Combined ADHD and Autism Assessment
When a child shows signs of both conditions, an ADHD and autism assessment done as one process gives a clearer answer than two separate ones. Perfectly Aligned Psychology in Balgownie offers a combined assessment for young people from [6] years up to 18, with a single report covering both questions.
Parents often arrive with a mixed picture. Their child cannot sit still or finish tasks, but also finds friendships puzzling and melts down when plans change. One professional has mentioned ADHD, another has wondered about autism, and nobody has looked at both together.
A combined approach sorts out which difficulties come from where, and what that means for support at home and school. It also saves repeating the same history, forms and appointments twice.
This page explains why the two are often assessed together, when we recommend it, how the process runs, what it costs compared with two separate assessments, and what the report covers. It is one of several options within our assessments for children and adolescents.
Why are ADHD and autism assessed together?
ADHD and autism are assessed together because they frequently occur in the same child and share several signs, such as distractibility, emotional outbursts and social difficulties. A combined ADHD and autism assessment examines both at once, so one condition is not missed or mistaken for the other.
Until 2013, the main diagnostic manual did not allow both diagnoses to be given together. That changed with the DSM-5, and research since then has confirmed how often they overlap.
Studies vary, but many suggest that somewhere between a third and more than half of autistic children also meet criteria for ADHD. Autistic traits are also more common among children with ADHD than in the general population. The Australian ADHD guideline advises clinicians to look for co-occurring conditions, including autism, as part of any ADHD assessment.
The overlap causes real confusion. A child who does not follow instructions might be inattentive, might not understand the social expectation, or might be overwhelmed by the noise around them. Each explanation calls for a different response.
Assessing one condition alone can leave half the picture blank. A child diagnosed with ADHD may still struggle socially in ways medication will not touch. A child diagnosed with autism may have attention difficulties that nobody addresses.
At our practice, one psychologist looks at attention, social communication, sensory processing and emotional regulation side by side, and explains how they fit together.
When is a combined assessment recommended?
A combined assessment is recommended when your child shows clear signs of both conditions, when a previous assessment for one did not fully explain their difficulties, or when professionals disagree about which fits better. If only one condition seems likely, a single assessment is usually enough.
We talk this through at the intake call. There is no pressure to choose the larger assessment if the signs do not point that way.
A combined assessment suits
Children with attention or activity difficulties plus social, sensory or routine differences. Children already diagnosed with one condition whose support is not working. Families who have heard conflicting opinions.
A single assessment may be enough
Children whose concerns are mainly about attention and learning, or mainly about social communication and sensory needs, with few signs of the other.
If you start with a single assessment and signs of the other condition appear, we will discuss extending it. Much of the information already gathered can be used, so you do not start from scratch.
Age matters too. In younger children, hyperactivity can make social differences hard to read, so we sometimes recommend reviewing the picture again in a year or two. In teenagers, years of masking and coping strategies can hide both conditions, and a combined look is often the only way to make sense of their exhaustion.
Teachers can be a valuable guide here. If the school describes both inattention and social difficulties, a combined assessment is usually worth considering.
How does the combined process work?
The combined process runs over about six to eight weeks: an intake call, one extended parent interview, questionnaires for home and school, two sessions with your child covering observation and testing, report writing, and a feedback session. It takes a little longer than a single assessment, but much less than two separate ones.
Each step covers both questions at once. That shared design is what keeps the total time and cost down.
The parent interview is longer than for a single assessment because it covers attention and behaviour history as well as early social development, play and sensory experiences.
Intake call
We confirm the concerns and whether a combined assessment is the best fit.
Parent interview
About two hours covering development, attention, social history and family background.
Home and school forms
Rating scales for attention and autism, completed by parents and teachers.
Observation session
Structured activities, such as the ADOS-2, to observe social communication.
Testing session
Cognitive and attention tasks, with breaks and a relaxed pace.
Report and feedback
One report covering both conditions, explained at a feedback session.
The two sessions with your child can be on separate days or, for some children, combined into one longer visit with plenty of breaks. We will suggest what suits your child's age and stamina.
The parent interview and feedback meeting work well over video if travel is difficult. The observation and testing sessions are completed in person at our Balgownie rooms.
How does the cost compare with two separate assessments?
A combined assessment costs [$ combined fee to confirm], compared with [$ ADHD fee to confirm] plus [$ autism fee to confirm] for two separate assessments. The saving comes from sharing the parent interview, questionnaires, school input, report and feedback session rather than doing each twice.
| Part of the process | Combined assessment | Two separate assessments |
|---|---|---|
| Parent interviews | One extended interview | Two interviews |
| Sessions with your child | Two | Three to four |
| Reports | One integrated report | Two reports |
| Feedback sessions | One | Two |
| Total fee | [$ combined fee to confirm] | [$ separate total to confirm] |
We do not bulk bill the combined assessment. Medicare can still help with part of it: with a specialist referral for a young person under 25, the autism side may qualify for item 82000, which pays $101.55 for each of up to four in-person sessions. The ADHD side attracts no Medicare rebate.
If you hold extras cover, ring your fund with the item codes we supply, as some policies return part of the fee.
Appointments are secured with a [$ deposit to confirm] deposit, and the rest is paid before the report goes out. Our fees, rebates and funding page sets out prices for therapy and every other assessment.
What does the combined report cover?
The combined report explains whether your child meets criteria for ADHD, autism, both or neither, and how each affects learning, behaviour and relationships. It includes developmental history, observation and test results, and one joined-up set of suggestions for parents, teachers and doctors.
An integrated report is easier to use than two separate ones. Teachers and doctors see one explanation, rather than having to reconcile different recommendations written at different times.
Where both conditions are present, the report shows how they interact. For example, a child may need visual schedules for predictability because of autism, and short, active tasks because of ADHD. Recommendations are written with both in mind.
We also describe your child's strengths clearly. Many children with both conditions are creative, energetic and deeply knowledgeable about their interests, and good support builds on those qualities.
If only one condition is diagnosed, the report explains why the other was ruled out. That clarity can be just as valuable, especially when conflicting opinions have caused confusion.
Where you agree in writing, copies go to the people who need them, such as your GP, paediatrician or school, and it can support an NDIS access request. Nothing is released without that consent.
How do I book a combined assessment?
Give us a call on 0435 165 763, or request a time through the website and note that you are wondering about both ADHD and autism. During a short intake call we check that the combined route makes sense, send you the costs in writing, and lock in the parent interview. Our current wait is [waiting time to confirm].
Planning to claim the autism rebate? The specialist referral needs to reach us before your child's first session, so request it from the paediatrician or psychiatrist early.
Some families find it useful to keep a short diary for a week or two before the interview, noting moments of distraction, meltdowns, social difficulties and what seemed to trigger them. Specific examples help far more than general impressions.
Collect school reports, previous assessments, and letters from speech pathologists, occupational therapists or doctors. Baby books and early videos can help with developmental history.
If you would like to understand each condition on its own first, read about our ADHD assessment for children and teens and our autism assessment for children and teens.
Consent forms and cancellation details are in the new clients guide. Therapy, EMDR and our other services are introduced on the Perfectly Aligned Psychology homepage.
Combined assessment questions
Can a child have both ADHD and autism?
Yes. Since 2013, clinicians have been able to diagnose both in the same person, and it is common. Research suggests a large share of autistic children also meet criteria for ADHD. When both are present, support works best when it addresses each condition and how they interact.
Does a combined assessment take longer?
A little. Most combined assessments take about six to eight weeks from the parent interview to feedback, compared with four to six weeks for a single assessment. Your child usually attends two sessions rather than one, but it is much quicker than completing two separate assessments one after the other.
Is it cheaper than two assessments?
Yes. The combined fee is lower than two separate assessments because the parent interview, questionnaires, report and feedback are shared rather than repeated. We give you the exact fee in writing at the intake call, along with any Medicare rebate that may apply to the autism component.
One assessment, the full picture
Wondering about both ADHD and autism? A brief phone conversation is the easiest first step.