Private Autism Assessments for Children & Young People in Berkshire

Considering an Autism Assessment?​

Parents often contact us because they have noticed differences in their child's social communication, relationships, sensory experiences, flexibility or ways of managing everyday life, or because concerns have been raised at school. For some children and young people, particularly those who have developed ways of masking or compensating for their differences, autistic characteristics may be less immediately apparent.​ An initial consultation provides an opportunity to understand your concerns, consider your child's wider development and emotional wellbeing, and think together about whether an autism assessment would be helpful.​

Full Diagnostic Assessment ​

Our autism assessments are comprehensive and follow NICE guidance. Assessment is undertaken by experienced clinicians with backgrounds in NHS child and adolescent mental health and neurodevelopmental services.​ We take a detailed developmental and clinical history with parents or carers and gather information about the young person's presentation across different settings, including school. A structured autism assessment is undertaken with the child or young person using recognised, standardised assessment methods, including the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2) where appropriate.​Importantly, a diagnosis is never based upon a single questionnaire, interview or observation. Information from across the assessment is brought together by the multidisciplinary team to consider the young person's developmental history, current presentation and everyday functioning.​

Looking beyond autism

Children and young people are complex, and social, emotional, sensory or behavioural differences do not always have a single explanation. As Clinical Psychologists and experienced mental health clinicians, we consider emotional wellbeing and mental health alongside neurodevelopmental differences, including anxiety, low mood, OCD and other difficulties which may overlap with, or contribute to, a young person's presentation.We also consider whether there may be features of other neurodevelopmental differences, including ADHD, and will discuss this with families where appropriate.​

Understanding your child

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Following assessment, the information gathered is considered carefully by the multidisciplinary team. Families then meet with an experienced clinician for a feedback appointment, providing time to discuss the assessment findings, formulation and, where appropriate, diagnosis, and to consider what these mean for their child or young person.Families also receive a comprehensive, strengths-led report which brings together the young person's developmental history, assessment findings, emotional wellbeing and individual profile.Recommendations are developed specifically for each child or young person, rather than providing a generic list based upon diagnosis. Our aim is for families to leave the assessment with a clearer understanding of their child, their strengths and their needs, together with practical recommendations for home, school and future support.​