Autism Assessments

Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental difference which affects how people view, communicate and interact with the world.

It is important to understand that children and young people experience Autism differently. Some children and young people may even attempt to “mask” their difficulties around certain people or settings in order to fit in. If you notice that your child has been struggling with their social communication, language development or with repetitive and restricted behaviours, an autism assessment may be appropriate.

Assessment information

One in 100 people are on the autism spectrum and there are around 700,000 autistic adults and children in the UK.

Within our Autism Hub, we carry out autism spectrum disorder (ASD) assessments, based on UK best practice models, which are designed strictly in line with the latest research and meet or exceed government standards including the GOLD standard recommendations from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

There are many reasons a person might choose to pursue a diagnosis:

  • To better understand their behaviours, thoughts, and emotions, building a sense of self-identity.
  • To help identify their strengths and where they may need support.
  • To allow others to better support them, such as teachers, family members and future employers.
  • To open opportunities to access appropriate services and benefits, including reasonable adjustments in education and work.

Early identification and diagnosis can open the door for your child to develop necessary skills to fulfil their potential and thrive.

Our assessments

We use different types of assessments at the clinic, which assess for autism and help determine what support will be best for your child. Any challenges that your child be facing, may not be autism. Therefore, our specialist clinicians work hard to fully understand characteristics presented within the assessments by utilising a holistic approach and providing recommendations tailored to your child’s needs.

Our tools

Although other assessment tools exist, as a clinic our favoured tools are the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2 Informed Assessment). These two assessments are used in conjunction with one another to assess for autism.

The ADI-R is a structured interview conducted with someone who has known the individual closely since early childhood, for example, a parent or caregiver. The ADI-R takes two to three hours to complete, however, this may vary, with the interview covering the referred individual’s full developmental history. The ADOS is an assessment that helps a trained assessor make objective evaluations of a child and determine whether the behaviour pattern suggests a diagnosis of autism. The ADOS is a sequence of play and social activities that are done with the child, which can range from playing with bubbles, toys, and games.

At Young Wellbeing Hub we use an ADOS-informed digital observation, which means we utilise the ADOS components and administer the assessment online.

Helping people, changing lives.

If you have concerns regarding your child’s development and/or behaviour, getting them assessed by a trained professional is the first step to gaining an understanding of their needs and unlocking support.

Book an assessment with Young Wellbeing Hub today!