FAQ’s for Child

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Assessment FAQs

General Questions

When you reach out to us, we will ask a series of questions to help determine whether it is best to start with one of these assessments. However, it is relatively common for people to suspect that they are the child might be struggling with both ADHD and autism. If this is the case for you, we would recommend that your child has our combined ADHD and autism assessment, which will explore whether they meet the diagnostic criteria for both conditions.

We use the gold standard tools for our assessments and follow the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines when offering our services. This means that our assessments are evidence-based and that our clinicians adhere to the highest standards of practice set in the UK. As such, further NHS assessments should not be required. Once you have received a report from the service confirming diagnosis, you can distribute the report e.g. to your GP or child’s school so they can update their records.

Generally, once our screening has been completed we can complete the whole process within a few weeks. We would recommend contacting us for a more accurate idea of waiting times as this is subject to change depending on demand.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects how a person communicates with and relates to others, as well as how they experience the world around them. Autistic individuals may have difficulty understanding social cues, expressing themselves verbally or nonverbally, and may show repetitive behaviours or have specific interests. Autism is a spectrum disorder, meaning that symptoms can vary widely from person to person, and individuals with autism can have a range of strengths and differences.

Autism can be assessed as early as two years old, as early detection is crucial for accessing effective interventions that can significantly improve outcomes.

About the Assessment Process

The process begins by contacting Chase Lodge Hospital and filling out a brief online referral form. This form helps our team understand your needs and arrange an initial virtual consultation to discuss the most appropriate assessment pathway for your child.

Autism Spectrum Disorder(ASD) is diagnosed by a multidisciplinary team of professionals who are highly skilled and experienced in carrying out diagnostic assessments. There are 5 components to the assessment:

  1. Pre-clinic questionnaires to gather contextual information from school, parents and other professionals involved in the care of the child/young person.
  2. A detailed interview with a parent/guardian/family member who can provide information about the individual’s current presentation and developmental history. This would be done in combination with the Autism Diagnostic Interview (ADI).  ADI is a clinically structured interview with parent/carers to identify specific neurodevelopmental concerns related to conditions such as autism, developmental language disorder, learning difficulties and emotional needs. This is administered by the Paediatrician on the same day or virtually on another day with parents/carers.
  3. An Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule – 2 (ADOS-2) assessment: This is a standardised play and/or interview-based assessment that determines strengths and difficulties in the core aspects associated with ASD: communication, social interaction, play and imagination, and restricted/repetitive interests and behaviours. This is administered by the Speech and language therapist or psychologist and takes between 45-90 minutes.
  4. Multidisciplinary discussions once all the information has been gathered by the team, which would be followed by a 30-minute multidisciplinary feedback session to parents and child/young person post-assessment.
  5. Completion of report which would include medical insights and recommendations to educators and wider multi-disciplinary team, ensuring that the plan addresses the child’s medical, developmental, and educational needs comprehensively.

There are 2 parts to the assessment (ADOS-2 and ADI-R), each conducted by a different clinician. If both assessments are done simultaneously, they typically last roughly 2.5 hours. We aim to provide preliminary feedback on the same day as the assessment.

We cannot guarantee a definitive diagnosis. Our assessment process relies on our clinical expertise. If we determine that the criteria for a diagnosis are not met, we will discuss this with you during the feedback session and provide recommendations based on individual strengths and needs.

Whether the challenges you or your child are facing stem from neurodevelopmental disorders like autism or ADHD, or from other difficulties, gaining insights and support can aid in aligning with personal values and life objectives. Regardless of whether a formal diagnosis is reached, we can furnish a comprehensive report outlining strengths, needs, and suggestions for support.

Financial and Legal Considerations

The cost for a comprehensive autism assessment package, including pre-clinic questionnaires, developmental history, ADOS 2, ADI-R, 30-minute feedback post-assessment and a formal written report consisting of recommendations for onward interventions is £2100.

Parents should inquire with their insurance provider about coverage or explore local charity groups and NHS services that may offer financial aid.

We take privacy very seriously and will store your information in line with GDPR guidelines  – see our Privacy Policy.

Post-Diagnosis

Chase Lodge Hospital can provide multidisciplinary autism information workshop, speech therapy, clinical psychology, and occupational therapy support, amongst other support to establish achievable goals and strategies to support the child/young person’s health, development, and educational progress.

If a broader assessment is needed to consider other conditions, we can carry out the further assessments to assess for: Developmental Coordination Disorder, Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), Learning Disability and Mental Health assessments.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Assessment FAQs

General Questions

When you reach out to us, we will ask a series of questions to help determine whether it is best to start with one of these assessments. However, it is relatively common for people to suspect that they are the child might be struggling with both ADHD and autism. If this is the case for you, we would recommend that your child has our combined ADHD and autism assessment, which will explore whether they meet the diagnostic criteria for both conditions.

We use the gold standard tools for our assessments and follow the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines when offering our services. This means that our assessments are evidence-based and that our clinicians adhere to the highest standards of practice set in the UK. As such, further NHS assessments should not be required. Once you have received a report from the service confirming diagnosis, you can distribute the report e.g. to your GP or child’s school so they can update their records.

Generally, once our screening has been completed we can complete the whole process within a few weeks. We would recommend contacting us for a more accurate idea of waiting times as this is subject to change depending on demand.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects people’s ability to pay attention, control impulsive behaviours, and manage their energy levels. People with ADHD might find it hard to focus, sit still, or finish tasks. They might also act before thinking or have trouble organising their thoughts and actions.

The process starts by submitting a referral form through the Chase Lodge website, followed by an initial consultation to discuss your child’s needs and the assessment pathway.

About the Assessment Process

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is diagnosed by professionals who are highly skilled and experienced in carrying out diagnostic assessments. There are 4 components to the assessment:

  1. Pre-clinic questionnaires to gather contextual information from school, parents and other professionals involved in the care of the child/young person.
  2. A detailed interview with a parent/guardian/family member who can provide information about the individual’s current presentation and developmental history. This is administered by the Paediatrician or a CAMHS Consultant.
  3. 30-minute feedback session to parents and child/young person post-assessment.
  4. Completion of report which would include medical insights and recommendations to educators and wider multi-disciplinary team, ensuring that the plan addresses the child’s medical, developmental, and educational needs comprehensively.

The assessment would typically last about 2.5 hours, with feedback provided on the same day.

Medications commonly used to treat ADHD are stimulants like Methylphenidate and Amphetamine-based treatments, which help improve concentration and reduce impulsivity and hyperactivity.

We cannot guarantee a definitive diagnosis. Our assessment process relies on our clinical expertise. If we determine that the criteria for a diagnosis are not met, we will discuss this with you during the feedback session and provide recommendations based on individual strengths and needs.

Whether the challenges you or your child are facing stem from neurodevelopmental disorders like autism or ADHD, or from other difficulties, gaining insights and support can aid in aligning with personal values and life objectives. Regardless of whether a formal diagnosis is reached, we can furnish a comprehensive report outlining strengths, needs, and suggestions for support.

Financial and Legal Considerations

The assessment cost for child ADHD is £895, with potential additional costs for specific treatments or medications depending on the individual case.

We take privacy very seriously and will store your information in line with GDPR guidelines  – see our Privacy Policy.

Post-Diagnosis

Following diagnosis, support may encompass behavioural interventions, educational assistance, occupational therapy guidance, medication management, and access to  workshops offering strategies for coping with ADHD.

If a broader assessment is needed to consider other conditions, we can carry out the further assessments to assess for: Developmental Coordination Disorder, Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), Learning Disability and Mental Health assessments.