Guides
Guides to autism and mental health assessment
plain answers before you book
Four plain-English guides to the questions families and adults ask before an autism assessment: what happens in the observation session, why we ask about early childhood, whether a private report will be accepted, and what it’s like to be assessed as an adult. Each one is clinically reviewed by Hans Naicker and links to its sources.
Who this page is for: parents, adults and professionals who want to understand an assessment before booking one.
Which guide do you need?
Guide 01
What happens in an autism observation session?
The ADOS-2, step by step: what the activities are for, how long it takes, video or at home, and how to prepare.
8 min read
Guide 02
What is the ADI-R, and why do we ask about early childhood?
Why the developmental history matters, what it asks, and what to do if you don’t know or can’t remember.
7 min read
Guide 03
Will a private autism assessment be accepted by school, the NHS or for an EHCP?
What schools, GPs and councils say, what a report can and can’t do, and where to get free, impartial advice.
9 min read
Guide 04
Being assessed for autism as an adult
Late identification, masking, what the assessment involves for adults, and what can change after.
8 min read
Looking for something else?
Our questions and answers page covers referrals, fees, reports, privacy and safety. The assessment journey explains each of the ten steps of an autism assessment, and the mental health assessment stages explain what happens when you’re not sure what’s going on.
We review every guide at least once a year, or sooner if guidance changes. Our editorial policy explains how.
Autism assessment
Ages 6 to adult, and what’s includedIllustrative journeys
What an assessment can look likeFees
What each service costs
Not sure what you need? Talk it through with us.
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