The Developmental and Family Assessment

During the Autism Assessment, a thorough review of each child’s early development, family history, and mental health is undertaken. There are family questionnaires that parents (if available to contribute information to the assessment) can complete and return to aid in this process and provide detailed information about early life experiences.

Questions that may be asked during a Developmental and Family History Assessment include:

·        Were there behavioural difficulties during infancy and early childhood?

·        Did the person reach their expected milestones such as rolling over, crawling, walking, and speaking at the same time as other children?

·        Did the person have problems with communication, such as a speech or language delay? 

·        Were there any rigid or repetitive behaviours noticed as a child? Or any intense interests, difficulty playing with others, or avoidance of certain types of physical contact?

·        Were there any difficulties with social interactions, such as difficulty making eye contact, engaging in play, or seeking comfort from others?

·        Was the person ever overly seeking, or overly sensitive to, sound, touch, taste, smell, light?

·        Were there any medical or health issues that might have impacted the person’s development as a child that were managed by a paediatrician?

·        Were there learning, social, academic, or other difficulties during primary or high school? 

·        Have their been any longstanding patterns of hyperactivity or inattentiveness?