Autism Assessments

Individuals are welcome to contact us to request an assessment for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) for a child or adult. Such assessments are conducted for either diagnostic purposes, or as a means to evaluate the current strengths and difficulties of a person with or without a formal diagnosis.

ASD assessment process

At 'A Forward Step' our psychologists undertake a comprehensive set of assessments, evaluate the outcomes, and consider whether a diagnosis of ASD is, or is not appropriate. There are two key assessments that are used during this process; the Autism Diagnostic Interview Revised (ADI-R), and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2). Additional information may also be sourced (eg. from a school) to assist in the assessment process for children.

ADI-R: This assessment is effective in differentiating autism from other developmental disorders, and allows our clinicians to quantify identified autistic traits. It takes the form of an interview between a psychologist and a parent / caregiver who is familiar with the developmental history and current behaviour of the person being assessed. The ADI-R can only be conducted by a qualified psychologist or psychiatrist who has undertaken additional specialist training. The appointment duration is 3+ hours.

ADOS-2: This involves direct interaction (face to face) with the person being assessed. Different modules of the assessment are selected as appropriate to the individual's age, language skills, and developmental level. The ADOS-2 can only be conducted by clinical staff who have undertaken additional specialist training. The appointment duration is 90 minutes.

The outcome

Once the assessments have been completed, the assessing team evaluate the gathered information, and produce a written report. This includes the diagnostic decision, and recommendations where appropriate. This process takes approximately 2 weeks.

The final step

After you have been sent your report, you are offered a follow-up appointment with your assessing psychologist (45 minutes). At this time you will discuss the outcome of the assessment. Where appropriate, psycho-education on ASD is given, as well as support in the form of sign-posting you to appropriate services.

We ask you to share your report with appropriate professionals (eg. GP / Paediatrician, School) however you are under no obligation to do so.

The ASD assessment fee for adults is £1750. For children the range is

£1750 - £2250, and is dependent on the inclusion of additional school-based assessments.

Child assessments

Children between the ages of 6 and 17 can be assessed at 'A Forward Step'.

Details of the main assessments are provided in the text column titled 'ASD assessment process' (to the left).

The parents / caregivers of the child will undertake the ADI-R assessment. Younger children will not be present, however older adolecents may choose to attend (this option is discussed at point of booking).

Prior to the assessment, parents / caregivers are provided with 'preparation guidance', which includes a request to find any items that may support recall of their child's developmental history, such as their school records, a 'Baby Book' / 'NHS Red Book', or old photos / videos.

In addition to the above, your child will undertake the ADOS-2 assessment. Parents / caregivers will be asked to either wait in the waiting room, or off-site, dependent on the child's age and abilities.

With child assessments, 'A Forward Step' ensure that a high level of detail is provided in our reports in order that the results can be shared effectively with other professionals you may be working with (eg. in the NHS or in education). Our ASD Assessment Lead (Dr Harrison) has provided diagnostics for the NHS (CAMHS, Bedford), and privately since 2018, and continues to personally review all reports prior to their issue.

ASD consultations

Some families approach our clinic with a degree of uncertainty as to whether an ASD assessment is the correct pathway for them. This can - for example - be the case when a child has traits of other neurodiverse conditions such as ADHD, or mental health difficulties such as social anxiety.

In such circumstances, we often recommend an 'ASD consultation' as an initial step, as this does not directly involve the child in the process. At the 2 hour consultation appointment, Dr Harrison will explore your concerns with you, and gather a broad set of neurodevelopmental information. The outcome is a written report, with a statement that an ASD diagnostic assessment is - or is not - recommended.

The ASD consultation fee is £500. However, for clients who progress to ASD diagnostic assessments at the clinic within a 3 month period, the £500 is deducted from their full diagnostic fees (see column to the left). As such, taking the initial step of a consultation does not result in higher overall service costs.

Adult assessments

The assessment of an adult (of any age) follows the same process as set out in the text column titled 'ASD assessment process' (to the left).

Where adult clients do not have parents / caregivers available to participate in their assessment, there will be limitations with regard to the types of assessments that can be conducted. At 'A Forward Step', it will certainly be possible to evaluate your current strengths and difficulties in terms of traits of autism (through an 'ASD consultation' - see column to the left), and we can make recommendations for you with regard to your current needs. However a formal diagnosic classification of 'ASD' will not be possible at 'A Forward Step'.

Adults who do not have a parent or childhood caregiver available to participate, and who wish to have a definitive formal diagnosis are advised to seek an assessment with a Psychiatrist, and/or through NHS services. Psychiatrists are able to use alternative diagnostic methods in such circumstances.

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