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Autism Assessment Hub
This page is designed to help you understand what to expect from your autism assessment, how to prepare, and what will happen afterwards. We know this can feel like a big step, so we aim to make the process as clear, supportive, and reassuring as possible.
Assessment hub contents:
About your Autism assessment
Your assessment is designed to understand how you experience the world, communicate, and interact with others.
It combines structured conversation and activities to explore:
Your development across your life
Communication and social interaction
Thinking styles and preferences
Interests and routines
Sensory experiences
Your assessment takes place across two appointments, which together form the full diagnostic process, these are an ADI-R developmental interview and an ADOS-2 assessment. Both parts are important in helping us understand your experiences, both past and present.
Your assessment will be with a qualified autism clinician, and you are welcome to bring a partner, family member, or supporter, if this helps you feel more comfortable or provides additional insight.
What happens during the assessment?
Appointment 1 – ADI‑R Developmental Interview (Remote)
- Duration: Around 2 hours
- Who attends: You, a parent, carer, or someone who knew you well in early childhood
This appointment focuses on:
- Your early development
- Childhood communication and behaviour
- Social interaction and relationships growing up
- Early routines, interests, and sensory experiences
This conversation helps us understand how your experiences have developed over time.
For the ADI-R appointment:
The person attending will be asked about your early development. It helps if they:
- Think about your childhood milestones (e.g. communication, play, routines)
- Review school reports or early records if available, e.g.
- Childhood school reports, SEN statements, or EHCP extracts.
- Paediatric letters, CAMHS or adolescent psychology/psychiatry summaries.
- Baby-book entries, developmental check records or health-visitor notes.
- Reflect on your social interactions and behaviours growing up
- Build a timeline – create a simple timeline (by age or school year) of key life events and observations.
It’s ok if some details are unclear, general memories and examples are helpful.
Appointment 2 – ADOS‑2 Assessment
- Duration: Around 60–90 minutes
- Who attends: You
This is a structured, interactive assessment, where your clinician will:
- Engage you in conversation and activities
- Explore communication and social understanding
- Observe how you express yourself, think, and respond
To get the most from your session:
- Use a laptop or tablet with a camera and microphone (smartphones are not suitable)
- Join from a quiet, private space
- Have five small handheld items ready (each no larger than your hand) – these items will be used as part of one of the assessment activities.
You won’t need to remember everything perfectly. If you’re unsure, you can simply say so, estimates and examples are absolutely fine.
Assessment requirements (remote appointments)
To support a smooth assessment:
- Position your camera so you are clearly visible
- Use a laptop or tablet (not a mobile phone)
- Ensure your device is stable (not handheld)
- Be in a quiet, private space
Assessment requirements (Face to Face appointments)
To support a smooth assessment:
- Make sure you are familiar with your route to the venue.
- Arrive in time to make sure you are comfortable.
- You may bring someone with you, and they can remain in the waiting room while you complete the ADOS.
This is a supportive, non-judgmental process and you don’t need to prepare perfectly or remember everything. You can take your time and ask questions at any point. The goal is to understand you, your experiences, and how best to support you moving forward.
Frequently asked questions
We don’t provide the full list of questions in advance, as the assessment is tailored to you.
However, you now know the key areas we’ll explore (detailed above), so you can feel prepared for the assessment.
Across both appointments, your clinician may explore:
- Communication and conversation style
- Social understanding and relationships
- Interests and routines
- Sensory experiences
- Childhood development
- Daily life and coping strategies
There are no right or wrong answers, being open and honest is what matters most.
Yes — absolutely. These are long sessions, you can ask for a break at any time and stand up, move, or take a pause whenever needed.
Yes. Your camera needs to be on throughout the assessment, so your clinician can fully engage with you and ensure a high-quality assessment.
Your ADI‑R appointment requires someone who knew you in early childhood. For the ADOS‑2 appointment you may bring someone for support and to make you feel more at ease.
After both appointments:
- The clinicians review all the information gathered
- A diagnostic decision is made using clinical criteria
- A detailed report is written. Your report will include: Your assessment outcome – A summary of your strengths and differences – Recommendations for support and next steps
You’ll usually receive your outcome and report within a few weeks of your assessment.
Yes, you can bring an interpreter to your autism assessment. However, this must be arranged and approved by the service in advance. Please make sure to inform the service as early as possible so they can make the necessary arrangements and confirm approval before your appointment.
If you’re unable to attend, please let us know at least 48 hours in advance. This allows us to offer the appointment to another patient and helps keep waiting times fair.
Please contact us on 0808 175 3608 or email [Insert Email Address].
Contact us
Admin Support Team: Available Monday to Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm to assist with bookings, general enquiries and other administrative support.
Clinical Team: Our clinicians conduct assessments and provide treatment Monday to Sunday, 9:30 am – 6:00 pm.
To get in touch with us, please call: 0808 175 3608 or email [insert email address]