Child Autism Assessments
Child Assessments
Right from the beginning of our assessments, we want each child we work with to feel comfortable and listened to. Our six-step process clearly sets out each child's assessment journey.
Referrals and Enquiries.
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Contact us using the contact form or email if you have any questions about our assessments or service. We will arrange a friendly introductory phone call to learn more about your child and discuss the support we could offer. This is free of charge.
Screening.
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At the start of your assessment journey, you will receive an information pack about the assessment process, and pictures of the clinicians working with your child. You, your child and your child's school will be sent questionnaires to complete. These questionnaires are chosen carefully for each child to help us gather the best understanding of their unique profile.
Developmental History.
The next step is a video call to talk about your child's life and their unique strengths and challenges. Your child is welcome to join the call if they want to. The interview is based on gold-standard tools (e.g. ADI-R and DISCO).
Observational assessment.
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We will visit your child at home or school to complete an observational assessment. This assessment uses the gold standard tool for assessing autism, the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2). The ADOS-2 involves doing tasks, games and asking questions.
Multidisciplinary discussion.
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The clinicians involved in your childs assessment meet to develop a shared understanding of your childs unique profile, including strengths and differences. This involves thinking about whether they meet criteria for a diagnosis of autism, or if not, how their differences can be understood. In line with NICE guidance, there will always be atleast two different professionals involved in the discussion (e.g. a clinical psychologist and speech and language therapist).
Feedback and report.
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A feedback meeting will be organised with you and your child (if they wish to attend) to talk about the outcome of the assessment. We will make meaningful recommendations to help support your child in different areas of their life. You will also receive a detailed report of the assessment, including individualised recommendations and resources. Your child will receive a child-friendly summary.
