Autism Assessment
Our Autism assessments are conducted in multiple parts for a comprehensive evaluation.
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Part 1 involves completing screening questionnaires that explore symptoms of Autism and how these may impact various areas of your life. You will discuss the questionnaire outcomes with an HCPC Registered Psychologist. Based on the discussion and screening assessments, a collaborative decision will be made regarding your progression to the following parts: the entire Autism diagnostic assessment.
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Part 2 consists of a full diagnostic process split into multiple appointments. It focuses on exploring your personal circumstances and developmental history and completing diagnostic assessments. Diagnostic tools specifically designed for Autism will be utilised across all assessment processes. In adolescent cases, a cognitive assessment will also be conducted.
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The combination of both parts ensures a thorough and accurate assessment of Autistic symptoms. Please note that if you do not require a full Autism assessment, a discussion can be facilitated to explore other areas of need and any alternative recommendations.​
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Whether you receive a diagnosis or not, your report will offer a formulation of difficulties, resources, and support to help you move forward.​​​
Process
Cognitive Assessment
A cognitive assessment is a part of an autism assessment that looks at how a person thinks and learns. It helps us understand things like memory, problem-solving, attention, and how quickly someone processes information. This can show us their strengths and any areas they may find harder, which can be really useful when thinking about support at school, work, or in daily life. It’s not a test you can pass or fail – it’s just a way to learn more about how your brain works.
Developmental History
A developmental history (sometimes called a DISCO or ADI-R) is a detailed conversation with a parent or carer about the person's early development and behaviour as they grew up. It helps us understand things like how they communicated, played, learned, and related to others from a young age. This part of the assessment is important because signs of autism often start in childhood, even if they weren’t noticed or understood at the time.
Observations
An observation or ADOS is a part of an autism assessment where we spend time doing activities together to see how someone communicates, plays, and interacts with others. It’s not a test with right or wrong answers – it’s more like a relaxed session where we notice how someone responds in different situations. This helps us understand their strengths and whether they show patterns that are linked to autism.