Autism/asperger

Sveapsykologerna investigates autism spectrum disorders (ASD). We have very short waiting times, which means that you can usually start a neuropsychiatric assessment within a week.

Cost of an autism or Aspergers assessment

In terms of price, we are lower than most other private clinics in Sweden. The price for a neuropsychiatric assessment at Sveapsykologerna is from SEK 29,995 and upwards. The price varies depending on several factors, such as how complex the investigation is, the client's age and which city the client is in. There is a possibility of partial payment.

Sveapsykologerna investigates adults, adolescents and children. We do not investigate people with ongoing substance abuse. Our competent psychologists and psychiatrists/doctors have extensive experience of working with neuropsychiatric assessments. There is also the possibility of psychological treatment/psychotherapy and support conversations after the investigation.

Autism/asperger assessment in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö

Our experienced psychologists have clinics in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö, where we conduct autism and Asperger's assessments. Start with a free consultation to find the right one and then you will get help from a clinic near you.

Who is an autism assessment suitable for?

People seeking neuropsychiatric assessments in the private sector are often people who are fed up with the long waiting times in the County Council. Contact us via the contact form - by clicking the button below - and we will get back to you within a few hours for a free consultation.

What they say about Sveapsykologerna

What is autism spectrum disorder - ASD?

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is an umbrella term for disabilities that affect the way you think, behave and communicate with other people. How much life is affected can vary from person to person. There is support and help available.

Autism spectrum disorder, sometimes abbreviated as ASD, is an umbrella term for several different diagnoses. For example, it can be one of the following: autism, autism-like condition, Asperger's syndrome. Although the diagnoses are different, they also have much in common.

Autism Spectrum - common features

The common features are called autistic. The word autism is therefore used broadly in this text, regardless of the diagnosis on the autism spectrum. Autism is a so-called neuropsychiatric disability, which has to do with how the brain works and processes information. It's something you are born with and it lasts a lifetime.

Other disabilities

Other disabilities are commonly present at the same time as autism, such as ADHD or tics. Autism does not mean that you are sick or that there is something wrong with you, but that you function differently from what is usually expected in our society. This in itself can make you feel bad, if you feel excluded and lack a sense of community with others.

What does autism spectrum disorder stand for?

The term autism spectrum disorder can be divided into three parts: autism describes a person who functions differently in social interaction. Spectrum is a word used to describe the rainbow, the colors of which run into each other without a clear boundary. Similarly, the diagnoses within the autism spectrum are not clearly divided. Condition means that it is not a disease, but a way of being.

Autism is a disability

Because of the difficulties you experience, autism is called a disability, even though your way of being may also involve strengths that others may not have. Another word that can be used, if you prefer, is disability.

Support depends on the variety

Depending on the type of disability you have, life can be affected in different ways. There is a big difference in the amount of support you need if you have a diagnosis on the autism spectrum. For example, if you have both autism and an intellectual disability, you may need a lot of support and help in everyday life throughout your life.

If you have Asperger's syndrome, you may be able to cope without support, once you have found strategies to cope with the expectations of society. We are affected by the environment we are in. If there is understanding of your way of being, you can usually function better than in a situation where the demands are too high.

How can you tell if you have autism or Asperger's?

Autism and Asperger's are mainly noticeable in two ways:

- Through limited interaction and communication with others.

- Through stereotypical choices of activities, behaviors and interests.

Stereotyped activities and behaviors mean repeating the same thing and having difficulty dealing with variation and change. Depending on the diagnosis, this can manifest itself differently in different people.

Repetition, communication and special interests

For those with more severe autism, this may mean repeating certain movements or sounds over and over again, without communicating with the environment. Whereas for someone diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, for example, it might be devoting all their time to a special interest and just talking about it.

A diagnosis always requires several symptoms that are so limiting that they constitute a disability.

Recognizing autism and Asperger's

If you have autism, you may recognize yourself in several of these characteristics:

• It can be difficult to understand what others mean and feel. It can be difficult to communicate with others and be understood properly. Some interests take up a lot of your time.

• Doing something that is new and unfamiliar can be stressful. It can be difficult to break behaviors and routines that have become habitual. You may react strongly to sensory input such as sounds, smells and tastes.

• You may find it difficult to understand and interpret language as others do, even if you have a large vocabulary and well-developed language. You may sometimes have difficulty understanding humor, irony, imagery or similes.

• You may find it difficult to initiate and sustain conversations with others when they are not about your own interests. It is also usually difficult to understand facial expressions, gestures and tone of voice in meetings with other people.

• You often take what is said literally. Sometimes it is difficult for you to maintain eye contact. You may speak with a speech melody that can be perceived as monotonous or mechanical. You may have limited or no speech.

• Sometimes you may have behaviors that are perceived by others as monotonous, repetitive or unusual. This behavior can be called repetitive or stereotyped and means that you do the same thing over and over again.

• These can be various repetitive movements, such as waving or spreading your hands. These movements can have a calming effect, and are often needed in situations when you become excited or stressed.

• It could also be that you spend a lot of time on a particular interest. When you do this, you can often go for hours without getting tired. Another form of repetition that you need and benefit from is a regular routine.

• For example, you may have to eat exactly the same thing for breakfast every day, or sit in the same seat on the bus every day. Change and new situations are often difficult to cope with.

• However, having a routine and structure makes life easier. This can often be because you find it hard to imagine what will happen when things change. You may feel insecure and afraid of the new or unexpected.

• Predictability and clarity are often very important to you. To feel safe, you therefore need to do things in a certain way. Unexpected changes to a routine can cause you to break down in anger or despair.

• Sometimes small changes in an immigrant's routine can be harder to deal with than really big ones like moving or traveling abroad. You may have a different way of learning things, thinking and processing information.

• For example, you may find it difficult to connect what is happening now with memories and past experiences. Sorting and taking in impressions can be difficult, as you find each situation unique and challenging.

• It is common to be able to do things in one environment but not in another. For example, you may be able to dress yourself when you are alone at home, but not with other people elsewhere.

• It is common to react differently from others to sensory input. For example, you may react strongly to smells, tastes, textures, sounds, light or touch. The impressions may trigger strong discomfort, such as the sensation that your clothes are chafing.

• You may also find it exciting to smell something intensely. Strong reactions to tastes and smells may mean you have particular eating habits or only want to eat certain types of food.

• You may have difficulties interpreting what you hear, while it is often easier to perceive what you can see. You can often have other difficulties alongside autism.

Diagnoses together with autism

The following diagnoses are common to have at the same time as autism: dyslexia, language or learning disabilities, sleep disorders, ADD or ADHD, anxiety, phobias or OCD - obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, intellectual disability or epilepsy.

Sometimes, you may also have motor difficulties, such as difficulties learning to ride a bike or swim.

Symptoms of autism in children

If you find that your child has difficulty speaking, communicating and has monotonous or repetitive behavior - or if you are concerned about your child's development - you can contact Sveapsykologerna for an assessment or a neuropsychiatric evaluation.

If your child has difficulty communicating or socializing, if your child has difficulty coping with the demands of school, if your child has repetitive behavior or makes stereotyped movements, and/or if your child has difficulty interacting with peers, you can contact us for an assessment or a neuropsychiatric evaluation.

Autism assessment for children

People with autism or Asperger's vary greatly in the extent of their difficulties in life. The diagnosis can be made early if there are clear symptoms already during the toddler years. In this case, it is noticeable that it is difficult to make contact with the child.

He/she does not respond to speech or encouragement from others and does not express himself/herself through gestures, facial expressions or eye contact. They also show no interest in other people. Sometimes this is related to an intellectual disability.

Other diagnoses, such as epilepsy, are often added. In these cases, the need for support and treatment can be high. It is unusual to receive a diagnosis before the age of three.

Most often, symptoms become apparent in the context of increasing demands from the environment, such as starting school, changing schools or other major changes.

Autism diagnosis can come as an adult

Sometimes you are diagnosed only as an adult. This is often the case if you don't show your difficulties outwardly, so that others notice. For example, it is common for women not to be diagnosed until they are adults.

Before starting an assessment, it is a good idea to think about how you or your child will benefit from a possible diagnosis. The investigation takes some time and energy. It may be easier to wait and go through the different steps of the investigation if you know why the investigation needs to be done.

One motivation may be to gain knowledge about how you or your child functions. After the assessment, you will hopefully have a better understanding of the difficulties related to the disability. You may receive help and support, as well as greater understanding from those around you.

Finding out that you or someone else has a diagnosis can be both a relief and a sadness. Relief because you get an explanation for the difficulties. But also a sadness that the difficulties are due to a disability that you have to live with.

Other people may not understand, or may even be prejudiced against, your diagnosis. For some people, this can lead to a crisis.

Parent of a child with autism or Asperger's

Being a parent or caregiver of a child with a diagnosis on the autism spectrum can be an adjustment, as the child often needs more support and stimulation than other children. You may need to learn to understand your child's needs in order to provide them with the support and care they require. It is important that you, as a caregiver, understand what the diagnosis means.

Knowledge makes life easier

The more you learn about the child's difficulties and special needs, the easier it tends to be to deal with difficult situations in everyday life and to help and support the child. If a child has questions about their disability, they need information in a way that is appropriate for their age and maturity. It is often good for the child to receive information from someone other than you, the parent or guardian. This could be someone from the assessment team who talks to the child about autism and what the diagnosis means.

Children with autism need a predictable environment

Children with autism often have difficulty processing and sorting out impressions. Therefore, they need a calm and predictable environment around them. If you know more about your child's disability, you can more easily adapt the child's different environments and inform others about the child's needs. In this way, you can reduce anxiety and stress for the child. There are tools that can make it easier for you to communicate with your child, such as picture charts or drawing and writing in a shared storybook.

Children with autism and food

Many children with autism have difficulties with eating. It is common that the child only wants to eat a certain type of food. For the child's environment, mealtimes can therefore be stressful and lead to conflict. Even if the child does not have a medically diagnosed allergy or intolerance, it is important that school staff adapt school meals as far as possible to the child's selective eating.

There are often several reasons for difficulties with eating. It may be the texture or taste of the food that the child does not like. The child may also find the social interaction at mealtimes demanding. To establish good eating habits, it is important to understand the reason behind the child's behavior. You, as an adult, may therefore need support to learn the reasons for your child's difficulties.

Autism and language

Some children with autism may have a late and different language development. Sometimes the child may stop or go backwards in their development after they have started to say some words. They may also repeat whole or partial sentences they have just heard. This is called echolalia or echoic speech. Some children repeat certain phrases over and over again.

Autism and interests

It is common to be very interested in things with moving parts. For example, the spinning drum of a washing machine or the spinning wheels of a toy car.

Opening and closing doors or pressing buttons over and over again can also be interesting. For example, many people like to line up their toys, but find it more difficult to play spontaneous games that involve role play.

Some prefer to play alone and avoid socializing with their peers. It is common for children to have difficulty sleeping. Sometimes clear routines can help your child to sleep better. For example, routines like bathing the child or reading or singing to the child before bedtime. Sometimes the routine needs to take time.

Many children find it easier to sleep with a cuddly toy or other favorite object at bedtime. Seek medical help if sleep problems persist despite good and clear routines.

Children with autism and school

Children with autism need to be properly prepared when they start school. It is also important that the preschool informs the school about the support your child needs. Your child may need time to get used to the new environment, new routines and new teachers. It can be helpful if your child can visit the school before the term starts and if you, as a parent or guardian, can meet the teacher before school starts.

For many children, it is important to be prepared for what will happen during the school day. This is particularly true for children with autism. Pictures and other support may also be needed to clarify the schedule and help the child adjust their expectations to what will happen during the day.

Schools have a major responsibility to ensure that children with special needs can attend school through inclusive measures. Most children with autism can attend mainstream primary school under the right conditions.

Special schools for autism and intellectual disabilities

Children with autism combined with an intellectual disability usually need to receive adapted education in a special school. When the child changes schools, it is important to inform the people around the child about the child's disability so that they can better understand the child's difficulties.

Same rules everywhere

Most children with autism benefit from having rules at home and at school that are as similar as possible. It is helpful if parents, caregivers, school staff and other people who see the child regularly can form a network.

It can also be helpful to inform classmates in advance when your child starts school. As a guardian, you can tell your child's classmates and their relatives yourself, or you can ask the school to do so.

Classmates need to know something about the disability to understand the child's special needs. Classmates also need to understand why the child sometimes behaves differently or is treated in a particular way by a teacher. Read more about assistive technology in schools.

Autism and puberty

During puberty, a lot happens in the body and socially that can be stressful for those with a diagnosis on the autism spectrum. Some may start to feel unwell and behave impulsively or act out, others become more avoidant and isolate themselves. As a parent, you may need to provide extra support during this time. Changes in behavior can be explained by stress or frustration linked to excessive demands or lack of a meaningful occupation.

Arranging help and support for your child can take up a lot of your time. Even if you need to adapt your life to your child's needs, don't forget about your own needs. Do things that make you feel good. Your child may also benefit from having a weekend or a week without family members from time to time. This time can give your child the opportunity to make friends and have experiences outside their immediate environment.

Support is important for people on the autism spectrum

It is important to provide tailored support as early as possible. This can reduce the symptoms and negative consequences and make it easier for the child to live an independent life in the future. The type and level of support a child with autism can receive varies widely. For example, depending on the difficulties the child has and how well the environment works for the child.

It is important to avoid making excessive demands that the child cannot meet. Otherwise, the child may start to feel worse and experience new difficulties.

Support for the parent or guardian of a child with autism or Asperger's

There are sometimes family support services that municipalities offer to family members. In some municipalities, it is possible to participate in support groups, study circles or to receive individual support sessions. Depending on the severity of the disability, you can seek various forms of relief and support from society. If you are responsible for a large part of the child's support, you are entitled to a care allowance and additional costs.

Support for children with autism

Children with autism may sometimes be entitled to support under the Act on support for certain disabled persons (LSS). This entitlement includes support from the region and municipality where you live. It is the municipality's caseworker who decides on the support the child can receive. This support can be, for example, a stay in a short-term home or a substitute at home. The support that the region can provide is offered by the habilitation service. The assessment is based on the neuropsychiatric evaluation. It is often decisive whether the child has an intellectual disability or not.

It can be difficult to do enough as a parent. In addition to supporting your child yourself, you should also try to find time to coordinate and maintain contact with other people around your child. These may be people working in the school, the municipality or the health service, for example. You can then ask for a so-called SIP, coordinated individual plan. The purpose of a SIP is to make things easier for you and to clarify who is responsible for which intervention.

Support for adults with autism or Asperger's

Many people with autism live independent lives as adults. Sometimes, they may need support in everyday life, for example in finding employment or accommodation. It can also be about finding strategies to plan everyday tasks, keep appointments or navigate different environments.

If you have your own accommodation but need help and support once or twice a week, you can apply for housing support. If you need more support, there are, for example, group homes and sheltered housing where you live in your own apartment, but where there are staff in the same building who can support you.