Considering an assessment?
Many people reach out after years of wondering why certain things seem harder than they appear to be for others. Here's how to start.
You may be seeking answers about your own or a family member's autism, ADHD, learning differences, anxiety, executive functioning, or your child's development. You may be looking for a better understanding of your strengths, challenges, and support needs.
Seeking an assessment can feel overwhelming, especially if you are unsure where to start. The information below outlines some helpful first steps.
Ask yourself: what questions are you hoping to answer?
Before pursuing an assessment, it can be helpful to reflect on what is prompting your concerns. You might be wondering:
- Could I (or my child) be autistic?
- Could ADHD explain these challenges?
- Is there a learning disability affecting reading, writing, or math?
- Why is school, work, or daily life so exhausting?
- Why do social situations feel difficult?
- Why do I struggle with organization, attention, or emotional regulation?
- Why does my child seem to be struggling despite being bright and capable?
There is no need to have all the answers before reaching out. Many people seek assessment because they know something is difficult, even if they are not yet sure why.
Learn about neurodivergence
If you are exploring the possibility of autism, ADHD, or another form of neurodivergence, it can be helpful to learn from neurodivergent individuals and neurodiversity-affirming resources.
Many people — particularly women, girls, and individuals who have learned to "mask" their difficulties — do not recognize themselves in outdated stereotypes. Learning about diverse presentations of neurodivergence can help you determine whether an assessment may be helpful.
Some online resources to support your learning:
- Reframing Autismhas great resources to guide your learning about neurodivergencereframingautism.org.au
- The Adult Autism & ADHD Practicehas developed questionnaires from lived and clinical experience to help guide reflection on autistic/ADHD experiencesadultautism.ie
- Embrace Autismhas a collection of tests widely used in research and clinical screening to identify neurodivergent traitsembrace-autism.com
Please note: these resources are designed to support learning and understanding. They are not intended to replace a comprehensive assessment or formal diagnosis.
Reflect on your experiences
Consider making notes about:
- Your strengths and interests
- Areas of challenge
- Sensory experiences
- Social experiences
- Attention and executive functioning
- Emotional regulation
- School, work, or relationship difficulties
- Any supports or accommodations that have been helpful
For children, parents may wish to think about developmental milestones, play, friendships, communication, learning, and daily living skills.
Gather information
Assessments are most helpful when they consider an individual's experiences across settings and throughout development. If available, it can be useful to gather:
- School report cards
- Previous assessments
- Medical records related to developmental concerns
- Work samples
- Teacher feedback
- Notes about developmental history
- Observations from family members or caregivers
Not everyone will have access to all of this information, and that's okay. An assessment can still proceed without it.
Schedule a consultation
A consultation provides an opportunity to discuss your concerns, ask questions, and determine whether an assessment is likely to be helpful. During a consultation, we can discuss:
- Your goals for the assessment
- The questions you would like answered
- Which type of assessment may be most appropriate
- The assessment process
- Timelines and fees
- Whether additional professionals may also be involved
In some cases, an assessment may not be the most helpful next step, and alternative recommendations can be discussed.
What happens during an assessment?
Every assessment is individualized, but most include:
- Clinical interviews
- Developmental history
- Questionnaires and rating scales
- Standardized assessment measures
- Review of relevant records
- Collaboration with caregivers, teachers, or other professionals when appropriate
The goal is not simply to determine whether someone meets criteria for a diagnosis. Rather, the goal is to develop a comprehensive understanding of how they learn, communicate, process information, navigate relationships, and interact with the world.
After the assessment
Following the assessment, you will receive feedback and recommendations tailored to your unique profile. Depending on the findings, recommendations may include:
- School accommodations
- Workplace accommodations
- Counselling or therapy supports
- Occupational therapy
- Speech-language therapy
- Executive functioning supports
- Community resources
- Funding or disability-related supports
- Strategies for home, school, work, and daily life
Many people describe assessment as providing a framework for understanding themselves or their child with greater clarity, compassion, and confidence.
A neurodiversity-affirming approach
Assessment is not about finding what is "wrong" with a person. It is about understanding how an individual experiences and navigates the world, identifying both strengths and challenges, and determining what supports may help them thrive.
Whether an assessment results in a diagnosis or not, the process can provide valuable information that helps individuals better understand themselves and access the supports they need.
If you are considering an assessment and are unsure where to start, I would be happy to discuss your questions during a consultation — get in touch.