NDIS Autism Assessment Geelong

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NDIS Autism Assessments in Adelaide.

Everyone thinks and behaves differently. People have their ideas, beliefs, and feelings that make them unique in every possible way. Some of them slip into the autism spectrum in the development of the mind. They showcase interactions and critical thinking that are out of the norm for everyone else.

Autism is not a handicap, and there are about one in 150 Australians with the condition. It's a common lifelong development disorder in the brain that makes life difficult for people and those surrounding them.

Positive Moods wants to ensure that Adelaide has the capability and knowledge in dealing with people with high maintenance issues like autism. They will provide beneficial supporting services for autism in Adelaide and all over Australia.

How Being on the Spectrum Affects People and Surroundings

People with autism experience challenges with social interactions and communications. They think in a way that other people do not understand. They feel disconnected from their peers, due to their unique intelligence.

At an early age, children with autism have noticeable restricted and repetitive behaviours. They don't express their emotions well, or if they do, they're aggressive. They also only pay attention to certain things and avoid trying out new things.

Forms of Communication

They like to communicate with signs and other gestures instead of speaking. They prefer to be by themselves and find socialising through technology to be more comforting than face-to-face conversation.

On the other, some aspects make autism simply a difference brilliance for people. 20% of people with autism have exceptional skills that interest them. They're rare geniuses and prodigies with their individual skill growth and ability to notice details that normal people don't.

Main Challenges Faced with Autism

The problem with autism doesn't lay with its condition to the person. It comes about with surrounding people who cannot understand their condition.

In a world where discrimination is high, people with autism will be unnatural and unfamiliar. They do not fit the norms of society, and other people will judge them on their uniqueness.

These people, who don't control their condition, will not have the respect, understanding, and support they deserve to live comfortably. People will misunderstand what their actions portray. They will eventually develop mental health conditions as the situations continue without resolution.

What To Do When Symptoms Arise

The cause of autism is brain development. It's inborn and a condition that develops, especially with a family that has a history of a member having autism.

Autism is commonly associated with behaviour symptoms like impaired social communication and restricted and repetitive behaviours and interests. By the age of 2 or 3 years old, parents notice the unusual actions of their children.

Specifically, people exhibit the following signs and symptoms based on healthdirect.gov.au:

  • lack of social or emotional exchanges like pointing, smiling, showing things

  • lack of non-verbal communication such as nodding and shaking head, using hand gestures

  • difficulty developing and maintaining relationships appropriate to the age, such as peer play, lack of close friends

  • delayed expressed speech and understanding of speech

  • lack of eye contact when speaking

  • loss of language skills at any age

  • excessively following routines, patterns of behaviour, and becoming distressed at changes

  • stereotyped or repetitive speech, movements, or use of objects, such as rolling wheels before eyes, flapping hands, toe walking

  • strongly reacting to sensory input such as sound, pain, or textures

  • restricted or fixated interests such as only playing with certain toys or discussing topics

  • being aggressive toward other people or self

People have to be aware of the importance of seeking assistance when the symptoms arise. Whether the autism is high or mild matters the least, early intervention provides the best outcomes for people with the condition.

Diagnosis, Assessments, and Other Services

Positive Moods is a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Provider that offers high-quality and guaranteed beneficial assistance to people all over Australia. They seek to provide consultation, therapy, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment plans for Australians with behavioural and mental disabilities.

Autism is a common condition also included in the NDIS that Positive Moods try to treat. The group ensures that everyone in Australia is informed about evidence-based details about autism to decrease the stigma and misunderstanding around autism.

People with autism will receive an assessment and diagnosis. It's involved with practical processes and identifying emotional reactions. The diagnosis evaluation is conducted by health professionals only.

Health professionals assess the daily routines, thoughts, and relationships and identify developmental delays or complications like disconnection with peers. They examine if there is a medical cause for the delays. Patients are diagnosed with autism if no other medical condition explains the delay.

Types of NDIS Autism Assessment

Considering that individuals with disability will have varying needs, goals, and conditions, healthcare professionals of Positive Moods will use different assessments based on the participant's age and functional capacity, including:

  • Diagnostic Assessment

Administer to ages 2-years old and above, the Diagnostic Assessment help evaluate if an individual has autism or not. Under this assessment, assessors will interview the participant's family, conduct clinical observation, assess participants' functional capacity, provide a feedback session and summary report. After the assessment, the participants will get a letter containing a diagnostic conclusion, the severity level of ASD, general recommendations, and medical and developmental history of the participants and their families.

  • Screening and Early Development Assessment

Administered to younger children ages 12-months to 2-years old, the Screening and Early Development Assessment is used to evaluate a child if the parents are worried about their developmental progress. Under this assessment, the assessors will observe a child's overall functional capacity and identify if they exhibit early signs of autism. This assessment involves the assessors providing a parent checklist, clinical observation, developmental assessment, feedback session, a summary report, and a diagnostic letter.

  • Review Assessment

Administered to ages 4-years and above, the Review Assessment evaluates old NDIS participants who are previously diagnosed with ASD. Under this assessment, the assessors will collect the latest information on the participant's functional capacity or significant changes in their life, like preparing to enter school or getting a new job. The Review Assessment is necessary to ensure that the participant's support plan matches their needs, goals, and current condition. Also, a Cognitive Assessment will be given for participants preparing to enter school.

NDIS Autism Eligibility

Although the NDIS aims to help all Australians with a disability, they have eligibility requirements that participants should meet before they receive a support plan, including:

  • Living with permanent and significant disability

  • Ages 7 to 65 years old (ECEI for children below 7-years old)

  • Residents and Citizens of Australia

  • Holds a Permanent Visa or Protected Special Category Visa

On the other hand, if the participant is applying for an NDIS ASD support plan, the assistance given will vary depending on their needs, goals, and conditions, determined under the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5):

  • Level 1- Requires Support

  • Level 2- Requires Substantial Support

  • Level 3- Requires Very Substantial Support

Being diagnosed with Level 2 or Level 3 Autism is automatically granted an NDIS ASD support plan, and assessments are no longer needed. However, if diagnosed with Level 1 Autism, the participants should go through several assessments to gather evidence of their disability and verify eligibility for NDIS funding.

For more details on NDIS Autism Assessment, citizens and residents of Geelong who are suffering from ASD may call Positive Moods on 1300 001 470, email at ndis@positivemoods.com.au, or fill out the contact form on https://www.positivemoods.com.au/contactus.