Autism Assessments- how does it work?

Step 1- Screening

If you're concerned that you may be autistic, our free screening process can offer clarity and direction. This is carried out by a neurodevelopmental practitioner. If the results suggest autism, we will recommend a full diagnostic assessment to provide a clear and informed outcome. 

Step 2- Gathering Information

Before we arrange your assessment, we ask someone who knows you well—ideally from childhood—to complete a report form and an online screening questionnaire.

If the assessment is for your child , we ask your child’s school to complete a report form and an online screening questionnaire to help us understand how your child behaves in different social settings. This information supports our clinical team in gaining a clearer picture of your child’s strengths and needs during the assessment. 

This helps us learn more about you/ your child and how you/ they developed over time. Neurodevelopmental conditions like autism are present from birth, so understanding early experiences, strengths, and needs provides valuable insight for our clinical team during the assessment process. 

Step 3- Assessment

The assessment is conducted by a psychologist or neurodevelopmental practitioner with expertise in assessing autism. During the appointment, we carry out a detailed clinical interview that explores various aspects of your experiences, ensuring you feel heard, respected, and understood. 

We will engage with you/ your child in a supportive way, using the ADOS-2—the recognised gold standard tool for observing behaviour. The process also involves a detailed discussion with you about your child’s developmental history, as well as a school report provided by their teacher (or another appropriate professional).

We use standardised assessments- ADI-R and ADOS-2.

Step 4-  MDT and Report

Following completion of the assessment, the findings are reviewed by our multidisciplinary team (MDT). This important stage brings together the expertise of clinicians involved in the assessment process to consider all available information, including developmental history, assessment findings, observations and supporting evidence.

The MDT carefully evaluates whether the assessment findings are consistent with the diagnostic criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder and agrees on the diagnostic outcome.

Following the MDT discussion, a comprehensive report is produced. The report provides a detailed yet accessible summary of the assessment findings, diagnostic outcome (where applicable), individual strengths, areas of need and personalised recommendations. The report can be shared with schools, colleges, employers and other professionals to support understanding and access to appropriate support.

Step 5- Support

Following your autism assessment—whether or not a diagnosis is given—our team will guide you through the next steps. We’ll discuss the support available through Caleidoscope, which may include tailored 1:1 sessions, access to relevant webinars, or signposting to additional services based on your individual needs and goals.