Autism Assessments for Adults

The journey to an autism diagnosis can often be complex and overwhelming, requiring a systematic approach and collaboration between various professionals. In this guide, we aim to provide you with a step-by-step overview of the diagnosis pathway  to help you navigate the process with confidence and clarity. 

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Initial consultation

The first step to accessing an autism assessment is for you to attend a 90 minute Initial Consultation together.
To book please click here.

In the Initial Consultation you will meet with a clinician in-person where they will talk through your concerns, discuss areas of need and the impact a diagnosis may have. Sometimes labels can be very useful to put support in place at school, work or home. Sometimes they are a burden, and can weigh heavily unless the right advice and support is available.

This appointment is useful if you are not sure if you would meet the threshold for an autism diagnosis, or just to understand more about the process. Following this appointment, the clinician will suggest whether going ahead with a full autism assessment is warranted and a detailed written report will be sent out to you highlighting our recommendations and an ongoing plan.

If a full assessment is recommended and you decide to proceed, the next step will be to book your ADOS-2 and ADIR appointments. 

Preliminary questionnaires will be sent out for you and someone who has known you well for at least 6 months to complete at this stage. 

What to Expect from a full assessment:

ADOS-2 — The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (2nd Edition) is the gold-standard diagnostic tool. You'll attend our Ridgway Mews therapy centre to complete a series of activities with one of our trained experts (no preparation needed). The session lasts up to 90 minutes and will be video recorded for review by our multidisciplinary team.

ADIR — A developmental history interview focused on early childhood (ages 4–5), held online. Ideally, a friend or relative who knows you well should be present, though if this isn't possible we'll discuss alternatives with you.

Once both appointments are complete, our multidisciplinary team will review all information and determine whether the threshold for an Autistic Spectrum Condition diagnosis has been met. You'll first be informed of the outcome via a courtesy call, followed by an extended one-hour feedback session with our lead clinical psychologist to discuss the report and recommendations.

The feedback session is designed to be a safe, welcoming space for questions. We'll suggest areas that may benefit from ongoing support and aim to help every autistic person thrive in an inclusive environment.

Diagnosis Pathway

  • 1. ADi-R with a clinician (up to 3 hours)

    This is a developmental history interview which will focus on early childhood between the ages of 4-5. Ideally we will need a friend or relative who knows you well, however if this is not possible, we will discuss alternatives with you. 

    This appointment is held online.

  • 2. ADOS

    The ADOS is a semi-structured activity based assessment administered by a trained clinician (up to 1.5 hours) onsite in our clinic at Ridgway Mews. You do not need to bring anything or prepare for it. This will be recorded on a video camera so the multidisciplinary team can review it as part of their decision making process.

  • 4. Multi-Disciplinary Team Discussion

    Following the completion of the assessment, the multi-disciplinary team will meet to carefully consider all the information available and make a decision about whether you do or do not meet the criteria for Autistic Spectrum Condition . We will let you know the outcome of this meeting via a  courtesy call.

  • 5. Clinical report

    We aim to provide you with your report within four weeks of your ADOS and ADI-r appointments. This will usually take up to two weeks from the consensus call. You will be offered feedback appointment times when your report is sent through.

  • 6. Feedback session

    You will receive a feedback session with the lead Clinical Psychologist to discuss the outcome of your report and their recommendations going forward. This appointment is held online.

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