FASD Assessment
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
I provide assessment for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), supporting children and adolescents where there are concerns about the impact of prenatal alcohol exposure on learning, behaviour, emotional wellbeing and everyday functioning.
FASD assessment is a comprehensive process that considers a person's individual strengths and difficulties across a range of areas. The aim is to develop a clearer understanding of their needs and provide recommendations to support them at home, in education, at work and in the broader community.
FASD remains a relatively under-recognised and poorly understood neurodevelopmental condition in Australia, meaning that children can sometimes be misunderstood or viewed through the lens of their behaviour rather than the underlying difficulties they experience.
The Assessment Process
A FASD assessment provides an in-depth picture of how a person’s brain processes information and how this translates into their everyday life. Following the Australian diagnostic framework, I assess a broad range of cognitive, behavioural and adaptive abilities, using a carefully selected set of standardised assessment measures. This includes areas such as learning and reasoning, attention, memory, language, movement, executive functioning and independent living skills.
Going beyond test results, the assessment incorporates developmental history and information from parents, carers, teachers, and the person's GP or paediatrician to understand difficulties across settings, as an FASD diagnosis requires integrating medical and developmental information with neuropsychological findings.
An Assessment’s Uses
A comprehensive FASD assessment can help translate a person’s difficulties into clear, practical recommendations for the people and systems supporting them. The findings may assist with NDIS applications, educational adjustments and NCCD documentation, as well as informing care planning and communication between professionals. For children in out-of-home care, a thorough assessment can also provide a shared understanding of their needs, helping parents, carers, schools and other professionals work from the same information.
For information on fees, see the fees and rebate section.
For further information, or to book an assessment, please contact me below