Skip to content
Dr Imogen Clarke
Chartered Clinical Psychologist, BA. (Hons.) D.Clin.Psy.

Autism assessment: what to expect

Assessment procedures for suspected Autism Spectrum Disorder comply with best practice guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). These are carried out with my colleague Christelle Bryan, Occupational Therapist.

Assessment typically involves:

  • Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) with child/young person face to face – approximately one hour

  • Autism Diagnostic Interview (ADI) with parents or carers – approximately two hours (usually online)

  • Assessment of emotional well being – approximately one hour (usually online with parents and face to face with child/young person)

  • Developmental history

  • Standardised questionnaires assessing emotional well being

  • School liaison call with someone who knows your child well at school

  • File review

On occasion school observation is also required and is charged separately according to my hourly rate. A feedback session (usually online) and an assessment report with recommendations are included in the assessment fee. Fee for diagnostic assessment for Autism Spectrum Disorder is £2150. A non refundable 20% deposit is payable upon booking an assessment with the outstanding balance payable prior to the start of the assessment.

Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS)

Your child will be invited to attend an ADOS assessment at my consulting rooms. The ADOS is a semi-structured standardised assessment of communication, social interaction and play or imaginative use of materials for individuals referred because of possible Autism Spectrum Disorder. The ADOS consists of standard activities allowing the examiner to observe behaviours important to diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorders at different developmental levels and chronological ages. Best practice guidelines indicate that more than one professional view should be included in Autism assessment. Christelle Bryan, Consultant Occupational Therapist will be present to administer ADOS assessment in order to ensure this. Imogen Clarke will also be present.

Autism Diagnostic Interview, Revised (ADI-R)

The ADI-R is a structured interview conducted with parents and carers of individuals with suspected Autism Spectrum Disorders in order to support assessment of their child. This focuses on behaviour and qualities in relation to the individual’s capacity for reciprocal social interaction, communication and language, and restricted and repetitive, stereotyped interests and behaviours.

Assessment of Emotional Wellbeing

As part of the diagnostic assessment I carry out assessment of the child or young person’s emotional and behavioural well being. This involves a conversation with parents and carers which takes place during video calls where ADI-R assessment is carried out. For older children and young people there will also be a conversation with them about how they are finding life. This part of the assessment helps with understanding what aspects of the difficulties a child or young person is facing relate to emotional and developmental factors, and with making appropriate recommendations for support.

Questionnaires

I will send you questionnaires about your child’s development and wellbeing, which you will need to complete and return to me.

Information on File

You will need to send me copies of previous assessments or therapeutic input carried out with your child so that I can review these as part of the assessment process. If your child has an Education Health and Care Plan I will need a copy of this.

School/Nursery Liaison

You will need to provide contact details for a staff member who knows your child. I will schedule a call with them to discuss your child’s social, emotional and academic functioning at school. Usually, a parent does not need to attend this.

What Happens After the Assessment?

Feedback Appointment

You will be offered a feedback appointment via video call within two weeks of the completion of your child’s assessment.

Assessment Reports

Assessment reports are usually sent out within four weeks of the feedback appointment, although this time scale can vary. You will receive a summary report which includes diagnostic conclusions and recommendations, a report detailing findings from the ADOS assessment and a report detailing findings from the ADI assessment.

Combined assessment for suspected Autism Spectrum Disorder and suspected Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

A combined assessment for Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder can be arranged as appropriate and includes all aspects of assessment for both disorders outlined above. Fee for combined assessment is £3100