What to Expect in an Autism Assessment 

If you're considering an autism assessment for your child, you might feel unsure about the process. It's natural to wonder what exactly will happen and how it will help your child. In this post, I'll walk you through what an autism assessment looks like here at Percuro Psychology, helping you feel clear, supported, and prepared.

Step 1: Initial Enquiry and Referral

The assessment journey starts when you reach out to us. You'll have a chance to briefly share your concerns, and we'll guide you through our process. We'll send you screening questionnaires to fill out, gathering information from home and your child's school about their strengths, challenges, and developmental history.

Step 2: Initial Screening Appointment (£140)

Your first face-to-face meeting is an initial screening appointment, lasting around one hour. During this meeting, we'll discuss your child's experiences in depth. Together, we'll review the questionnaires and explore your concerns, your teen's strengths, and areas of challenge. At the end of this session, we'll determine whether an autism assessment is the right next step. If it isn't, we'll clearly explain why and provide alternative recommendations and resources.

Step 3: Comprehensive Autism Assessment (£2100)

Our gold-standard autism assessments follow NICE Guidelines. The process involves:

• ADOS Assessment: A structured assessment conducted by a trained clinician. This interactive session helps us observe your child's communication, social interaction, and behaviour.
• Detailed Developmental History: You'll be invited to a 1.5 hours session to explore your child's developmental history in detail.
• Multi-disciplinary Discussion: Our assessments are neuroaffirming and collaborative. The results from the ADOS, interviews, and questionnaires are reviewed in a multi-disciplinary meeting involving clinical psychologists and speech and language therapists to ensure a thorough assessment, a robust diagnostic conclusion and helpful recommendations.

Step 4: Feedback and Comprehensive Report

Following the assessment, you'll receive a detailed report outlining our findings, including whether your child meets the diagnostic criteria for autism. This report clearly describes your child's strengths, areas where support may be needed, and tailored recommendations for home and school environments.

You'll also attend a feedback meeting, allowing you to ask questions and ensure you fully understand the results and next steps.

Step 5: Follow-Up Support and Recommendations

Our support doesn't have to end with the diagnosis and recommendations. We offer post-diagnosis courses and one-to-one support sessions to help you and your child navigate life after diagnosis with confidence.

A Neuroaffirming, Supportive Approach

At Percuro Psychology, our approach is compassionate and affirming. We recognise that autism is a difference rather than a deficit, and our goal is always to support your child to thrive as their authentic self.

Ready to Get Started?

If you'd like to learn more or begin the referral process, please reach out to us via our website or give us a call on 07754 439891. We’re here to answer your questions, support your family, and ensure the assessment process feels clear and empowering every step of the way.