ADHD and Autism Assessment Process
The ADHD and Autism Assessment process follows several stages, starting with a preliminary assessment, and moving to a full diagnostic assessment, should it be considered necessary.
We have detailed each of these stages and next steps following a full assessment, so you are aware before you or a family member knows what to expect beforehand
Stage 1: Preliminary Assessment for ADHD and/or Autism
What’s it for?
This helps us advise you as to whether a full assessment for ADHD and/or Autism is recommended. If screening indicates that difficulties are not related to ADHD and/or Autism, we will explain this and review your options. If this happens, a Stage 2 Diagnostic Assessment is not required.
What happens?
- We will send you questionnaires to complete in advance of the appointment. Your clinician will review these before the screening assessment.
- You will attend a screening assessment to discuss your experiences throughout the whole lifespan (if a child or young person is being assessed they should also attend).
- We will provide you with the outcome of the screening assessment, and discuss options with you.
Next Steps:
If your assessment identifies that you/your child meets the diagnostic criteria for ADHD and/or Autism, there are several options for further support. These include:
- Medical support for ADHD – we have partnerships with Edinburgh Adult Psychiatry and Edinburgh Psychiatry who can support you through medication titration.
- Non-medical support such as Coaching, Psychological Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, or Occupational Therapy – we can provide these services, or signpost you to other organisations that provide these services.
- Peer and other support – we can signpost you to organisations that offer other types of support, including peer support for children, young people and parents.
Stage 2: Full Diagnostic Assessment for ADHD and/or Autism
What is it for?
If our in-depth screening assessment indicates that significant traits suggestive of ADHD and/or Autism have been present throughout the life of the person being assessed, we will advise you to continue with a full diagnostic assessment. To ensure we comply with NICE guidelines, we can only offer a full diagnostic assessment following initial screening assessment which has been carried out by Shore Psychology CIC.
What happens?
- You (and your child/ young person if they are being assessed) will meet again with your assessing clinician(s) for completion of appropriate further assessments and discussion of your experiences. This will include a taking a detailed developmental history. Another clinician may join for some of this to help provide a thorough assessment.
- Your clinician will arrange another appointment to meet with you to help the clinician observe any potential traits of autism and/or ADHD. This may include a standardised assessment tool such as the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) for assessments of autism. This will be discussed with you beforehand. If a child or young person is being assessed they will need to attend.
- Adult ADHD Assessment only: If available, we may seek to gain further insights from someone who has known you for a significant period of time, preferably including in childhood. This normally involves your observer completing a questionnaire and taking part in a 30-minute interview.
- The clinicians who have been involved in the assessment will hold a Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) discussion to decide whether the person being assessed meets diagnostic criteria for Autism and/or ADHD. This is in line with best practice guidelines.
- We will provide you with the outcome of our full assessment, and discuss options and our recommendations with you.
Children/Young People Assessments only:
With your consent, your clinician will contact the school your child/young person attends, and ask the most appropriate person (most often the class teacher) to complete some questionnaires. There will be some further questionnaires for you to complete before the appointment.
Also, with your consent, a clinician from Shore Psychology will conduct an observation of your child in their classroom.
Next Steps:
If your assessment identifies that you/your child meets the diagnostic criteria for ADHD and/or Autism, there are several options for further support. These include:
- Medical support for ADHD – we have partnerships with Edinburgh Adult Psychiatry and Edinburgh Psychiatry who can support you through medication titration.
- Non-medical support such as Coaching, Psychological Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, or Occupational Therapy – we can provide these services, or signpost you to other organisations that provide these services.
- Peer and other support – we can signpost you to organisations that offer other types of support, including peer support for children, young people and parents.