Not sure where to start? A screening consultation can help
If you’re unsure whether your child needs a full neurodevelopmental assessment, or which assessment might suit them best, a screening consultation is a good first step.
The consultation lasts one hour and can take place in person or remotely. A Clinical Psychologist will carry out a structured clinical interview to explore your child’s mental health and neurodevelopmental history, using validated screening tools suited to their needs.
At the end of the session, you’ll receive personalised recommendations – which might include a neurodevelopmental assessment, psychological therapy, or a psychiatry consultation. If you’d like to go ahead, we can arrange any internal referrals, and you’ll receive a written summary that can be shared with your child’s GP.
How we reach a diagnosis
Autism is diagnosed by gathering evidence from your child, your family, and a clinical assessment. Our team works to determine whether your child’s presentation meets the diagnostic criteria for autism, or whether it’s better explained by something else – for example, anxiety or learning difficulties.
Assessments are led by our multidisciplinary team of Clinical Psychologists, Occupational Therapists, and a specialist Speech and Language Therapist, using a range of clinically recognised assessment tools.
Stage 1: your initial consultation
This first stage gives you the chance to meet a member of our team, discuss your child’s presentation, and share some details of their developmental history. Where applicable, both parents or carers and your child should attend – this takes around an hour.
If a full assessment is indicated, we’ll then contact your child’s nursery or school to gather detailed educational information, and ask staff who know your child well to complete a questionnaire. This information is vital to the diagnostic process.
Stage 2: the core assessment
As parents or carers, you’ll complete a Developmental History questionnaire and meet a member of our team to discuss it, along with your current concerns about your child. This is a standardised interview recommended in current national guidelines.
Your child will also attend the practice for the ADOS-2 – a play-based, standardised assessment recommended in national guidelines, designed to identify behaviours typically related to autism. Your child will play with specific toys and complete various tasks with one team member, while another observes.
Stage 3: diagnosis and your report
Once assessment is complete, our team meets to discuss everything gathered, mapping it onto the DSM-5 criteria for autism. Where all information is available, we aim to feed back within 14 days of the clinic assessment.
In some cases, further assessment may be needed – for example a nursery/school observation, an additional speech and language assessment, or a review by a child psychiatrist. If so, we’ll discuss the reasons and timing with you.
A written diagnostic report follows, which we aim to finalise around 4 weeks after your assessment is complete.
Stage 4: your post-assessment support meeting
Whatever the outcome, we understand this process can be challenging for families. Around a month after your child’s assessment, we offer a follow-up meeting to go through the report together and answer any outstanding questions.
Whatever the outcome of the assessment, you’ll be given practical resources and recommendations that may help you and your family.
Our Fees
£210
Neurodevelopmental screening consultation
£1950
Autism assessment for children and young people
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FAQs
Yes, but only with your informed consent (and your child’s consent if they are over the age of 12). Following the initial consultation of the neurodevelopmental assessment, if full assessment is indicated, our Assistant Psychologist will contact your child’s nursery or school to gather detailed educational information and ask the staff who know your child well to complete questionnaire(s). For Nursery and Primary children, an in-person observation may also be carried out, at the request of the lead clinician working on the assessment. This information is vital to the diagnostic process.
No, there is no medication for autism itself. However, medication can sometimes be helpful in managing associated difficulties such as anxiety, low mood, sleep problems, or attention differences. This would always be discussed on an individual basis with one of our clinicians.
Yes, at The Edinburgh Practice we offer a wide range of post‑diagnostic support for children, young people, and families following a diagnosis of autism. This includes Educational Psychology, Speech & Language Therapy, Dietetics, Occupational Therapy, Clinical Psychology and Systemic Family Therapy. Our team can help with understanding diagnosis, sensory and communication needs, support strategies for home and school, emotional regulation, mental health, and family relationships. Support is available individually, for parents/carers and in school or family settings.
We also have a post-diagnostic support pack, which includes links to many support services, books, websites, and videos.
Learn more: https://edinburghpractice.com/service/neurodiversity-support-services/
Yes, where possible we can arrange for multiple parts of the assessment to be completed on the same day. Please note that the ADOS assessment must take place in person. However, we ask that you let us know in advance so we can plan your appointments in the most convenient way.
Yes — once the written diagnostic report is completed (typically around four weeks after assessment), many families choose to share it with their child’s teachers or support staff so that appropriate understanding and adjustments can be put in place at school.
If you would like to book an appointment or assessment, please complete and submit a referral form. If you would like to get in contact for more information or advice please complete the form on our contact us page and we will be in touch as soon as possible.
