ASD Diagnostic Clinic
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can be a difficult diagnosis to make in a child or youth. To help families, Five Counties Children’s Centre partners with two local Paediatricians to provide assessment for children suspected of having ASD using standardized tools. All referrals to the specialized clinics must be completed in writing by a physician/nurse practitioner.
Our Multi-Disciplinary Team is also here to help.
ASD Diagnostic Pathway at Five Counties
Five Counties is the local Diagnostic Hub for ASD in Peterborough City-County, City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County and Northumberland County. We’re here to support families and physicians in the diagnosis, and are pleased to introduce a new evidence-based ASD Diagnostic Pathway for our region.
This new model reflects local realities and changes in best practices for autism diagnosis, including that:
- ADOS (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule) is no longer a requirement for autism diagnosis.
- Early intervention and connection to resources are essential to improve childhood outcomes for learning and development.
- Family physicians and nurse practitioners need better support with autism diagnoses, especially with the ongoing shortage of Paediatricians in our region.
How It Works
Five Counties is moving to a more comprehensive developmental assessment, completed by our Occupational Therapist and Speech Language Pathologist (who have been trained to assess the developmental characteristics of autism, according to the DSM-V). The assessment includes four to six diagnostic sessions with a child, looking at their social, cognitive, communication and motor skills. Consultations are also done with parents and professionals already familiar with the child.
We believe this new, more holistic approach to autism diagnoses will provide health care professionals with the necessary clinical information to support your diagnostic process, as well as community practitioners to support any diagnosis. Five Counties is also here to collaborate and provide further support as needed.
Information for Medical Professionals