Before the assessment, you will receive an email containing a few questionnaires and requests for information about yourself, such as school reports and childhood experiences. This information can help clinicians understand your developmental history, as symptoms of autism often present early in life. However, the lack of this information will not necessarily prevent you from undergoing an assessment. You will then schedule an initial appointment with a trained clinician, which will be confirmed by email. Subsequent appointments will be scheduled at this review.

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The free initial consultation typically lasts 30 minutes and involves a comprehensive discussion. During this meeting, we will discuss various topics, including current symptoms, your reasons for seeking an autism diagnosis, childhood development, family history and your current lifestyle. 

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The second appointment will be slightly longer, lasting approximately 3 hours. In this meeting, you will complete the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R), a formal autism diagnostic questionnaire. Clinicians may arrange a second follow up appointment to clarify or obtain additional information if necessary. 

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​On a third appointment, you will be invited to complete the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2), a formal observational assessment. The ADOS-2 typically takes around 60 minutes and involves structured activities such as conversation, storytelling, and building with blocks. These activities are designed to observe your communication skills and the presence of repetitive behaviours or sensory sensitivities. The ADOS-2 assessment provides valuable information to help diagnose autism and guide appropriate treatment and support.

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Our autism assessments include an additional outcome meeting, which will last approximately 30 minutes. In this meeting, your clinician will share their assessment findings, including whether a diagnosis of autism best captures the challenges you are facing. You will then receive a detailed assessment report along with recommendations, which may include recommendations for psychological intervention, occupational therapy and lifestyle advice.

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At South East Autism we recognise that the outcome of an assessment can take time to process. Our final session takes place around 4 weeks after we provide the assessment report and outcome meeting. This is an opportunity to clarify any details you wish to discuss in more depth as well as receive some support processing what this means for you and your family. Where appropriate we may also discuss referrals to other services based on our observations and any identified needs. 

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Our fees: £1,999. This includes all of the elements listed above. There will never be any hidden extras or additional costs to pay. 

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