Brief Adult Autism Assessment Option
Autism Wellness is offering a focused adult autism assessment option for individuals who are referred by external health care providers.
These assessments are completed by clinicians with advanced training and experience in adult and older adult autism and are supervised by clinical psychologists. The assessment process also includes a brief mental health screening.
What is involved in the assessment
Before your appointment
- Complete a series of questionnaires
- Share any previous assessment reports or relevant clinical notes (optional)
Assessment process
- A 2.5-hour clinical interview with you and your clinician (virtually or in-person at Yonge and Sheppard in Toronto)
- Input from family members, partners, or friends within the 2.5-hour appointment (optional, but highly recommended)
After the assessment
- A 60-minute feedback session to discuss results and recommendations, either the same day or within a few days
- A brief written summary report provided within 2-3 business days
Fee and Coverage
The fee for this focused autism assessment is:
As services are conducted or supervised by clinical psychologists, the assessment may be eligible for reimbursement through extended health benefits or private insurance plans depending on your individual coverage. We recommend checking directly with your insurer regarding eligibility.
Why Autism Wellness
At Autism Wellness, adult autism assessment is a major focus of our clinical work and something we do every day.
We frequently work with adults with complex or high-masking presentations that may not have been recognized earlier in life. Many of the individuals we assess are thoughtful, capable adults who have spent years trying to understand why social interaction, sensory environments, communication, relationships, work, or daily functioning have felt more effortful than expected.
Our approach is neurodiversity-affirming, trauma-informed, and grounded in current adult autism research. We recognize that autism can present differently across individuals and that factors such as gender, culture, race, identity, masking, and life experience can shape how autism presents and how it may be missed.
The goal of the assessment is not simply to “check boxes,” but to understand the individual’s developmental history, lived experience, strengths, challenges, and overall pattern of functioning.
Who this is for
This option may be appropriate for adults who are seeking clarification about whether they meet criteria for autism and who would benefit from a focused assessment process.
It may be especially helpful for individuals who have been waiting a long time for assessment and are looking for a more timely option.
Please note that this assessment option is only available to individuals who are referred by external health care providers.
What this assessment does and does not include
This is a focused autism assessment with a brief mental health screening.
It is not a comprehensive psychological, psychoeducational, neuropsychological, or full mental health assessment.
The goal is to answer the specific question of whether autism is present and to provide a concise written summary of the assessment findings. If you would like a more comprehensive assessment of mental health, you can consider our other assessment options.
Due to the focused nature of this assessment, the reduced fee, and high demand for services, we are not able to offer free consultation calls for this type of assessment.
View more assessment optionsWhat to expect
Before your appointment, you will be asked to complete questionnaires. These help the clinician understand your developmental history, current traits, sensory profile, communication style, masking, and areas of daily functioning.
During the appointment, the clinician will complete a focused clinical interview exploring areas relevant to autism, including sensory experiences, communication and social interaction patterns, masking and camouflaging, routines and need for predictability, focused interests, emotional processing, daily functioning, and developmental patterns from childhood through adulthood. The appointment will also include a brief mental health screening to better understand overlapping or co-occurring concerns such as anxiety, mood, attention, trauma, stress, or burnout-related experiences.
After the assessment, you will receive feedback either the same day or within a few days. You will also receive a brief written summary report outlining the assessment findings and recommendations.
Next steps
To proceed, please complete the booking form. Once your information is received, Autism Wellness will provide next steps for scheduling and completing the pre-assessment questionnaires.
FAQs
Is this covered by OHIP?
No. This is a private assessment option through Autism Wellness.
Can this assessment be covered by private insurance?
Services may be eligible for reimbursement through extended health benefits depending on your individual insurance plan. We recommend checking directly with your insurer regarding psychological services coverage.
Is this a full psychological assessment?
No. This is a focused autism assessment with a brief mental health screening. It is not a comprehensive psychological, psychoeducational, neuropsychological, or full mental health assessment.
Can I receive other diagnoses, such as ADHD, through this assessment?
This is a focused autism assessment and brief mental health screening. The purpose of the assessment is to determine whether autism may be present.
While we do screen for other mental health and neurodevelopmental concerns, this assessment is not designed to provide comprehensive diagnostic clarification for conditions such as ADHD or other mental health diagnoses.
In some cases, one of the recommendations following the assessment may be to pursue further assessment if additional areas of concern are identified.
Is the assessment virtual or in-person?
Assessments can be completed virtually across Ontario or in-person at our Yonge and Sheppard office in Toronto.
Can family members or partners participate?
Yes. Input from family members, partners, or close friends can sometimes be clinically helpful and may be included when appropriate.
How long does it take to receive results?
Feedback is typically provided the same day or within a few days. A brief written summary report is generally provided within 2-3 business days after the feedback session.
Do you complete Disability Tax Credit applications or additional forms?
Yes. Additional documentation, including Disability Tax Credit (DTC) forms or other supporting paperwork, can be completed following the assessment if clinically appropriate.
Please note that completion of additional forms is associated with a separate clinician fee of $250/hour, depending on the type and amount of documentation requested.