Child Autism Assessment

An ABA assessment is a structured review of your child's current skills, strengths and needs. A Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA) combines parent interviews, play-based observation and standardized tools to decide what to teach first and how much support is likely to help.

The result is a written plan with measurable goals and recommended hours. It gives your child's team a shared starting point and a way to measure progress.

No. A diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder comes from a qualified clinician, such as a psychologist or developmental paediatrician. A behavioural assessment does not diagnose. It focuses on skills and behaviour so therapy can be planned. If you are unsure whether your child needs a diagnostic assessment, talk with your family doctor, and we can explain how the two fit together.

Your BCBA looks at a broad picture of development:

• Communication and language: how your child requests, labels, understands and responds.
• Social and play skills: imitation, turn-taking, shared attention and play with others.
• Learning skills: attention, following instructions and readiness to learn.
• Daily living skills: eating, dressing, toileting and independence with routines.
• Behaviour: what happens before and after challenging behaviour, and what might be getting in the way of learning.

BCBAs often use recognized, criterion-referenced tools to map skills. Examples include the VB-MAPP, which is designed mainly for young children and looks at language and learning milestones, and the ABLLS-R and AFLS, which look at language and functional living skills. Which tool is used depends on your child's age, skills and goals. Your BCBA will explain the choices in plain language.

Most assessments follow four steps:

Preparation is simple:

• Choose a time when your child is rested and fed.
• Bring favourite toys or snacks.
• Share any reports from doctors, therapists or school.
• Write down your top concerns and goals.

If you decide to go ahead, your plan may include in-home ABA therapy, early intervention, daycare support, virtual sessions or parent coaching. You may also choose to share the report with your child's doctor, school or funding program. You are never required to start therapy after an assessment.

Funding programs and insurers can ask for different documents. We will explain what our report includes and help you understand what your program needs. Our OAP funding guide gives an overview, and funding rules can change, so please confirm current details with the program.