What is a joint Child and Teen Autism and ADHD assessment?
This is the right assessment if your child or teen would benefit from an assessment of both.
This is because autism and ADHD have up to a 75% chance of being ‘co-morbid’ i.e., they are both present. ADHD is thought to occur more often in autism than autism is in ADHD. Sometimes, autism symptoms can mask ADHD symptoms and the other way round. This means that correct identification of both areas can be really helpful to get the right understanding and support.
How do we assess for autism and ADHD?
Our specialist team of psychologists follow all NICE Guidelines and follow DSM 5 criteria for all our multi-professional assessments. We use NICE approved psychological tools, including the ADOS 2, ADI-R, 3Di, Conner’s rating scales, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, sensory assessment and QbCheck, an objective measure of ADHD symptoms.
QBCheck Assessment
We use QbCheck for every ADHD assessment. This is an objective ADHD tests, and NICE approved for use for people aged 6-60. At times, subjective data from rating scales can provide conflicting information. By adding objective measures, with QbCheck, we can mitigate subjectivity and get a better understanding of core ADHD symptoms, increasing accuracy of the assessment.
Do we prescribe?
As we are a psychologist-lead service, we cannot directly prescribe, but we are able to liaise with prescribing psychiatrists. Our linked psychiatrists charge a separate fee to evaluate and then initiate medication. As our assessments follow all NICE guidelines and DSM 5 criteria, our linked psychiatrists are happy to accept our ADHD diagnostic reports.
What is the cost?
The cost is £3,400
Can you combine assessments?
We are specialists in combining autism and/ or ADHD assessments with Educational Psychology assessments. If this is something you are interested in, please get in touch as we may be able to offer a reduction in fees.
What happens during the assessment?
All our assessments are in line with NICE guidelines and DSM 5 criteria. As such, we use NICE approved tools including rating scales for you, your child and school staff to fill in. We also assess for sensory differences and emotional well-being including specific measures for anxiety. We use the ADOS 2 for in clinic appointments with your child, as well as QB Check, a new NICE approved objective measure of attention to support correct ADHD identification. Our clinical psychologist conducts a parental neurodevelopmental interviews separately for the Autism assessment by online call. Our Autism and ADHD services are supervised by a consultant psychologists and neurodevelopmental CAMHS leads.
When you book in, we will ask you to provide your child’s full name and date of birth. This is so that we can send out our terms of business and consent form via our practice software, Semble. We send a deposit invoice for £300 at this point. Once these forms are returned and you have paid the deposit, we will book your assessment appointments.
You will have appointments with Dr Tamasine Black and one of our clinical psychologists in total; the first is a brief, informal phone call with Dr Tamasine Black whereby we discuss any questions you may have. There are then three further appointments, two of which are in clinic for your child (each lasting approximately 80 minutes) and one of which is an online parental neurodevelopmental interview, lasting up to 90 minutes. Finally, following a multi-disciplinary meeting we issue a substantial report of approximately 50 pages. All in-person appointments are recorded using voice recording software for safeguarding and effective supervision purposes.
What happens after the assessment?
We offer continued psychoeducation in the form of single or ongoing 50-minute sessions with our Lead Psychologist, Dr Tamasine Black, or Dr Rachael Miller, Clinical Psychologist. Psychoeducation is an evidence-based therapeutic intervention for clients that provides information and support to better understand and cope with autism and ADHD. These are charged separately at £120per session.
Joint Child and Teen Autism and ADHD Assessment FAQ
What is this assessment for?
This assessment is for children and teens between the ages of 6 and 18.
Who carries out the assessment?
Our ADHD assessment team includes Dr Tamasine Black (Lead Psychologist), and Dr Rachael Miller (Clinical Psychologist) of Dr Jennifer Vaughan (Clinical Psychologist). All members of the team are additionally trained in autism and ADHD assessment and diagnosis. They are registered with their professional bodies with enhanced DBS checks.
What happens after the assessment?
We offer continued psychoeducation in the form of single or ongoing 50-minute sessions with our Lead Psychologist, Dr Tamasine Black, or Dr Rachael Miller, Clinical Psychologist. Psychoeducation is an evidence-based therapeutic intervention for clients that provides information and support to better understand and cope with ADHD. These are charged separately at £130 per session.
Does the assessment follow the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines?
We follow all NICE guidelines and DSM-5 criteria. Our team are additionally supervised by ADHD consultant psychologists.
Do you prescribe medication?
We are not a prescribing service. The NICE guidance for ADHD prescribing specifies that initiation should be with a specialist, and then transferred to a shared care plan with primary care.
What if I am interested in several of your services?
At times an Educational Psychology assessment can work well in combination with this assessment, especially if there are needs which need to be incorporated into school support or EHCPs.
Who should I speak to in case of an emergency?
We are not a mental health crisis service so if you have immediate concerns about your child or young person’s wellbeing, please contact the emergency services or your local NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service crisis telephone line.
Other useful organisations include:
Childline: 0800 1111 https://www.childline.org.uk/get-support/contacting-childline/
Samaritans: 116 123 or text “Shout” to 85258.
Will other services accept our report?
We adhere to the guidelines and standards required for our report to be used in a range of settings.
