See the whole you

Comprehensive Autism Assessment

Expert, multidisciplinary autism assessments for children, adolescents, and adults — delivered by clinicians who truly understand what it means to be neurodivergent.

Our ethos

Understanding you.
Because we are you.

Every clinician in our autism assessment team lives with neurodiversity themselves. We are not outside looking in — we are right there with you, with first-hand experience of what it means to think, feel, and experience the world differently.

This shapes everything about how we assess. We do not pathologise. We do not reduce you to a checklist. We see autism as a different way of being human — one that brings genuine strengths alongside real challenges — and our assessments reflect that.

Lived experience

Strengths-based

Non-pathologising

Neurodiversity-affirming

"When I finally had my own assessment, I understood what it felt like to sit in that chair — the vulnerability, the hope, the exhaustion of a lifetime of masking. That experience is in every assessment we conduct. We are not doing this to you. We are doing this with you."

— The ADHD Specialists Clinical Team

Our team

A truly multidisciplinary approach

Autism assessment is never one-dimensional — so neither is our team. Every assessment is multidisciplinary by design, regardless of which clinician leads it. All of our assessors are trained to the same high standard and bring complementary expertise.

Doctors

Medical expertise to consider the full clinical picture — co-occurring conditions, differential diagnoses, and independent prescribing where relevant. Our doctors also bring therapeutic training in autism-specific and family interventions, meaning clinical and therapeutic care sit within a single relationship rather than being split across services.

Advanced Nurse Practitioners

Highly trained independent practitioners with specialist neurodevelopmental experience, bringing a holistic, person-centred approach rooted in clinical excellence and lived understanding of neurodiversity.

Speech & Language Therapists

Specialist insight into social communication, language patterns, and the subtle nuances that are often missed in standard assessments — an area central to autism and one we take seriously at every stage of assessment and support.

Psychotherapists

Understanding the emotional landscape — identity, masking, burnout, anxiety, and the relational impact of a lifetime of difference — is central to what we offer. Our psychotherapists are experienced in post-diagnostic work and in supporting individuals and families after a new diagnosis.

All clinicians are Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) informed

CAT is a relational, collaborative therapy that understands how patterns formed earlier in life shape how we think, feel, and relate to others. For autistic people — many of whom have spent years adapting themselves to fit a world not designed for them — the CAT framework offers a particularly powerful lens. Across our whole team, we use CAT language and thinking to understand and describe experience, from assessment through to any support that follows.

Every assessment is multidisciplinary

Whether your assessment is led by a doctor, an advanced nurse practitioner, or a speech and language therapist, it is always conducted within a multidisciplinary framework — with cross-professional input, shared formulation, and collective clinical review before any conclusion is reached.

Clinical standards

Gold-standard assessment tools

All of our clinicians are trained to a high standard in internationally recognised diagnostic instruments. Depending on the most appropriate tool for your situation, your assessment will use one or more of the following.

ADOS-2

Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule — Second Edition
The ADOS-2 is widely considered the gold standard observational assessment for autism. It is suitable for children, adolescents, and adults of all ages and abilities. It involves structured and semi-structured activities that allow the clinician to observe social communication, social interaction, imagination, and restricted/repetitive behaviours directly — in real time. All of our clinicians hold ADOS-2 training.

ADI-R

Autism Diagnostic Interview — Revised
The ADI-R is a comprehensive, semi-structured clinical interview conducted with a parent, carer, or informant who knows you well. It explores early developmental history, communication, social interaction, and restricted and repetitive behaviours — providing crucial context from those who knew you as a child.

ACIA

Autism Clinical Interview for Adults
Developed by Newcastle University and aligned to DSM-5 and ICD-11 criteria, the ACIA is a semi-structured interview designed for adolescents and adults aged 16 and over. It explores current functioning and developmental history through both a subject interview and, where available, an informant interview — capturing the full picture across childhood and adulthood.

The process

What your assessment involves

We have designed the process to be thorough without being overwhelming. Here is what to expect from start to finish.

Initial enquiry & eligibility

Get in touch and tell us a little about what has brought you here. We see children, adolescents, and adults. We will discuss whether a standalone autism assessment or a combined autism and ADHD assessment is most appropriate, and match you with the right clinician and tool.

No referral needed

All ages

Self-referral or parent/guardian referral

Pre-assessment questionnaires

Before your appointment, we send you a detailed pre-interview questionnaire to complete at home. If you have someone who knows you well — a parent, partner, or close friend — we may also ask them to complete a parallel questionnaire. Reading these thoroughly before the appointment means we can focus the interview on what matters most to you.

Completed at home

Informant option available

At your own pace

The assessment appointment

Your assessment is a structured clinical conversation — not an interrogation or a test you can pass or fail. We explore your current life, your history, and your experiences across education, relationships, work, sensory world, and social communication. We also screen for co-occurring conditions that commonly occur alongside autism, including anxiety, ADHD, depression, OCD, and sleep difficulties. Allow approximately 2–3 hours, which may be split across appointments if that works better for you.

Approx. 2–3 hours

Can split across sessions

In-person or remote

Informant interview (where applicable)

Where an informant is available and consented, a separate interview explores your early developmental history — speech, play, social development, schooling — which provides essential context for understanding childhood onset. This is particularly important for a robust diagnosis and can be conducted on the same day or separately.

With your consent

Parent, partner, or close friend

Flexible timing

Multidisciplinary formulation

Before any conclusion is shared, all findings are reviewed within a multidisciplinary framework. Your assessor brings the clinical evidence together with cross-professional input to reach a formulation that considers the whole picture — not just a score on a scale.

MDT review

DSM-5 & ICD-11 criteria

Holistic formulation

Feedback & diagnosis

We share the outcome with you clearly and compassionately — explaining the clinical reasoning, what we found, what it means for you personally, and what comes next. We discuss your strengths alongside any challenges identified, and we make sure you leave with a clear understanding of the findings.

Clear verbal feedback

Strengths acknowledged

Written report provided

Written report & onward support

You will receive a comprehensive written diagnostic report. We also discuss onward support — whether that is workplace or educational adjustments, therapy, support for co-occurring conditions, or signposting to autism-specific services and communities. The assessment is a beginning, not an end.

Full diagnostic report

Personalised recommendations

Ongoing support options

Combined assessment

Autism & ADHD together

Autism and ADHD frequently co-occur — research suggests that up to 50–70% of autistic people also have ADHD. If you are seeking clarity on both, we offer a combined assessment that explores both conditions within a single, integrated process.

Rather than two separate assessments bolted together, our combined pathway is designed from the outset to explore the interaction between ADHD and autism, the ways they can mask or amplify each other, and what a complete picture looks like for you specifically.

ADHD
Attention & regulation

Both

Autism
Communication & sensory

Up to 50–70% of autistic people also have ADHD. A combined assessment ensures nothing is missed — and nothing is over-attributed.

Already have an ADHD diagnosis?

If you have been assessed for ADHD by us or elsewhere and are now seeking an autism assessment, we can build on existing information to avoid unnecessary repetition while ensuring a thorough and independent autism assessment.

Who we see

Is this assessment right for you?

Our autism assessments are open to children, adolescents, and adults. All of our clinicians are trained in the ADOS-2, which is suitable for all ages. You do not need a GP referral — you can refer yourself or your child.

Adults seeking a first assessment

Whether you have always felt different and never had a name for it, or have recently started to explore what autism might mean for you, it is never too late for answers.

Children

All of our clinicians are trained in the ADOS-2, the gold-standard observational assessment used with children of all ages. We adapt our approach to each child's age and communication style, and always involve parents or guardians throughout.

Adolescents

Adolescence is often when autism becomes more apparent — particularly for girls and high-maskers navigating secondary school. Our clinicians understand this period deeply and assess without judgement, using the most appropriate tools for the young person's age and profile.

Women & girls

Autism in women and girls is frequently missed or misdiagnosed. Masking is often more pronounced, and presentations differ significantly from the historically male-dominated research picture. We understand this.

Late-identified adults

Many people reach adulthood — and middle age — without ever receiving a diagnosis. If you have spent decades wondering why you experience the world so differently, you deserve a thorough, compassionate assessment.

People with an existing ADHD diagnosis

ADHD and autism often travel together. If you have been diagnosed with ADHD and are now exploring whether autism is also part of your picture, we can assess both within a single integrated process.

Professionals & high-maskers

High masking can make autism less visible — especially in professional settings. Our assessment is thorough enough to look beneath the surface, and our team understands this from personal experience.

Our fees

Transparent pricing

All assessments are multidisciplinary, conducted by clinicians trained to the highest standard. No hidden costs — the fee covers your pre-assessment questionnaires, the full assessment, MDT formulation, verbal feedback, and your written report.

£ 1,850

Pre-assessment questionnaires
Full clinical interview (ACIA / ADOS-2)
Informant interview (where applicable)
MDT formulation & feedback
Full written diagnostic report

£ 2,350

Everything in autism assessment
Integrated ADHD assessment
Explores ADHD/autism interaction
Medication planning (if ADHD confirmed)
Single combined report

Popular

£ 2,125

ADOS-2 observational assessment
ADI-R parent/guardian interview
Age-appropriate approach throughout
MDT formulation & family feedback
Full written diagnostic report

£ 3,295

Everything in child autism assessment
Integrated ADHD assessment
Explores ADHD/autism interaction
School/education recommendations
Single combined report

Making it manageable

Split your payment — no interest, no third parties

We offer a simple two-part payment plan on all assessments. Pay 50% when you book to secure your appointment, and the remaining 50% on the day of your assessment. No finance companies, no credit checks, no interest — just a straightforward way to spread the cost.

After your diagnosis

The assessment is a beginning, not an end

A diagnosis without support is just a label. We offer a range of post-diagnostic interventions — delivered by the same clinicians who assessed you — so that understanding your autism leads somewhere meaningful.

Post-Diagnostic Counselling

For many people — particularly those diagnosed later in life — the period after diagnosis involves grief, relief, anger, and a need to reframe an entire life story. Our post-diagnostic counselling offers a space to make sense of the diagnosis, explore what it means for you personally, and begin to build a new understanding of yourself rooted in who you actually are.

CAT-Informed Therapy

Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) is a relational, collaborative approach that explores how early patterns of relating shape how we experience ourselves and others. For autistic people who have spent years masking, adapting, or feeling fundamentally misunderstood, CAT offers a powerful framework for change. All of our therapists are CAT-informed, and CAT is the shared language across our clinical team.

Burnout Recovery & Masking Support

Autistic burnout — the result of sustained masking and sensory or social overload — is often profound and prolonged. We offer structured support to identify masking patterns, understand triggers, reduce unsustainable demands, and find ways of living that work with your neurology rather than against it.

Anxiety & Adapted CBT

Anxiety affects the majority of autistic people and is frequently the reason daily life feels unmanageable. We offer autism-adapted psychological therapies — including CAT, ACT, and adapted CBT — that work with autistic thinking styles rather than imposing neurotypical frameworks onto neurodivergent minds.

Family & Systemic Therapy

A diagnosis affects the whole family — and families affect the autistic person. We offer family therapy and systemic interventions for families navigating a new diagnosis, whether the identified person is a child or an adult. Our doctors bring specialist training in autism-specific family interventions, enabling therapeutic and medical care to be held within a single clinical relationship.

Social Communication Support

Led by our speech and language therapists, this is neurodiversity-affirming communication support — not social skills training designed to make you seem less autistic. We help people understand their own communication style, articulate their needs, advocate for themselves at work or in education, and navigate relationships on their own terms.

Neurodiverse Couples & Relationships

Many autistic adults are in relationships with non-autistic partners. Diagnosis can transform those relationships — for better or worse — and both partners often need support. We offer couples work informed by an understanding of neurodivergent relational patterns, communication differences, and the particular dynamics that emerge when one or both partners are autistic.

Workplace & Education Support

A diagnostic report is only useful if someone knows how to use it. We offer practical guidance on reasonable adjustments, workplace disclosure, EHCP applications for children and young people, university disability support, and how to advocate for yourself effectively in professional and educational settings.

Psychoeducation

Understanding autism — what it actually is, what the research says, and what it means for your specific profile — is often the most valuable thing that can follow a diagnosis. We offer individual and group psychoeducation for autistic people and for parents of newly diagnosed children, using accessible language grounded in a strengths-based understanding of neurodiversity.

Not sure what you need?

That is completely normal — especially in the weeks after a diagnosis. Get in touch and we will have an honest conversation about what might be most useful for you right now. There is no obligation to commit to anything, and no pressure to take any particular path.

Common questions

Things people often ask

Do I need a GP referral?

No. You can refer yourself directly. If you have relevant information from your GP or previous assessments, please bring it along — it can be helpful context — but it is not required.

Is the assessment available online or in-person?

We offer both in-person and remote assessments. Many clients find a combination works well — for example, completing questionnaires remotely but attending part of the interview in person. We will discuss what works best for you.

Will the assessment be valid / accepted by employers and services?

Yes. Our assessments are conducted using internationally recognised diagnostic instruments (ADOS-2, ADI-R, ACIA), follow DSM-5 and ICD-11 criteria, and are completed by trained, qualified clinicians. Our diagnostic reports are accepted by employers, universities, local authorities, and other services.

What if I am already on an NHS waiting list?

You can proceed with a private assessment without affecting your NHS referral. Many of our clients have been waiting years on NHS lists and choose not to wait any longer. A private diagnosis is clinically valid and widely accepted.

I am not sure whether I am autistic. Should I still get in touch?

Yes, absolutely. Uncertainty is completely normal and is often exactly the reason people seek assessment. You do not need to be certain before getting in touch — that is what the assessment is for. We will explore your experiences openly and reach a conclusion based on the evidence, whatever that turns out to be.

What if the assessment concludes I am not autistic?

A negative outcome is still a valuable one. We will explain clearly what was found, why autism does not fit the clinical picture, and what else might better explain your experiences. We will always discuss onward options and never leave you without a clinical explanation and next steps.

Do you assess children?

Yes. All of our clinicians are trained in the ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule), which is suitable for children of all ages. We adapt our approach to each child’s age, communication style, and needs — and parents or guardians are involved throughout the process. There is no lower age limit for our autism assessments.

Ready to see the whole you?

Take the first step. Get in touch and we will help you understand which assessment is right for you — no pressure, no jargon, just an honest conversation.

Start the conversation

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