Adult ADHD and Autism Assessments

An assessment is focused on answering a specific question: do your experiences meet diagnostic criteria for ADHD, Autism, or another condition? The goal is clarity. It involves gathering developmental history, reviewing standardised measures, considering alternative explanations, and providing a structured written report outlining the reasoning behind any conclusions.

Therapy, on the other hand, is about ongoing support and growth. It focuses on strengthening self-understanding, mapping patterns, addressing limits, and building skills in a gradual way.

Some people simply want diagnostic clarity. Others choose to engage in therapy or structured follow-up sessions afterwards to work on specific challenges or goals. And some people decide they don’t need a formal diagnosis at all — they prefer to explore how their mind works and what they need through therapy over time. These are separate services, and we can talk through what feels right for you. 

 You do not need a referral to make an enquiry or book an appointment.

If you would like to access Medicare rebates for the Assessment Suitability Consultation or for therapy sessions, you will need a valid Mental Health Care Plan and referral from your GP (or psychiatrist/paediatrician) under the Better Access scheme.

Please note that Medicare rebates do not apply to comprehensive diagnostic assessments or report writing.

If you’re unsure what might apply in your situation, we are happy to clarify before you book.

If diagnostic criteria are met, your report provides official documentation of diagnosis (e.g., ADHD and/or Autism), along with a structured summary of the clinical evidence supporting that conclusion. It can be used as formal evidence of diagnosis in workplace settings to support discussions about reasonable adjustments and accommodations under disability and anti-discrimination frameworks. 

For NDIS applications, eligibility is determined by the NDIA based on their own, seemingly ever-changing thresholds and evidentiary standards. While a diagnostic report can accompany your Access Request, it is strongly recommended that you gather additional supporting evidence of permanent functional impairment. This often includes a Functional Capacity Assessment completed by an Occupational Therapist. Eligibility and acceptance into the NDIS cannot be guaranteed. 

Not meeting diagnostic criteria still provides valuable information about your neurocognitive profile, supports informed treatment planning, and helps rule out diagnoses so your health care team can better understand your needs. 

 Previous assessment reports can be very helpful. They may provide useful developmental history, psychometric data, or show how symptoms have remained stable or changed over time.

Jacinta is happy to review previous reports as part of an Assessment Suitability Consultation. Depending on your needs, we may discuss:

• Providing a second opinion
• Clarifying or expanding on previous findings
• Or completing a fresh comprehensive assessment if updated documentation is required
   

Whether a new assessment is necessary will depend on the quality, scope, and purpose of the original report, as well as what you are hoping to achieve.

Please get in touch to discuss your specific situation.

 If your priority is accessing medication — particularly for ADHD — it is completely appropriate to consult a medical practitioner. Psychologists cannot prescribe medication, and there is no shame or judgement in wanting to focus on this goal. With the introduction of GP-led services for ADHD management in primary care, you might find that this is the most direct pathway.

Psychologists are typically more extensively trained in formal cognitive and behavioural assessment, developmental history-taking, and psychometric evaluation. This can be particularly important in adult Autism assessments, especially where presentations are subtle, high-masking, or overlapping with other conditions such as anxiety, depression, trauma, perimenopause, and burnout. 

Many clients choose to use their diagnostic report to consult with a prescribing professional to explore treatment options. However, having a psychological assessment does not guarantee or accelerate access to medication. Prescribing decisions are made independently and with due diligence by medical practitioners.

If you would like support with referral pathways after assessment, we can usually assist with referrals to GPs or psychiatrists.

If you’re unsure which pathway is right for you, this can be discussed in an Assessment Suitability Consultation.

 Inclusion and equitable access to health care are deeply important to us at Time to Untangle, and we aim to provide respectful, culturally responsive, and neuroaffirming services wherever possible.

That said, some assessment contexts require specialised tools, adaptations, or multidisciplinary input — particularly in cases involving intellectual disability, significant communication differences, or complex support needs.

If this applies to you (or someone you are enquiring for), please contact us at admin@timetountangle.com.au so we can discuss your situation and determine whether our services are the most appropriate fit, or whether referral to a clinician with more specialised expertise would better meet your needs.

Wherever possible, informed consent is sought directly from the individual. If this is not feasible, consent is obtained from a legal representative in accordance with relevant legislation. Individuals retain the right to decline or withdraw consent at any stage.

At the current time, Dr Jacinta Thomson does not offer assessments for intelligence or intellectual disabilities, giftedness, communication disorders (e.g. language disorder, social [pragmatic] language disorder, speech sound disorder etc), specific learning disorders (e.g. dyslexia, dyscalculia), movement disorders (e.g. stereotypic movement disorder, developmental coordination disorder), tic disorders, or acquired neurocognitive disorders (e.g. resulting from a brain injury, substance use, epilepsy etc). 

 This is a fair question.

A comprehensive adult ADHD or Autism assessment involves much more than the interview time you spend with your psychologist. It includes detailed developmental history-taking, administration and scoring of standardised measures, careful review of collateral information, structured and defensible diagnostic reasoning, report writing, and a dedicated feedback session.

The fee reflects the professional training involved, the time required to complete the evaluation properly, and the responsibility attached to providing a formal diagnosis.

Unfortunately, psychological diagnostic assessments are not funded under Medicare in the same way medical consultations are, and report writing time is not rebateable. This makes accessibility an ongoing challenge for many people seeking accurate diagnosis and appropriate supports.  

If cost is a concern, we can discuss whether a staged approach — such as beginning with an Assessment Suitability Consultation — may be helpful.