What to Expect 

On your arrival

• Easy parking with parking at the front of the clinic inside the brick wall. You can also park on the quiet road outside
• We ask that you arrive earlier than your assessment time and one of our clinicians will come out to meet you
• Before the assessment, the clinicians will introduce themselves and answer any questions you may have

ADOS-2: 1 to 1.5 hours

• You will sit at the table with one of the clinicians for the ADOS 2, whilst the second clinician will observe from the corner of the room
• The ADOS 2 is the structured observation part of the assessment and takes around 1 hour 30 minutes
• When children are being assessed, the parent(s)/guardian(s) may sit just behind the child, out of direct eyeline, but close enough to provide reassurance
• For adult assessment, it is your choice if you wish to have your informant present for the ADOS. If not, they can sit in our quiet room

Alongside the ADOS, the assessment includes a diagnostic interview, which can be completed either online or face to face (as agreed before the assessment day). The diagnostic interview will consist of either the ADI-R, AAA or MIGDAS, selected depending upon the individual’s situation; should they have a relative, or friend who knows them well, and whether this knowledge extends into early childhood.

The assessments we use are clinically robust, as follows:  

ADI-R: around 3 hours

• The ADI-R is the developmental interview part of the assessment, which takes around 3 hours to complete
• The ADI-R is completed with an informant; someone who knows the person being assessed very well, preferably since early childhood
• It is your choice whether you wish to complete the ADI-R face to face or online and this will be agreed prior to your assessment
• If face to face, the ADI will be completed immediately after the ADOS. If online, a date and time will be agreed prior to the assessment
• For child assessments, we ask that the child is not present for the ADI, so you would need to organise suitable childcare for the 3 hours
• For adult assessments, it is your choice whether you wish to be present for the ADI
• The ADI-R is used for all child assessments

ACIA: around 2 hours

• The ACIA semi structured interview takes around 2 hours. This includes a detailed developmental history, specific questions about characteristics associated with autism, as well as exploring potential co-occurring conditions, such as ADHD, anxiety, OCD and physical conditions
• The ACIA can be conducted remotely or face to face depending on individual preference and can be used with or without an informant (someone who knows the person well)
• The ACIA is used for adult assessment for people aged 16 years and over

The DISCO: around 4-5 hours

• The DISCO is an interview designed to elicit a picture of the whole person through the story of their development and behaviour
• The DISCO can take 4-5 hours to complete
• The DISCO can be conducted remotely or face to face depending on individual preference
• The DISCO can be used either with or without an informant (someone who knows the person well)

Post Assessment

• We will contact you within 48 hours, by email or phone to discuss the outcome
• You will receive a draft report within two weeks of the assessment
• We will book an online feedback meeting with you to discuss the report and the recommendations contained within the report
• We will send the finalised report to you and, with your consent, also to your GP