The Autism Diagnostic Interview – Revised (ADI-R) typically takes between 1 to 3 hours to complete.
The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) assessment usually takes between 45 minutes to 1 hour.
At the start of the session, we will kindly ask you to accompany your child into the room to help them settle in. We take some time to ensure they feel comfortable, often engaging them in conversation about their interests. You’re welcome to bring something from home that your child enjoys or finds reassuring. Once your child is settled, we will ask you to wait in the waiting area, just outside of the assessment room. Your child will be informed that they can take a break at any time if needed.
If your child is particularly anxious, you may remain in the room; however, we kindly ask that you do not answer any questions on their behalf. This is important, as parental input during the session can influence the scoring of assessments. For this reason, we prefer that parents wait in the waiting area whenever possible.
The Autism Diagnostic Interview – Revised (ADI-R) is a structured, standardised interview used to gather detailed information about an individual’s early development and lifelong behavioural patterns. The ADI-R is typically conducted with a parent or someone who knew the individual well during early childhood—ideally someone who can recall developmental milestones, social behaviours, and communication patterns from ages 4 to 5 and beyond.
The ADI-R focuses on three key areas:
The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) is a semi-structured, standardised assessment used to evaluate communication, social interaction, and imaginative play in individuals referred for possible autism. At our clinic, the ADOS is carried out by one of our clinicians, but only following the initial assessment and when indicated by the results of the screening and developmental interview.
After the ADOS is administered, it is scored and a detailed report is prepared and forwarded to the clinician who conducted the initial assessment. A diagnostic panel then reviews the ADOS results alongside all other assessment data to support diagnostic decision-making. Please note that the ADOS is not used on its own to diagnose autism, but rather as one part of a comprehensive evaluation process.
Both you and your child do not need to prepare anything prior to the ADOS assessment. No formal preparation is required before the ADI-R assessment. However, it can be helpful to spend some time thinking about your child’s early developmental history, including milestones, communication, social behaviours, and any concerns you may have had as they were growing up. The interview focuses on your observations as a parent or caregiver, so reflecting on your child’s behaviour from an early age to the present can support the process.
If you have any relevant documents—such as previous assessments, reports, or developmental records—please feel free to have them on hand, as they may be useful during the interview.
Payment is required in advance of the initial face to face appointment and must be made via bank transfer. Please note that we do not accept insurance payments directly. However, we can provide an invoice receipt for clients who wish to claim reimbursement from their insurance provider.
We do not accept payments by cheque or credit card.
An invoice with full payment instructions will be sent to you prior to your appointment.
You are able to make changes to your booking up to ten working days of your scheduled assessment. Unfortunately, we are unable to make changes to your booking after this time and the full amount for the assessment will be payable.
Following the assessment, we provide a detailed report that includes tailored recommendations to support your or your child’s needs. These recommendations are also discussed further during the feedback meeting.
We have established links with local services and clinicians, and we can signpost you to appropriate support options after the assessment. However, please be aware that many services—both within the NHS and the private sector—often have long waiting times. While we aim to guide you towards suitable resources, we cannot guarantee immediate availability with any specific provider.
We conduct all of our assessments within accessible premises. Should you require any further adjustments or wish to discuss your access requirements ahead of your appointment, please contact us and we will be happy to discuss these with you. We may be able to offer at-home appointments but please note that associated travel fees will be charged accordingly.
This is a common question, especially from parents seeking clarity on whether a privately funded assessment will be recognised and used to access further support for their child.
There is no legal basis for an assessment to be rejected solely because it was conducted privately—provided it follows NICE guidelines and is carried out by appropriately trained and qualified professionals. Both Kirsty and Charlotte are fully registered Practitioner Psychologists with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and have extensive experience in NHS child and adult services.
For families applying for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), it’s particularly important to know that Local Authorities are legally required to consider professional advice submitted as part of the EHCP assessment process. Ignoring this input can be considered a breach of the SEND Code of Practice (2015). We recommend sharing our assessment information sheet to reassure them that our processes meet national standards.
Please note that our role is to conduct thorough neurodevelopmental assessments to determine whether you or your child meets diagnostic criteria for conditions such as autism or ADHD. While our report includes detailed diagnostic reasoning, we do not typically offer recommendations about specific school placements or educational provisions for EHCP applications. If this type of guidance is needed, we recommend consulting an Educational Psychologist.
Our assessments are carried out by two HCPC‑registered Clinical Psychologists with specialist experience. The fee reflects the significant time and expertise involved across the full process, including detailed review of background information, in‑depth clinical interviews and developmental history, use and interpretation of validated diagnostic tools, joint clinical formulation, and a comprehensive written report with clear conclusions and recommendations. This approach is consistent with NICE guidance, which highlights the importance of thorough, multi‑component clinical assessment rather than brief or single‑session approaches.
Some providers may offer quick, low‑cost or entirely remote assessments with limited clinician involvement. While these models may work for some people, they can feel impersonal and may not allow sufficient time to understand the individual in context or explore complexity. Our approach prioritises person‑centred assessment, upholding a neuro-affirmative and strengths-based approach throughout the entirety of the process.