Adult Autism Assessment
We offer autism assessments to adults, aged 18 and upwards, living in England.
All of us at The Cavendish Clinic have experience of assessing autism in adults who have diverse backgrounds. Between us, we have seen adults in community and hospital mental health settings, community learning disability services, specialist autism services, the prison system, high secure hospitals and in private practice. We also all have substantial experience of assessing mental health in people who have minimal, moderate and enduring symptoms.
Rather than simply giving a diagnostic opinion about autism, we offer a formulation-based approach to the assessment. This means we aim to develop a shared understanding (with the person) about:
How difficulties, traits and symptoms potentially link together
If and how these have impacted or impaired everyday activities, family life, friendships, relationships, education and or employment
Which skills, strategies or resources have been helpful for managing and coping day-to-day
Whether mental health symptoms or conditions contribute to difficulties or impairment
Post-diagnostic support after an autism assessment
We usually make a range of recommendations, including signposting to other services or resources.
At The Cavendish Clinic, we offer individual, couples and family, and group post-diagnostic support in relation to an autism (or an ADHD) diagnosis. We also offer several psychological therapies for co-occurring mental health conditions and to address the impact of physical health conditions.
We usually make a range of recommendations, including signposting to other services or resources.
At The Cavendish Clinic, we offer individual, couples and family, and group post-diagnostic support in relation to an autism (or an ADHD) diagnosis. We also offer several psychological therapies for co-occurring mental health conditions and to address the impact of physical health conditions.
Extra components of an autism assessment
Sometimes we think it will be clinically helpful to add extra appointments to an autism assessment, to inform the diagnostic opinion and recommendations. If this is relevant for you, we will explain why we think this is important. There is no extra charge for any additional appointments.
You will be offered a choice of appointment times. If we can schedule this before the feedback appointment date that we originally agreed, we will do this. If this is not possible due to you or our availability, we will reschedule the feedback appointment together with you for our earliest availability.
Extra components of an assessment can include:
The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2). This is a specialist assessment of autistic traits that involves doing some activities and chatting. It takes around 1 hour. We do this in person at offices in one of four locations: Central London, Leamington Spa, Cambridge and Bournemouth
An extra meeting with important people such as a partner or friend. This helps us find out more about strengths and any difficulties
In depth structured assessment of specific mental health conditions, such as obsessive compulsive disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder
Sometimes we think it will be clinically helpful to add extra appointments to an autism assessment, to inform the diagnostic opinion and recommendations. If this is relevant for you, we will explain why we think this is important. There is no extra charge for any additional appointments.
You will be offered a choice of appointment times. If we can schedule this before the feedback appointment date that we originally agreed, we will do this. If this is not possible due to you or our availability, we will reschedule the feedback appointment together with you for our earliest availability.
Extra components of an assessment can include:
The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2). This is a specialist assessment of autistic traits that involves doing some activities and chatting. It takes around 1 hour. We do this in person at offices in one of four locations: Central London, Leamington Spa, Cambridge and Bournemouth
An extra meeting with important people such as a partner or friend. This helps us find out more about strengths and any difficulties
In depth structured assessment of specific mental health conditions, such as obsessive compulsive disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder
Overview of an autism assessment
Our standard autism assessment is approximately 7.5 hours, with the time split across scheduled appointments that take place over a 2 - 3 week period.
This may seem like quite a long time, and we know this is longer than many other services. However, we do this for two reasons: 1) we adopt a thorough approach to autism assessment; and 2) in our clinical experience, people find it helpful to have time to settle into the assessment process. In turn, this means they tend to feel more comfortable and confident to talk about aspects of their life that have been good, as well as those that have been more emotionally challenging or upsetting.
Appointments ordinarily take place Monday to Friday, 8am - 8pm. You will be asked what dates and times are best for you, and we will do our best to accommodate these.
The assessment is usually structured as follows:
An introductory appointment for 30 minutes with both clinicians involved in the autism assessment. They will answer any questions you have and offer an overview of themes they will focus on in subsequent appointments
Two 90 minute appointments (one with each clinician). They will ask about topics including current difficulties, childhood development and what life was like growing up, education and employment, social relationships, physical health, mental health and emotional wellbeing, hobbies, strengths and preferences
A developmental assessment called the Autism Diagnostic Interview (ADI-R). The ADI-R is completed with a parent or someone who knew you very well as a child. It takes around 2 hours to complete and mainly focuses on early childhood history and development. We know that it is not always possible to speak to a parent. In this case, we will ask if we can meet with someone who knew you when you were growing up or who has known you for a few years (for example, a sibling, relative, friend or partner). We do not do the ADI-R with them, because it is not licensed to be used with someone who was not present in early childhood. Instead, we will ask them some more general questions, such as about their thoughts about strengths and any difficulties you may have. It is up to you if you want to be present at this appointment
Completion of a few questionnaires to screen for mental health conditions that commonly co-occur with autism, such as anxiety, and to understand a bit more about any difficulties described in earlier appointments. Some services give out questionnaires in advance of the first appointment. We do not do this. We will give these out after you have met the clinicians at least twice. This is because we choose bespoke questionnaires that seem appropriate per person, rather than using a general set for everyone. Each questionnaire takes less than 10 minutes to complete
A one hour feedback appointment with one or both clinicians to share our thoughts about diagnosis and to make tailored recommendations based on difficulties that have been described and that you would like help with. If we do not think autism is the best way to explain the traits, symptoms and difficulties described, we will explain why we think this, in the context of the formulation
A comprehensive letter sent within 2 - 3 weeks summarising all the components of the autism assessment, our diagnostic opinion and recommendations we think can be helpful. We signpost back into NHS services when we can, such as for accessing ongoing support with mental health
A 60 minute follow up appointment with one of the clinicians after you have received the comprehensive letter, if you would like, to reflect on having an autism assessment, to discuss the recommendations in more detail and answer any questions you may have
Our standard autism assessment is approximately 7.5 hours, with the time split across scheduled appointments that take place over a 2 - 3 week period.
This may seem like quite a long time, and we know this is longer than many other services. However, we do this for two reasons: 1) we adopt a thorough approach to autism assessment; and 2) in our clinical experience, people find it helpful to have time to settle into the assessment process. In turn, this means they tend to feel more comfortable and confident to talk about aspects of their life that have been good, as well as those that have been more emotionally challenging or upsetting.
Appointments ordinarily take place Monday to Friday, 8am - 8pm. You will be asked what dates and times are best for you, and we will do our best to accommodate these.
The assessment is usually structured as follows:
An introductory appointment for 30 minutes with both clinicians involved in the autism assessment. They will answer any questions you have and offer an overview of themes they will focus on in subsequent appointments
Two 90 minute appointments (one with each clinician). They will ask about topics including current difficulties, childhood development and what life was like growing up, education and employment, social relationships, physical health, mental health and emotional wellbeing, hobbies, strengths and preferences
A developmental assessment called the Autism Diagnostic Interview (ADI-R). The ADI-R is completed with a parent or someone who knew you very well as a child. It takes around 2 hours to complete and mainly focuses on early childhood history and development. We know that it is not always possible to speak to a parent. In this case, we will ask if we can meet with someone who knew you when you were growing up or who has known you for a few years (for example, a sibling, relative, friend or partner). We do not do the ADI-R with them, because it is not licensed to be used with someone who was not present in early childhood. Instead, we will ask them some more general questions, such as about their thoughts about strengths and any difficulties you may have. It is up to you if you want to be present at this appointment
Completion of a few questionnaires to screen for mental health conditions that commonly co-occur with autism, such as anxiety, and to understand a bit more about any difficulties described in earlier appointments. Some services give out questionnaires in advance of the first appointment. We do not do this. We will give these out after you have met the clinicians at least twice. This is because we choose bespoke questionnaires that seem appropriate per person, rather than using a general set for everyone. Each questionnaire takes less than 10 minutes to complete
A one hour feedback appointment with one or both clinicians to share our thoughts about diagnosis and to make tailored recommendations based on difficulties that have been described and that you would like help with. If we do not think autism is the best way to explain the traits, symptoms and difficulties described, we will explain why we think this, in the context of the formulation
A comprehensive letter sent within 2 - 3 weeks summarising all the components of the autism assessment, our diagnostic opinion and recommendations we think can be helpful. We signpost back into NHS services when we can, such as for accessing ongoing support with mental health
A 60 minute follow up appointment with one of the clinicians after you have received the comprehensive letter, if you would like, to reflect on having an autism assessment, to discuss the recommendations in more detail and answer any questions you may have
Introductory consultation
We will offer you a free introductory consultation (online or by phone) for up to 60 minutes to understand a bit more about the reasons for the referral, offer information about the assessment process and answer any questions you may have. We may ask about any recent or past contact you have had with health services, and about your general health and emotional wellbeing.
Usually, the clinician who offers the introductory consultation is one of the clinicians involved with the autism assessment (we work in pairs). This means you will have an opportunity to consider whether you feel there is a good fit with one of our team and how we work.
We do not expect you to decide whether to go ahead with an autism assessment at this point. There is no hard sell. In our experience, some people like to have time to think about whether to proceed, and we are always happy to answer follow up questions. Other people make a decision more quickly. We respect that each person approaches an autism assessment for unique reasons.
At the end of the introductory consultation, if we think we are not the best service to provide an autism assessment, we will explain why this is, and we may signpost you to other services.
We will offer you a free introductory consultation (online or by phone) for up to 60 minutes to understand a bit more about the reasons for the referral, offer information about the assessment process and answer any questions you may have. We may ask about any recent or past contact you have had with health services, and about your general health and emotional wellbeing.
Usually, the clinician who offers the introductory consultation is one of the clinicians involved with the autism assessment (we work in pairs). This means you will have an opportunity to consider whether you feel there is a good fit with one of our team and how we work.
We do not expect you to decide whether to go ahead with an autism assessment at this point. There is no hard sell. In our experience, some people like to have time to think about whether to proceed, and we are always happy to answer follow up questions. Other people make a decision more quickly. We respect that each person approaches an autism assessment for unique reasons.
At the end of the introductory consultation, if we think we are not the best service to provide an autism assessment, we will explain why this is, and we may signpost you to other services.
What to expect
Your questions answered
Yes absolutely. We accept self-referrals, as well as referrals from clinicians and clinical commissioners.
Can I refer myself for an autism assessment?
No, not at all.
However, if you are regularly in contact with another clinician, such as your GP or a mental health professional, it can be helpful for us to receive a letter from them summarising the service/treatment they are offering you. This is because it can aid our understanding of how an autism assessment fits with other aspects of your care. It also means we may be able to make more tailored recommendations.
Do I need a referral letter from my GP or another health professional?
If you would like someone else to help you with the referral or to arrange the assessment for you, we will need your consent to do this.
Can someone else arrange the autism assessment on my behalf?
Some of our clinicians have provided autism assessments for children and teenagers elsewhere.
However, at The Cavendish Clinic, we only see adults, aged 18 and upwards.
Our clinical colleagues at the Effra Clinic offer autism assessments for people under aged 18. Please see here for more information: https://www.effraclinic.co.uk/
I will be 18 years old in a few weeks. Can you see me for an autism assessment?
Some of our clinicians have provided ADHD assessments, such as in specialist services and hospital settings.
However, we do not offer ADHD assessments at The Cavendish Clinic. This is because when someone is diagnosed with ADHD, a trial of medication may be recommended as part of the treatment plan. Some nurses are non-medical prescribers, although our nurses at The Cavendish Clinic are not.
We therefore recommend the Effra Clinic or the Craig Clinic if you would like an adult ADHD assessment adult. Please see here for more information:
https://www.effraclinic.co.uk/
The Effra Clinic offers a lifespan service, including ADHD assessments for children and teenagers.
Do you also do ADHD assessments?
Our standard approach is to offer the assessment online, over several appointments that are planned in advance. Doing autism assessments online became far more commonplace after the start of the covid pandemic, and some of our clinicians at The Cavendish Clinic have conducted research about working in this way.
If we think it will be clinically beneficial to offer one in person appointment, we use offices at one of four locations: Central London, Leamington Spa, Cambridge and Bournemouth.
Where will the autism assessment take place?
Yes, absolutely. At The Cavendish Clinic we work in a transparent, open and collaborative way.
We offer a 60 minute introductory consultation for free (online or by phone). This is an opportunity to find out more about your reasons for referral and a bit about your general health and emotional wellbeing. We will also answer any questions you have, share information about who we are and, how we work, and the main components of an autism assessment.
We will encourage you to take the time to decide if you think that booking an autism assessment with us is right for you. You can always ask us further questions if you have some, after the initial consultation.
Sometimes we think that another service would be better placed to offer an autism assessment. In this instance, we will explain why we think this, at the end of the initial consultation. We will try to signpost to other services when we can.
Do you offer a free consultation?
We understand that paying for an adult autism assessment can be a significant investment.
We strive to keep our fees transparent and fair, ensuring that they reflect the training, expertise, and high-quality care provided by our experienced clinicians.
An autism assessment is £1950.
You can also find out more about our fees on our pricing page.
How much does an adult autism assessment cost?
Usually, two clinicians are involved in an autism assessment. Some appointments are with one clinician and some are with both of them.
You will know in advance which clinician will be at which appointment.
Occasionally, a third clinician may be involved in an autism assessment. For example, we sometimes think it will be helpful to offer one in person appointment or an additional appointment online (there is no extra charge for either of these) - another person in our team may have availability sooner than the two clinicians you have already met, so we may ask if you agree to meet with them.
How many clinicians will I see for the autism assessment?
Clinician is not a protected term. This means people who do and do not have a clinical qualification and accreditation with a regulatory body, may use this term. We suggest checking what clinical qualifications a professional has before seeing them for a health appointment.
All of us at The Cavendish Clinic have several clinical qualifications. We are HCPC registered clinical psychologists or NMC registered nurses. We also all have additional post-qualification training, including in psychological therapies (such as CBT, EMDR and couples and family work), and in the use of diagnostic assessments that may be incorporated into an autism assessment (such as the ADOS-2 and ADI-R).
Are your clinicians qualified to do autism assessments?
In our experience, some people feel confident that having an autism assessment will be useful for them. However, this is not always the case. Some people, for example, feel unsure if an autism assessment will be beneficial, yet significant others in their lives (such as partners or parents) think this is very important.
We will not advise you about whether you should or should not have an autism assessment, but at a free introductory consultation, we may offer some suggestions about things you can consider that may help you decide whether or not to go ahead.
Should I book an adult autism assessment?
We cannot predict the outcome of an autism assessment in advance. Some people receive an autism diagnosis, with or without a diagnosis of a co-occurring mental health conditions, such as anxiety. Sometimes we do not think that autism is the best explanation for the difficulties, strengths and preferences someone describes. If we think this, we will explain why and talk through the formulation (a formulation is a way of considering how difficulties, traits and symptoms may link together).
Will I receive a diagnosis of autism after an assessment?
Yes of course. We write comprehensive letters outlining what the autism assessment comprised, summarising the themes we talked about throughout the appointments, stating our clinical (diagnostic) opinion about autism and potentially about co-occurring mental health conditions, and making recommendations we think will be helpful for you.
Sometimes people find it helpful to have a short letter that summarises the diagnostic opinion, and we are happy to provide this as well.
Will you send me a report or a letter after the autism assessment takes place?
Testimonials
I was given a lot of information before the meeting and before we had even decided to go ahead with the assessment Debbie took a lot of time to talk to me in a very supportive way which put me at ease
You have both been incredibly kind and nothing has ever seemed too much trouble. The information, guidance and signposting to more sources of support will be invaluable.
It was a real pleasure to talk to people who really understood the complexity and subtlety of my son’s autism...it was great to see how you got beneath the surface to get the real story from him. You were kind, empathetic, encouraging and generous.
Very pleased that we were able to take advantage of their skills to assist [our son] in getting the diagnosis and help that he needs.
This was the best interaction I’ve ever had with professionals, they were super supportive and consistently made sure I was comfortable, and really took the time to understand me and my needs
Kindness, Compassion, Non-judgemental, Ethical, Collaborative