Autism Assessment process
The Autism Positive Assessment Steps
Autism Positive use gold standard assessment tools to gather evidence, to review in a multidisciplinary meeting, to establish whether your child meets the criteria for Autism or combined Autism and ADHD (AuDHD) based on the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, version 5).
We appreciate that one of the reasons you are looking to work with us is due to the long waiting lists for an Autism / ADHD diagnosis. We will endeavour to move through this process with you as quickly as possible.
Contact us today to find out about our current availability.
OPTION 1 AUTISM Assessment.
Fees: £1800 (includes Autism assessment and report with detailed functional recommendations)
OPTION 2 AUTISM & ADHD (AuDHD) Assessment.
Fees: £2600 (includes Autism assessment and report with detailed functional recommendations)
If you choose the combined path (Autism AND ADHD assessments), the ADHD assessment will take place online across 2 sessions (one involving your child and one interview with you as a the parent). Please see our note below about medication for ADHD.
It is important to be clear that this diagnosis is for personal and educational purposes. Whilst it is of a the highest professional standard, it is unlikely to be accepted by your GP or other prescribers because of the boundaries which lie between our practice and the NHS currently. Do not proceed with this assessment if you are hoping to obtain medication from your GP or another prescriber with our diagnosis and consult with those parties and obtain their acknowledgement they will accept our opinion. This could result in you having to repay for reassessment if you do not.
Screening documents:
To help you decide whether an assessment is appropriate for you/your child, you may find these screening tools helpful. There is scoring guidance provided on the sheet for your use. Please select the correct tool based on the your/your child’s age:
Important additional documents:
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ...
How much do you charge?
Our assessment and report with individualised recommendations costs £1800.
Where are you based?
We serve individuals and families across the West Midlands, including Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Birmingham. If you live outside of this areas please contact us to discuss your requirements.
Do you diagnose adults?
Yes, please get in touch to discuss your requirements with us.
Do you offer post diagnostic support?
Yes! We have extensive clinical experience in supporting individuals and their families in homes and in schools. We will give you the tools and knowledge to work through our recommendations, which we will discuss at your final consultation.
Will the diagnosis be recognised by the NHS & education services?
Any private diagnostic service that follows the NICE guidelines and provides a rigorous report should be accepted by schools and Local Education Authorities.
What happens during the assessment?
There are 2 parts to the Autism assessment, 1. A conversation with parent or carer, which is either online or in person. This lasts around 3 hours. 2. A direct observation and assessment with your child. This could be in school or at one of our clinic locations and lasts around 1 hour.
Do you follow the NICE guidelines?
The private assessment route should be exactly the same as the NHS assessment process. We follow the NICE guidelines and use standardised “gold standard” assessment tools. These include a developmental history interview (ADI-R) and and observation assessment with your child (ADOS-2). The multidisciplinary team will review all of the gathered information to determine whether your child meets the criteria for a diagnosis of Autism against the DSM-5.
Do you provide an Autism assessment or diagnosis?
We do both! The assessment process determines whether your child meets the criteria for Autism. We would then provide a diagnosis of Autism.
My child already has a diagnosis, do you offer other services?
Yes! Please get in touch today to discuss your child’s needs. We can support in the following areas:
- Direct support for schools
- Communication
- Life skills (e.g. eating, sleeping, toileting)
- Understanding behaviour
- Sensory strategies