“S/he is still young.” “S/he will outgrow it.” “Don’t label your child.”
These are common comments you might hear from well-meaning adults, and even from doctors, who may not be professionally trained to identify early characteristics of autism, when you try to tell them about your parenting woes. Even if you don’t give your child a “label”, chances are that others will mislabel your child – “no discipline,” “parents never teach,” “rude” etc.
While raising a child is no walk in the park, parents should not have to be struggling to manage their child’s emotions on a daily basis and actively avoid “triggers” just to have their child be calm. At many points in such a parenting journey, there is bound to be self-blame and parental guilt. But, is it really the case that both you and your child are struggling because of your parenting? Is it really the case that “you are just worrying too much”? At The Grounds, we listen when you tell us your worries, and we don’t judge.
If you’re worried about “labelling” your child unnecessarily and hindering their development by getting them assessed for autism, we’re here to help. In reality, the truth is the other way around. Early autism assessments at The Grounds will provide you with clarity and direction, along with a professional, personalised support plan – not just a diagnosis. Getting assessed early at The Grounds can unlock meaningful intervention and help your child acquire and practice crucial life skills to confidently navigate daily life.
What an Autism Assessment Really Tells You (And What It Doesn’t)
An autism assessment is by no means, meant to leave parents feeling vulnerable and helpless. It is also definitely not to be weaponised against your child by describing their weaknesses.
Instead, an autism assessment is comprehensive and well-represented – it includes professional observation of play, parent interviews, school interviews, gold standardised tools like ADOS-2 and more. Hence, an autism assessment isn’t simply a diagnosis. It will give you and your child a roadmap in the form of clear, personalised development goals and will help you understand how to support your child in the most optimal way. It SHOULD empower parents to know how to manage their child and to lead them to maximise their child’s potential.
Signs Your Child Might Benefit from an Autism Assessment
While there are more common signs of autism, such as limited eye contact (eye contact avoidance), speech delays, hand flapping or limited social engagement (with peers and adults), it is also important to know that there are many other less commonly-known signs that your child might be on the spectrum. This includes verbosity (talking too much, talking out of turn, off-topic conversations), fear of swings or slides, fear of escalators, exhibiting obsession with specific topics, rigidity (dislikes or has a strong resistance to change to routines), fixed or repetitive pretend play (e.g. pretend play but only in specific sequences or routines such as just setting the table and not engaging in the social part of pretend play), stimming behaviours (e.g. singing or humming to themselves, tongue clicking), side eye gazing, or mouth and finger posturing.
If you notice that your child has the above behaviours, your child may benefit from an autism assessment!
The Assessment Process—What to Expect, Step by Step
- Referral: A referral can come from any first point of professional contact (e.g., Speech Therapists, General Practitioner, Paediatrician, Occupational Therapists etc.). If you haven’t already done so, you may contact a private centre like The Grounds directly to begin the process. There should be an initial consultation with a registered Educational Psychologist to screen your child.
- Comprehensive Evaluation: A team of professionals — including a psychologist, speech therapist, and occupational therapist — will observe, assess, and interact with your child across different settings. This process might take some time depending on the returned questionnaire responses of stakeholders like parents and school teachers.
- Child Observation & Interviews: The assessment includes professional observations of structured play-based tasks, parent interviews, school interviews, and developmental history reviews to understand your child’s behaviour, strengths, and needs.
- Standardised Tests: Your child may be assessed using tools like the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2), which helps identify traits linked to autism in a child-friendly and reliable way.
- Intervention Recommendations: After the assessment, you’ll receive a detailed report with clear and objective findings, as well as personalised recommendations for therapies, school support, or early intervention that are designed to help your child succeed. A video call or face to face explanation of the report is usually informed.
Preparing for Your Child’s Autism Assessment
Here are some tips that can help you prepare your child for the assessment and make the process more comfortable:
- Pack familiar snacks and toys: New environments can be daunting for your child. Having familiar snacks and toys on hand will give them a sense of familiarity and help them to feel safe during the assessment.
- Pre-empt your child about the upcoming assessment: Let your child know that they will be attending the assessment at least a week ahead of time. Giving them daily reminders that there will be an upcoming change in their routine will help ease them into the assessment process.
- Bring Supporting Documents: If available, include prior school or medical reports to provide important insights into your child’s history.
- Arrive 10–15 Minutes Early: Arriving a bit earlier will give your child time to settle in before starting the assessment proper.
Why Early Assessments Lead to Better Outcomes
The earlier your child receives a diagnosis, the sooner your child can have access to professional, customised early intervention services and the better the prognosis.
Getting your child assessed also means that you can get emotional relief because you no longer need to do guesswork to figure out what’s best for your child. With an assessment, The Grounds can then work with you to set clear developmental goals to support your child and can help with reducing long-term behavioural and academic challenges. An assessment can even help with school placements.
Frequently Asked Questions About Autism Assessments
1. At what age should my child be assessed for autism?
There is no ‘right’ age. Assessment is accurate even for kids as young as 18 months old.
2. What’s the difference between screening and diagnosis?
A screener is an informal behavioural observation session, mainly without the use of standardised tools. It is also typically less than 1 hour and allows the clinician to quickly assess the probability of a positive diagnosis. A diagnosis uses standardised assessment tools, usually lasts 2-3 hours, and the resulting report is legally recognised by institutions.
3. What happens during an autism assessment?
See “assessment process” above.
4. Is an autism diagnosis permanent?
An autism diagnosis is a lifelong diagnosis, but characteristics may vary over time.
5. Will my child get support in school if they’re diagnosed?
Children get more support in school when they are diagnosed. The school teachers will also have a clearer direction of how to help your child adapt to school routines. If your child attends therapy at The Grounds, our Allied Health professionals are more than happy to collaborate with the school to support your child outside of therapy settings.
Ready to Help Your Child Thrive?
An autism diagnosis is not the end—it’s the beginning of understanding, support, and growth. At The Grounds, we walk with you through the process and beyond, so you don’t have to navigate it alone.
Book your child’s autism assessment with us today, and take the first step toward clarity and a confident support plan.
About the Author
Jing Ke KOH is the Clinical Director and Principal Speech Therapist at The Grounds. With a deep belief in play-based learning and parent collaboration, she has dedicated her career to helping neurodivergent children thrive through early intervention. Jing Ke advocates for the power of immersive, strengths-based therapy and envisions an inclusive society where every child is recognised for their unique potential.