Frequently Asked Questions

Find clear, concise answers to common queries about our Autism and ADHD assessment services to guide you through your journey.

Before booking

Do I need a GP referral for a private Autism or ADHD assessment?

No. You do not need a GP referral to enquire about or begin one of our private Autism or ADHD assessment pathways.

Your GP may still hold useful medical information, and relevant records may be requested with your consent as part of the assessment process.

Do you assess both children and adults?

Yes. Autism, ADHD and combined Autism and ADHD assessment pathways are available for children, young people and adults, subject to clinical suitability.

Assessment requirements vary according to age, presentation and individual circumstances. Please contact us before booking if you are unsure whether the pathway is suitable.

What types of diagnostic assessment do you offer?

We offer three private diagnostic assessment pathways:

• ADHD assessment
• Autism assessment
• Combined Autism and ADHD assessment

The pathways are available for children and adults and are delivered in partnership with Autism Services Group through a multidisciplinary clinical process.

How do I know whether to choose Autism, ADHD or a combined assessment?

There can be considerable overlap between Autism and ADHD, and it is not always obvious which pathway is most appropriate.

A combined assessment may be worth considering when there are significant concerns relating to social communication, sensory differences, routines or restricted interests alongside attention, impulsivity, organisation or activity levels.

When you are unsure, book an advice appointment with Jude before placing a deposit.

Can I speak to Jude before deciding?

Yes. A 45-minute advice and support appointment gives you time to discuss the concerns, consider the available assessment pathways and decide what the most sensible next step may be.

The appointment is not a diagnostic assessment, but it can help you make a more informed decision before committing financially.

Can anyone book an assessment?

Assessment must be clinically appropriate for the individual at that time.

Suitability can depend on age, developmental history, current mental health, communication needs, learning profile, available supporting information and whether another issue may need to be explored first.

Where there is uncertainty, please book an advice appointment or contact the service before paying a deposit.

Can I book an assessment for my child or another family member?

A parent or person with appropriate parental responsibility can enquire about a child’s assessment.

An adult assessment requires the adult’s own informed consent. Information may also be requested from a parent, partner, relative or other suitable informant where appropriate.

How much does a private Autism or ADHD assessment cost?

Current fees are:

• ADHD assessment: £1,495 total, including a £99 booking deposit
• Autism assessment: £1,995 total, including a £115 booking deposit
• Combined Autism and ADHD assessment: £2,995 total, including a £149 booking deposit

The booking deposit is deducted from the full fee. Prices may be reviewed, so please check the assessment booking section before paying.

How long does the assessment process take?

The estimated turnaround time is approximately 10 to 12 weeks.

This depends on questionnaires, supporting information and informant responses being returned promptly, as well as appointment and clinician availability. More complex cases may require additional time.

Are you currently accepting new assessment referrals?

The service currently offers immediate availability to begin the assessment process, subject to suitability and clinical capacity.

“Immediate availability” means that you can begin onboarding without joining a long initial waiting list. It does not mean that all diagnostic appointments or the final report will be completed immediately.

Are appointments available in person or online?

Appointments may be completed remotely or in person, depending on the assessment type, age and individual requirements. All Children are seen in-person.

Jude supports local families and individuals in person in Derry, Northern Ireland. Remote support is also available across the UK and Republic of Ireland. The format of the clinical assessment appointments will be explained during onboarding.

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About the assessment process

Who carries out the diagnostic assessment?

The assessment pathways are delivered in partnership with Autism Services Group. Jude is a diagnostic clinician at ASG and the main point of contact for the NI Clinic, which is based at The Health Hub in Derry/Londonderry.

Depending on the assessment type and individual circumstances, the multidisciplinary clinical team may include appropriately qualified professionals from psychology, social work, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, specialist nursing and other relevant disciplines.

Do the assessments follow NICE guidance?

The assessment pathways are designed to follow relevant recognised clinical guidance and diagnostic criteria where appropriate, including NICE guidance, DSM-5 and ICD-11.

The exact process differs according to whether the assessment is for Autism, ADHD or both, as well as the person’s age and clinical needs.

What happens after I pay the deposit?

After the deposit has been received, you will be contacted about onboarding and the next stages.

This normally includes:

1. Consent and registration
2. Background information gathering
3. Questionnaires and supporting evidence

Clinical appointments are not booked and confirmed until the final balance is paid. We no longer offer payment options. The payment schedule is, intitial deposit, and then full payment of the remaining balance.

Why do I need to complete a consent form?

Consent forms are required to protect your privacy, comply with data-protection requirements and allow information to be gathered and shared safely during the assessment.

Where relevant, you may be asked to consent to contact with a parent, partner, school, GP or another professional involved in the assessment.

How do I complete the questionnaires?

Questionnaires are normally issued electronically and completed online.

Depending on the assessment, forms may also be sent to a parent, partner, relative, school or another suitable informant. All required forms should be returned promptly so that the clinical appointments can proceed.

Please contact the service if you have difficulty accessing or completing an online questionnaire.

Do I need to provide supporting information?

Supporting information is useful wherever it is available. This may include:

• School reports
• Educational Psychology reports
• Medical or clinical letters
• Previous assessments
• Occupational Therapy or Speech and Language Therapy reports
• Workplace evidence
• Examples of lifelong traits and difficulties

Developmental evidence is particularly valuable because Autism and ADHD are neurodevelopmental conditions.

What if I do not have school reports or childhood records?

You can still enquire about assessment.

The clinical team will consider what developmental and supporting information is reasonably available. This might include information from a parent, sibling, relative, partner, historical records or your own detailed recollection.

The absence of one particular document does not automatically prevent assessment, although the available evidence must be sufficient to support a clinically reliable decision.

The oldest person to come through Jude was a 93-year-old lady in a care home, who, after 80 years of second-guessing, was diagnosed with ADHD.

What if there is nobody available to act as an informant?

Tell the team as early as possible.

An informant can often provide helpful information about childhood or current functioning, but not every adult has access to a parent or someone who knew them when they were young. The clinicians will consider what alternative sources of developmental evidence may be available.

What happens during the diagnostic interview?

The diagnostic interview explores relevant developmental history, current experiences, strengths, difficulties and the effect these have on everyday life.

You may be asked about childhood, education, relationships, communication, sensory experiences, routines, attention, organisation, impulsivity, emotional regulation, work and daily living.

The purpose is to understand the overall pattern, not to judge individual answers.

How long do the assessment appointments last?

Appointment length varies according to the assessment type and the individual pathway.

An ADHD diagnostic interview may take around two hours. Autism assessment appointments may take several hours across one or more components. A combined pathway involves additional assessment work.

You will be told what to expect before each appointment.

Are questionnaires or computer tests enough to diagnose ADHD?

No single questionnaire or computerised test should determine the outcome on its own.

Questionnaires and other structured tools can contribute useful information, but the diagnostic decision must be based on a broader clinical assessment, developmental history, functional impact, supporting evidence and professional judgement.

Is school information required for a child’s assessment?

School or education information is usually an important part of a child or young person’s assessment because it helps the team understand how they function in a setting outside the home. ASG’s company policy is that a Conner’s questionnaire is sent to every school/tutor. If your child is currently de-registered, a pre-assessment consultation with Jude is mandatory. We have had plenty of kids in our care presenting with EBSA, and EOTAS.

This may include questionnaires, observations, school reports or information from a teacher or SENCO. We have NEVER had a school refuse to collaborate with us on an assessment, ever.

What if my child behaves differently at school and at home?

Different presentation across settings is common and will be considered carefully.

Some children use considerable effort to manage during the school day and show more distress at home. Others may genuinely function differently depending on structure, sensory demands, relationships and expectations.

A difference between home and school does not automatically end the assessment, but the clinicians must consider all available evidence before reaching an outcome.

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Autism, ADHD and individual presentation

Can high-masking women and girls be assessed?

Yes. Women, girls and adults with less obvious or highly internalised presentations can be considered for assessment.

The clinical team will look beyond stereotypes and consider developmental history, coping strategies, internal distress, social effort and the difference between outward presentation and everyday impact.

No particular outcome can be guaranteed, but masking concerns will not be dismissed simply because someone appears socially capable or successful.

Can PDA-related traits be considered during an Autism assessment?

Yes. Demand-avoidant traits and the person’s response to perceived pressure can be explored during an Autism assessment where relevant.

There is no separate PDA diagnostic assessment offered through this pathway. The clinical team will consider the person’s overall presentation and explain how any demand-avoidant traits relate to the assessment findings.

Can I change from a single assessment to a combined assessment?

It may be possible to move from a single Autism or ADHD pathway to a combined assessment when evidence suggesting both conditions becomes relevant.

Any clinical implications, additional appointments and extra costs will be explained before the pathway is changed. The overall fee would normally be brought into line with the combined assessment fee.

What happens if the assessment does not result in a diagnosis?

Diagnosis is never guaranteed.

The purpose of assessment is to reach the most accurate clinical conclusion based on the available evidence. Sometimes the criteria for Autism or ADHD are not met, or another explanation may better account for the difficulties.

The report should explain the findings and provide recommendations or suggested next steps where appropriate. You are here for help, and no matter the outcome, we are there for you.

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Reports and support after assessment

What can I expect in the diagnostic report?

The report summarises the information gathered during the assessment and may include:

• Relevant developmental and personal history
• Questionnaire and informant information
• Clinical interview findings
• Diagnostic reasoning
• The final clinical outcome
• Strengths and areas of difficulty
• Recommendations for further support

Report length varies according to the assessment type and complexity.

What support is available after the assessment?

Post-diagnostic support is included to help you understand the outcome and recommendations.

This may include discussing the report, considering school or workplace support, identifying reasonable adjustments, exploring benefit evidence or deciding whether further professional input may be helpful.

Can the report help with school or education support?

A diagnostic report can provide useful information about a child or young person’s strengths, difficulties and recommended support.

However, schools, the Education Authority and other education services make their own decisions about provision, funding, statements, plans and reasonable adjustments. A diagnosis does not automatically guarantee a particular level of support.

Can the report help with workplace adjustments?

A diagnostic report may help explain relevant needs and inform discussions about reasonable adjustments.

The employer is responsible for considering adjustment requests in the context of the role and applicable equality legislation. No report can guarantee a particular workplace decision.

Can the report be used for PIP, DLA or other benefits?

A diagnostic report may provide relevant supporting evidence, but benefits are awarded according to the person’s functional needs and the applicable eligibility criteria, not diagnosis alone.

Jude can provide advice about explaining day-to-day impact and may be able to assist with supporting information where appropriate. No benefit outcome can be guaranteed.

Will schools recognise or accept a private assessment?

Schools may use private assessment reports to understand a child’s presentation and consider appropriate support.

However, the school, Education Authority or relevant public body will make its own decisions about additional provision, funding and formal processes. Private diagnosis does not automatically guarantee specific educational support.

Will the NHS or HSE recognise a private diagnosis?

There is no universal guarantee that every NHS Trust, HSE service, GP or individual clinician will accept a private report for every purpose.

Public services may review the report, request further information, apply local criteria or require entry through their own pathway. A private assessment can still provide clarity and support recommendations, but it does not guarantee access to public services, medication or follow-up care.

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ADHD medication and shared care

Can you prescribe ADHD medication?

No. Medication is not prescribed as part of this diagnostic assessment service.

If an ADHD diagnosis is given and medication is considered clinically appropriate, you may be referred to a suitable private prescribing or titration service, subject to its own criteria and availability.

Does an ADHD diagnosis mean that medication will be recommended?

No. Receiving an ADHD diagnosis does not automatically mean medication will be recommended.

Treatment and support depend on the person’s needs, health, preferences, functional difficulties and clinical circumstances. Options may include practical changes, psychological support, environmental adjustments, coaching or medication assessment.

Will my GP agree to shared care for ADHD medication?

Shared care cannot be guaranteed.

A private prescriber may ask your GP to consider taking over ongoing prescribing once medication has been initiated and stabilised. The GP can decide whether to accept that arrangement, and local policies vary. Some practices do not accept shared-care requests from private providers.

You should be prepared for the possibility of remaining under private prescribing and paying ongoing review and medication costs.

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Booking and next steps

Can I have a screening before committing to assessment?

A 45-minute advice and support appointment can help you discuss the concerns and decide whether assessment may be an appropriate next step.

This is not a diagnostic screening or clinical diagnosis. It is a professional advice appointment intended to help you understand the options before committing financially.

How do I book a private Autism or ADHD assessment?

Choose the appropriate assessment pathway on the website and pay the booking deposit.

After payment, you will be contacted with information about consent, onboarding, questionnaires, supporting evidence and the next available appointments.

What should I do if I am still unsure?

Book an advice and support appointment with Jude before placing an assessment deposit. You can book that HERE

This gives you time to explain what is happening, consider the differences between Autism, ADHD and combined assessment, and decide on a more informed next step.