Autism assessment for children & adolescents

£2,186

Clarity starts here

Autism presents differently in each child. Some show signs early, while others struggle more as social and academic demands grow. Identifying autism can be crucial in helping them access the support they need to thrive.

We assess children from the age of six and adolescents between the ages 12-16. For children younger than six, we may first gather information from parents before advising whether a full assessment is appropriate. Some early difficulties may look like autism but stem from other causes, and a clearer picture often emerges over time with input from schools and healthcare providers.

What is autism?

Signs of autism in children & adolescents

Some indicators of autism in children and adolescents include:

Unusual or delayed development of early language skills

Concerns at nursery or school, such as difficulties in mixing with other children, issues making and keeping friends, or choosing to play alone

Repetitive behaviours like hand flapping, rocking, or lining up toys in a specific order

Relying on strict routines and getting very upset by small changes

Overwhelmed by sensory inputs such as sounds, lights, or textures

Fixating on specific routines, like eating only one colour of food or repeatedly watching the same TV programme

Benefits of an autism assessment

Provide a clearer understanding of your child’s behaviours and needs

Open doors to appropriate educational and therapeutic support

Help family members, teachers, and peers better understand and support your child

Ensure that any previous misdiagnoses or misunderstandings are corrected

Identify whether autism is the best explanation or if other factors should be explored

What to expect

We know the prospect of a formal assessment can feel daunting. That’s why our assessment process is designed to ensure you feel informed and supported every step of the way.

All our assessments are conducted face-to-face at our diagnostic centre in Glasgow to provide the most thorough and accurate results. (Curious about why face-to-face assessments are important? Please see our FAQs page.) In exceptional circumstances, we can offer online assessments, such as when someone cannot travel to the centre. However, if we have any doubts about the outcome of an online assessment, we'll arrange a further face-to-face follow-up (at no extra cost) to ensure the results are accurate. The in-person assessment usually lasts around two hours, though this may vary depending on the point at which team have the information needed to reach a confident conclusion.

Please see our FAQs page

1. Pre-assessment

Before your visit, we’ll ask you to complete forms about your child’s behaviours and early development. These help us gather essential background information. We’ll review any medical records or school reports you provide, and may also ask the school to complete further questionnaires. 

Patient Referral Form – Helps us understand why you’re seeking an assessment for your child and any needs you’d like to share 

Early Development Questionnaire – This questionnaire will ask you about your child's early years and gather information on key areas such as the attainment of developmental milestones, play preferences, and language development.

2. Parent interview & diagnostic tests

Your visit will begin with a comprehensive interview between you and our clinicians. During this session, we’ll gather important insights about your child’s early development, current behaviours, and family history.   

While you meet with our clinicians, your child will engage with a dedicated autism practitioner for psychometric and other tests. The tests will be age-appropriate and typically include assessment of verbal and non-verbal intellectual function.

3. Clinical interview

For older children and adolescents, the clinical interview is a crucial part of the assessment process, where they meet with a team of three specialists for an in-depth discussion. For younger children, the team will use play-based or conversational methods suited to their developmental level, typically without parents present unless the child is very young or has limited verbal abilities, and use one or more standardised diagnostic tools where appropriate.

We recognise that every child is unique, and our team adapts assessments to ensure both you and your child feel comfortable and relaxed throughout the process.

4. Multi-disciplinary team meeting

After the clinical interview, the team will meet to review all the information gathered throughout the assessment. They will consider insights from both the parent and clinical interviews, using their clinical expertise to assess relevant patterns in your child’s communication, developmental history, social interactions, and other behaviours.

While this happens, you and your child can take a break in our waiting area. There’s no further input needed from you at this stage, so you can use this time to relax while we carefully assess the information and discuss our findings.

5. Feedback & recommendations

In most cases, you’ll be given confirmation of the assessment outcome during the same day’s feedback session. The outcome will either be Autism Spectrum Disorder (with or without intellectual or language impairment) or No Diagnosis on the Autism Spectrum. Occasionally, we may need more time to review information. If so, we’ll arrange a follow-up at no extra cost.

Please keep in mind that booking an assessment doesn’t guarantee a diagnosis. Many difficulties in young children can resemble autism but may have different underlying causes. Regardless of the outcome, we’ll provide tailored recommendations and guide you toward the right support and resources.

The sixth step of child autism assessment

6. Diagnostic report

Within a month, you’ll receive a detailed report of your child’s assessment using the World Health Organisation’s ICD-11 classification. If diagnosed with autism, it will outline the criteria met. A shorter Diagnostic Statement will also be provided for use in school or other support settings. 

If your child’s assessment was arranged through a third party, such as the NHS, they will also receive a copy. If you arranged the assessment privately, we recommend sharing it with their GP for their records and to facilitate appropriate support.

Our team remains available should you have any questions or require further guidance.