Your Guide to Assessment
Everything you need to know before, during and after your appointment.
Before your appointment
How can I prepare?
I don't need you to prepare for the day, that's my job. But do plan how you'll approach attending. Think about getting there, what you'll bring, and how to look after yourself afterwards.
Appointments are around 3.5 hours, split into smaller sections. It's a long session, so plan for some downtime afterwards if you can. If it feels too long, we can plan to split it over two sessions.
If it would help to see the space before you arrive, I can send photos of the building entrance, the waiting area, and the consulting room.
Please mention if there is anything specific you'd like me to know before we meet, like sensory sensitivities, communication preferences, or things that have gone badly in previous appointments. It won't affect the assessment and it helps me prepare.
Do I have to bring someone?
Sometimes people worry about this, and the answer is no. You don't need to bring anyone, and many people attend alone. That said, someone who knew you well as a child (a parent or other primary caregiver) can be helpful, since we'll be thinking about your whole life. A partner or friend can also be valuable, either to share their perspective or simply for support. If they can't attend in person, we can also telephone or email them in advance. Above all, I'm most interested in your own experience.
On the day
Will I be comfortable?
If you arrive early, you can wait in the clinic's waiting area or outside, whichever feels easier.
Reception will let me know you've arrived. I'll come and meet you in the waiting area and introduce myself.
You don't need to offer eye contact.
We'll agree regular breaks, but you can take one whenever you need it.
If a question doesn't make sense or feels like the wrong question, please say so.
You can bring things like notes, a drink or snack, a stim toy or fidget, headphones or earplugs, or anything else that helps you.
Can I have more detail on the structure used?
After the screening, if a full assessment is indicated, we complete a structured conversation covering your early life, relationships, current difficulties, and physical and family health. Any informant information you've chosen to include is woven in here too. The session also includes the ADOS-2, a standardised observational tool that I can use to supplement our findings. I'll explain each part of the assessment as we go.
What happens if you don't think I'm autistic?
I'll always tell you honestly where things stand. If at screening it looks unlikely that autism is the right explanation, I'll say so. We can talk through what else might be going on and where you might find more useful support, and stop there. I'd rather give you a clear steer than carry on with an assessment that wasn't going to serve you.
If we complete the full assessment and the conclusion is that you don't meet criteria for autism, you'll still leave with a thorough understanding of what's going on for you, a written report, and recommendations for any next steps. I prepare for that outcome to be just as useful as a positive diagnosis.
After your assessment
Will my diagnosis and report be recognised?
My assessments have been recognised by the NHS, GPs, colleges, universities, employers, and international sports teams. Your report is written by someone who used to run an NHS service of this kind and who teaches other psychiatrists how to do this work.
What post-diagnostic support do you offer?
We can arrange further sessions to work through what your autism means and how it shapes your life. I'm also happy to meet with partners or family members when that would help. For longer-term support, I can refer you on through a trusted network of psychologists, therapists, and occupational therapists.
Can I have a combined autism and ADHD assessment?
Yes. If I've already assessed you for autism, we can add an ADHD assessment if indicated, or we can run a combined autism and ADHD (AuDHD) assessment at Central Health London. The ADHD part runs on a separate day to avoid fatigue and to ensure our work meets AQAS (the UK quality standard for adult ADHD assessments). The additional cost is based on time taken. I don't provide medication titration, but I'm glad to refer to a colleague, and it's worth checking with your GP that they would support Shared Care before booking.