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Parliamentary Questions


Question On Notice No. 2689 asked in the Legislative Council on 19 November 2019 by Hon Martin Aldridge

Question Directed to the: Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Health
Parliament: 40 Session: 1


Question

I refer to Legislative Council question on notice 2385 asked to the Minister of Education, and I ask:
(a) what is the current wait list for children to obtain a formal assessment by either a paediatrician, psychologist or speech therapist for autism spectrum and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder type disorders by region; and
(b) what early intervention programs is the Department of Health promoting in the early identification and remediation of speech and language difficulties with young children?

Answered on 5 December 2019

I am advised:

 

(a) The Department of Communities – Disability Services maintains the waitlist information for children who require Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) assessments in the WA Country Health Service (WACHS) Region, and as such the Member should refer part of this question to the Minister for Community Services.

As of 31 October 2019, diagnostic assessment for ASD for the Perth metropolitan area is as follows:

  • The early intervention (children aged 0-6 years) waitlist has a predicted waiting time of 14 months.
  • The school aged (children aged 7 year or older) waitlist has a predicted waiting time of 32 months.

Paediatricians within the Perth metropolitan and WACHS region are able to undertake assessment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), however referrals are managed as part of overall paediatric services (including generalist, visiting and externally funded services), and separate waitlists are not maintained specifically for children requiring ADHD assessments.

 

(b) All Speech Pathologists within the Child Development Service (CDS) provide early identification and remediation of speech and language difficulties which can include:

  • Individual or group based treatment/therapy services which involve working in partnership with parents using parent coaching principles;
  • Specific programs that are utilised include ‘Cycles’ for speech sound disorders, adapted ‘It Takes Two to Talk’ for children with language difficulties and the ‘Lidcombe’ program for stuttering;
  • A referral for an ASD assessment if needed and Department of Education, Language Development Centres if considered appropriate; and
  • Involvement with current research collaborations, such as with Telethon Kids Institute.
  • The Kindy Oral Language Programme.

WACHS offers screening and surveillance of early childhood development for all children under the WACHS Healthy Country Kids Program. If speech and language difficulties are identified, families are referred to the CDS where a range of evidence based strategies and programs are offered.