National Guideline for Autism Spectrum Disorders update seeking public feedback

Allied health students at the University of South Australia (UniSA) are the first in the nation to learn how to apply the National Guideline for the Assessment and Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and provide feedback for improvement.

Australia’s Autism Cooperative Research Centre (Autism CRC) has recently released a new draft for the updated guideline, which is seeking community feedback until May 29, with the original released in 2018.

UniSA has partnered with Autism CRC to deliver the undergraduate eLearning lecture and activity training package for students studying speech pathology, psychology and occupational therapy.

Kady Moraby, a paediatric speech pathologist and lecturer at UniSA says the teaching package will make sure that university graduates immediately have the skills they need when they enter the workforce.

According to Moraby, the 2018 guide will be used until updates are available in the latter half of 2023.

“As the first hosting partner of Autism CRC’s undergraduate teaching program, our graduates will have the most up-to-date, evidence-based information and knowledge of the assessment process and clinical pathway,” says Moraby.

The National Guideline is the first nationally codified approach to the understanding and diagnosis of (ASD), which includes key elements for identifying the complex developmental condition; with roughly 1 in 70 Australians believed to be on the autism spectrum.

“Autism CRC’s National Guideline defines clinical best practice for working professionals across Australia, in order to improve diagnostic practices and consistency.”

ASD can affect how a person thinks, feels, learns, and interacts with others and the world around them. It can be characterised by difficulties in social interaction and communication, non-traditional play behaviours, heightened emotions or sensory experiences, and uneven thinking patterns, but presents differently in every individual.

Moraby stated that the difference between the guideline and the Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM) is that the DSM sets out the criteria for symptoms, but the guideline details how to diagnose ASD in Australia.

Now, five years after the guideline had been published, the draft update has been released after reaching out to autistic people, family members, First Nations representation, an expert in ethics, and clinician-researchers with expertise in guideline development to make sure that the guideline stays relevant.

“This is a step forward to ensure our students are job-ready and able to support individuals and their families to receive the very best possible care.”

“Delivering quality allied health education is not only about imparting knowledge, but also about shaping compassionate and skilled healthcare professionals,” Moraby says.

The 66 recommendations and good practice points included in the Autism CRC draft Guideline will combine, update and revise existing information in the 2018 Guideline and are available for the public to provide feedback on via the CRC portal.