“Diversity is the one true thing we all have in common. Celebrate it every day.”
Winston Churchill
Adult Autism & ADHD Assessments
Neurodiversity is the natural variation in how human brains develop, function and process information, encompassing a range of differences in thinking, learning, and interacting with the world. “Neurodivergence” refers to individuals whose cognitive patterns differ from what may be considered "neurotypical," including diagnoses such as autism and ADHD.
If you are considering having an assessment as an adult you may always have been aware of feeling different from a young age. Perhaps you have always struggled with things that appear to come naturally to others or maybe you have particular skills or patterns of thinking that others consider unusual, although they may be advantageous. It might be that you have become more aware of differences with maturity, insight and life experience.
Common reasons often identified by adults considering autism and/or ADHD assessment include:
having a child or other family member diagnosed as neurodivergent and resonating with their experiences or characteristics
increased awareness of neurodivergence via information in the media
chronic difficulties with mental health including (but not limited to) conditions such as anxiety, low mood, low self-esteem, OCD, mood instability or trauma
Whatever your own reasons for considering an assessment, it is important to have as much information as you need to be completely confident in the process and outcome of a diagnostic assessment.
If you are considering an adult autism or ADHD assessment, scroll down for more information on:
Benefits of assessment
My approach
What to expect in an autism or ADHD assessment
My expertise in the assessment of autism and ADHD
What to look for in a high-quality autism or ADHD assessment
You can also find out more about ADHD medication and my assessment prices.
If you have any questions that aren’t answered on this page, please get in touch.
Benefits of Assessment
Many adults pursue an assessment to better understand themselves and find a sense of validation and belonging. Whether or not a diagnosis is given, a thorough and neuroaffirmative assessment can increase insight and self-esteem and provide personalised and tailored recommendations to support next steps.
An accurate diagnosis can provide clarity, increase self-acceptance, and empower individuals to advocate for their needs in both personal and professional settings. It may also open doors to effective treatment, support strategies, and accommodations, improving overall quality of life.
My Approach
I offer gold-standard adult autism and ADHD assessments that fully adhere to guidelines provided by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
As a Clinical Psychologist with extensive experience in neurodivergence, my assessments are thorough and comprehensive combining structured clinical assessment tools with a highly tailored approach to capture your own individual presentation and experiences.
My approach is neuroaffirmative, emphasising understanding and focusing on strengths as well as challenges. The process aims to provide clarity and insight while fostering self-acceptance, promoting empowerment, and avoiding negative pathologising of differences.
I particularly recognise the importance of accurately diagnosing ADHD and autism in adults which has gone unrecognised or been previously misdiagnosed, possibly due to high-functioning, masking or not meeting gendered stereotypes.
Each assessment includes:
A full diagnostic assessment: including pre-assessment measures, collecting of informant information, developmental and medical history, mental health, thorough clinical evaluation of your concerns and related history, standardised assessment tools and expert analysis to assess your experiences.
Personalised feedback: A summary outcome letter and detailed report are provided. A follow-up feedback session is also included to discuss the assessment outcome and recommendations.
What to Expect in an Assessment
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Initial information is gathered using online questionnaires.
It is helpful to gather insights from someone who has known you well since childhood. They will be asked to complete a questionnaire to provide their perspective on how neurodivergence may have affected your life. If such a person is unavailable, a current close acquaintance can complete the questionnaire from their perspective.
Additionally, providing previous school or professional reports can aid in the assessment process.
This information, while beneficial, is not mandatory, and we can proceed with the assessment based on the information you provide if necessary.
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An assessment appointment typically takes between 2-4 hours (with breaks) and is conducted online via Zoom.
It covers:
Current challenges and concerns
Developmental history
Physical and mental health history
Standardised assessment tools for diagnosing autism or ADHD (assessment tools are chosen according to your individual presentation)
Your strengths
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Within 4 weeks of the assessment appointment, you will receive the following:
Summary Letter: A brief letter summarising the outcome of the assessment.
Diagnostic Assessment Report: A comprehensive report fully summarising the assessment conducted, a psychological summary of your individual presentation and experience, a formal diagnosis if given, and tailored recommendations and information.
Feedback Session: A tailored feedback session to explore the results of the assessment, answer your questions, and discuss recommendations.
My Expertise in the assessment of Autism and ADHD
Clinical Psychologists are trained in the comprehensive assessment of neurocognitive and mental health conditions. I have additional specialist experience in the assessment of neurodevelopmental conditions having completed a PhD specialising in neurodivergence at Oxford University. I have significant experience working in academia and research, the NHS and in private practice, with complex mental health conditions and neurodivergence, allowing me to assess for and consider differential diagnoses (a fundamental component of a thorough assessment).
I am trained in the following diagnostic assessment tools:
The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule – 2nd Edition (ADOS-2)
The Autism Diagnostic Interview – Revised (ADI-R)
The Autism Clinical Interview for Adults (ACIA)
The Royal College of Psychiatrists Interview Guide for the Diagnostic Assessment of Able Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
ADHD Child Evaluation version 2 (ACEv.2)
ACE+ version 2: A Diagnostic Interview of ADHD in Adults (ACE+v.2)
The Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults (DIVA-5)
All assessments adhere to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines on identification and assessment of autism or ADHD. In addition, the assessment process and preparation of reports follow standards set out by The Adult ADHD Assessment Quality Assurance Standard (AQAS) and The Adult Autism Assessment Handbook: A Neurodiversity-Affirmative Approach.
To maintain high quality and good practice I receive regular supervision. In the case of complex presentations, I collaborate with additional clinicians to review assessments and to verify and confirm diagnostic outcomes.
For more information or to schedule an assessment, please get in touch.
What to Look for in a High-Quality Autism or ADHD Assessment
A quality assessment should include the following:
Tailored process: Considers the complexity of your history and mental health, not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Gold-standard diagnostic tools: Uses one or more standardised interview measures (e.g. ACIA, ADI-R, ADOS-2, RCPsych Interview, ACE+, DIVA-5).
Multi-tool approach: Incorporates a full and comprehensive clinical interview and questionnaires alongside diagnostic tools.
Informant perspective: additional information collected from significant others to support the assessment process.
Multi-practitioner review in complex cases: Involves more than one expert ensuring thorough evaluation.
Expert oversight: Led by a Clinical Psychologist, Psychiatrist, or Paediatrician.
Identifying masking: Recognises when autism or ADHD symptoms may be hidden or masked.
Co-occurring conditions: Considers other neurodevelopmental and mental health conditions like autism, ADHD, dyslexia, depression, anxiety, trauma.
Differential diagnosis: Assesses whether symptoms are better explained by another mental health condition.
Feedback session: Provides a space to discuss the assessment, answer questions, and offer support.
Post-diagnostic signposting and support: Refers you to trusted resources and/or specialists for ongoing support.
I encourage people to ask questions before committing to an assessment. Getting a diagnostic assessment is an important step, and accuracy and confidence in the process and outcome is crucial.
ADHD Medication
As a Clinical Psychologist I do not prescribe medication. However, I am a registered psychologist partner of Malvern Hills ADHD Prescribing Team who offer fast medication consultations and prescription following diagnosis. Our partnership guarantees acceptance of your diagnosis and report.
If you are interested in exploring medication in the event of an ADHD diagnosis, please share this during your assessment for further information.