming assessments aim to provide clarity, respect, and direction. If you or your child are seeking support or diagnosis in Newcastle, we’re here to walk alongside you.
Contact us today at stephen_o@hotmail to ask about availability or next steps.
Australia-Wide ADHD Assessments for Adults — Evidence-Based, Accessible, and Neuroaffirming.
Struggling with focus, procrastination, or disorganisation? You’re not alone — and getting clarity shouldn’t take months or cost a fortune.
At Mind & Health Psychology, we offer professional online ADHD assessments for adults across Australia. Our process is efficient, respectful, and backed by clinical experience in line with the Australian Clinical Practice Guideline for Diagnosing ADHD— helping you better understand how your brain works so you can move forward with confidence.
💡 What Makes Our ADHD Assessments Different?
We use a brief but powerful combination of tools — grounded in research and real-world outcomes:
🧠 Interactive Cognitive Tasks
Engaging tests like the SART, Go/No-Go, and Trail Making Tests as used in person assessments provide insight into how your attention, focus, and response control work in real time.
📝 Self-Report Questionnaires
You’ll complete gold standard ADHD assessment surveys online like the CAARS, and WURS, — designed to uncover patterns in ADHD symptomology, including focus, mood, and executive function. found in ADHD.
🎙️ Supportive, Structured Interview
Your one-on-one session with Stephen O'Malley, Registered Psychologist, combines professional guidance with compassion, tailored to your lived experience.
🌏 Available Anywhere in Australia
Whether you’re in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Hobart, Darwin, or rural areas, our entire process is online — no need to travel or wait months for a referral.
Assessments are:
Telehealth-based
Completed in your own time online, followed by usually only 1 face to face video call.
Backed by current research into ADHD assessments for adults.
👤 Who It's For
This service is ideal for:
Adults aged 18+
People wondering if ADHD explains their focus or memory issues
Those feeling stuck, scattered, or overwhelmed
Professionals, creatives, workers, students, or parents seeking clarity
Whether you're newly curious or have been putting it off for years — now maybe the time to look at this.
🔍 What You Get
Professional support from a registered psychologist with postgraduate training in Clinical Neuropsychology, that includes:
A detailed clinical interview
Standardised diagnostic tools
A review of developmental, academic, or work history
Input from family members, partners, or teachers
Consideration of other mental health conditions that may be present
An ADHD Diagnostic report.
At the end of your ADHD assessment, we prepare a summary letter confirming whether an ADHD diagnosis was made, how the assessment was conducted and how any diagnostic conclusions were reached. This document is designed for use by other health or mental health professionals and is incorporated within the standard assessment fee.
If a more comprehensive report is requested — for example, something similar to an educational or cognitive assessment report, an additional fee would apply, based on the level of detail required and the intended purpose of the report.
Most often people find the standard letter more than adequate. We only suggest a formal extended report if it is genuinely useful for your goals.
💬
@ Ready to Start?
📍 Based in Newcastle & Chatswood, we offer ADHD assessments Australia-wide.
💻 All appointments are via secure psychology video.
📄 Fixed price: $795 incl. online cognitive tasks, surveys, clinical interview, feedback and report.
👉 Book now or learn more at
stephen_o@hotmail.com