Piekenbrock Psychological Services

Okotoks & Canmore Autism (ASD) Services

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Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition characterized by challenges in social communication, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviors. Accurate and compassionate diagnosis is essential for early intervention and support, and two gold-standard tools are commonly used in clinical assessments: the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2; Lord et al., 2012), and the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R; Rutter, Le Couteur, & Lord, 2003).

The ADOS-2 is a structured, play-based assessment that allows clinicians to observe behaviours relevant to autism across age and developmental levels, while the ADI-R is a comprehensive, semi-structured interview conducted with caregivers to gather a detailed developmental history and symptom profile.

Research consistently supports the reliability and validity of these tools, with studies showing that using both in combination enhances diagnostic accuracy (Gotham et al., 2007; Zander, Sturm, & Bölte, 2015).

Additional assessments will be combined depending on the needs of the individual and their specific presentation. These assessments are available to toddlers, children, youth, and adults.

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Approximate Timelines for Individual Portions of the Assessment Process


Assessments consist of up to a full day of participation from the client (and caregivers depending on the age and abilities of the client).

The client observation by clinician averages 1-2 hours,  academic assessment 1-3 hours, intellectual assessment 1-3hours,  caregiver interview 2-4hours,  adaptive and behavioural questionnaires 1-2hours.

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Disclaimer

Any information presented  on this site should not be taken as replacement for medical, clinical or professional advise, diagnosis or mental health/medical interventions. You assume all risks and liabilities by consuming this content. 

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