ASD (Specialist Autism Spectrum) Assessment (ages 6-18)

Child and Teen Autism (ASD) Assessment at Totally Psyched

In Aotearoa New Zealand, autism (ASD) assessments can be carried out by psychologists, psychiatrists, and specialist paediatricians. At Totally Psyched, we provide gold-standard, neuro-affirming autism assessments led by our highly trained child and adolescent psychologists, working within a multidisciplinary team.

We recognise that autism is not something to be “fixed”, and our focus is on understanding each young person's strengths, sensory profile, communication style, and support needs. Our approach respects individuality, diversity, and the lived experience of neurodivergent children and teens.

Who the assessment is for

This assessment is for children and young people aged 6-18 years, using a combination of information gathered from parents, teachers, and our clinical team.

An ASD assessment at Totally Psyched includes:

• Pre-assessment questionnaires from parents, teachers, and (where suitable) the young person, helping us understand their world from multiple viewpoints
• A collaborative clinical interview acknowledging strengths, interests, values, challenges, and developmental history
• Neuropsychological testing (ADOS) - a structured, play- and interaction-based session tailored to the child's age and language level. One clinician leads the ADOS session, while a second clinician documents observations in real time, ensuring accuracy, reducing bias, and allowing for a more holistic clinical interpretation
• A team discussion and formulation, where clinicians reflect together to ensure a well-rounded and neuro-affirming understanding and form a clinical conclusion
• Up to 60 minutes of feedback, where we talk through results, strengths, and supportive next steps

The assessment usually involves around 3 hours of clinical time, followed by a team formulation break, and a feedback session later the same day.

Feedback session

After the team's review, we provide a comprehensive verbal explanation of the findings. Whether an autism diagnosis is reached or not, families leave with a clearer understanding of the young person's neurotype, strength-based insights, practical support recommendations, and guidance for school, home, and future pathways. A formal diagnostic report is also provided.

Assessment team structure

To ensure best-practice quality and developmental appropriateness: ages 6-13 involve three clinicians (interviewer, ADOS assessor, and ADOS observer); ages 13+ involve two clinicians (interviewer/assessor and observer). This structure maintains gold-standard integrity while tailoring the team to the young person's communication and developmental level.

Pricing

Pricing for ASD assessments varies based on complexity, age, and the size of the clinical team required. A tailored quote is provided after referral review and triage so that families receive transparent, individualised information.