Informal Autism Screener
Informal Autism Screener
Our speech-language pathologists offer an Informal Autism Screener for children, teens, and adults, providing valuable insights into the potential characteristics of autism. Our additional training, experience and special interest in identifying characteristics of Autism in children, teens and adults. We are skilled at identifying hard to spot cases, early childhood, and those clients that are masking.
Our team are NOT qualified to make official autism diagnoses.
These screenings can support advocacy and provide additional supporting documentation to your pediatrician, walk-in Dr, or family physician in making a referral for a formal autism assessment. Our screeners also help individuals better understand their neurodivergence, potentially leading to improved access to supports and accommodations.
Please note the informal autism screener report does not satisfy the requirement for a complete speech and language assessment needed for a private autism assessment. There is an additional cost for the full SLP assessment.
Why seek an Informal Autism Screener?
Adults
Adults may seek out our Informal Autism Screener if you are on a journey to explore your own neurodivergence. We can provide you with a professional 2nd opinion in relation to the potential characteristics of Autism. Our clinicians can support and help guide you in deciding whether a formal or self-diagnosis could be the next step in your neurodivergent journey.
Children
Parents may seek out this screener if you need support advocating for an Autism assessment with your GP or pediatrician to rule out/in Autism as it relates to your child’s behaviour at home or school, before deciding to pursue a pricey private autism assessment, or if you are looking for a 2nd opinion after being denied an Autism diagnosis through public assessment (VICAN).
What is the value of an Official Autism Diagnosis?
At Victoria Speech and Language Centre, we are passionate about accurate
diagnosis to empower an individual and their family with knowledge about their
neurology, so that they can access appropriate support and accommodations to
lead to a better quality of life and mental health outcomes.
Children under the age of 18 in British Columbia with a diagnosis of Autism are
eligible for funding through the government;
$22,000/year for children under 6 years.
$6000/year for children 6-18 years.
