Autism assessments
What is autism?
Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition that is lifelong. The official diagnostic term using DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual) criteria is Autistic Spectrum Disorder, or ASD. However, many autistic people reject the idea that autism is a disorder, and similarly I adopt a neuro-affirmative approach to assessment which highlights both the challenges and strengths and positives of being autistic.
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Many people who have undiagnosed autism have a sense of shame and of being defective or weird, often because this is the message they have received from others which has been internalised. Having a diagnosis can be life changing, as a person realises that in fact there is a clear explanation for the difficulties they have had.
What is involved in an autism assessment?
Autism assessments: It is very important to ensure an autism assessment is completed by an experienced professional and that national (NICE) guidelines are adhered to. I have been completing autism assessment within the NHS and privately for many years. I am trained in 'gold standard' assessment tools eg DISCO, ADOS, ACIA, and am used to assessing where there are complex issues eg trauma and other mental health issues. ​Autism assessments involve two or possibly three appointments, followed by a feedback appointment. These will be to gather information about your developmental history and current functioning, and sometimes I will complete a direct, observational assessment which may involve some tasks and questions. Ideally, a parent or older sibling will be asked questions about early developmental history, although this is not essential. The order in which this occurs is not important. The bespoke plan for your assessment will be determined in the initial session. You will receive a report confirming the outcome and offering a formulation and recommendations where required. ​The feedback appointment will be to discuss the outcome and cover any questions you may have. The assessments can be completed either face to face or online.​
What happens in an autism screening?
Some people prefer to have a shorter screening appointment rather than a comprehensive assessment. A screening will not give any definitive answers, but it will enable a decision to be made about whether a full assessment is justified.
A screening appointment lasts 90 minutes, during which questions will be asked about autism AND ADHD traits. This is because a significant proportion of people who have autism also have ADHD, and also because there may be indicators of ADHD instead of autism. Following the screening a short report will be written which will indicate the likelihood of any neurodiversity, and you can then decide if this is sufficient for you or whether you wish to go ahead with a full assessment.