Autism and ADHD Assessments for Adults
Adults seek Autism and ADHD assessments at many different stages of life. You may have wondered for a long time whether you are neurodivergent, or this may be something you have only recently begun to explore.
Our adult assessments consider your current experiences alongside your developmental history, recognising that the ways you understand yourself, manage difficulties or adapt to expectations may have developed considerably over time.
The aim is not simply to consider whether you meet diagnostic criteria for Autism or ADHD, but to develop a fuller understanding of your individual profile, including your strengths, experiences, needs and the impact these may have across different areas of your life.
You May Be Wondering...
People come to us for many different reasons. You may recognise aspects of Autism or ADHD in yourself, have begun wondering after a family member was diagnosed, or have had the possibility suggested by a professional or someone who knows you well.
You might be noticing:
• Difficulties with attention, organisation, time management or completing tasks
• Procrastination, difficulty getting started or needing pressure to get things done
• Internal restlessness, impulsivity or a constantly busy mind
• Feeling overwhelmed by everyday demands or struggling to regulate emotions
• Sensory sensitivities or sensory-seeking experiences
• A strong preference for predictability or finding unexpected change difficult
• Differences in social communication, relationships or navigating social expectations
• Masking, rehearsing or consciously adapting how you communicate or behave around others
• Periods of exhaustion or burnout after managing the demands of work, relationships or everyday life
• Anxiety, reduced self-esteem or feeling that things seem to require considerably more effort for you than for other people
• A longstanding sense of being different without necessarily understanding why
Sometimes the picture feels relatively clear. At other times, it can be difficult to understand whether your experiences relate to Autism, ADHD, anxiety, emotional wellbeing, previous life experiences, learning needs or a combination of factors.
A comprehensive assessment can help make sense of the whole picture by bringing together your developmental history, current experiences and recognised assessment approaches to develop a clearer understanding of your individual profile.
More Than a Diagnosis
We believe that a good neurodevelopmental assessment should help you understand more than whether diagnostic criteria are met. Our assessments consider your development and experiences over time alongside your current strengths, difficulties and support needs.
We recognise that autism and ADHD do not always look like common stereotypes. Many adults have developed sophisticated ways of coping, compensating or masking their differences, particularly when they are academically able, successful professionally or have spent many years adapting themselves to the expectations of others. These strategies can make neurodivergence less visible to other people while requiring considerable effort to maintain.
Where appropriate, we also consider other factors that may be influencing your experiences, including emotional wellbeing, anxiety, trauma, stress, burnout and other psychological needs.
Our Assessments
Autism and ADHD can affect many different areas of adult life, and no two people will have exactly the same profile.
Assessment considers patterns across your development and current life rather than looking at individual characteristics in isolation. We are interested not only in areas you may find difficult, but also in your strengths, interests, ways of relating to others and the strategies you may have developed to navigate everyday life.
ADHD Assessment
£1,495
Where ADHD is being explored, we consider areas including:
• Attention and concentration
• Organisation, planning and time management
• Working memory and executive functioning
• Starting tasks, maintaining effort and completing things
• Activity levels and internal restlessness
• Impulsivity
• Emotional regulation
• The impact of these experiences across work, study, relationships and everyday responsibilities.
We recognise that ADHD does not always look like obvious hyperactivity or difficulty concentrating. Many adults develop strategies to compensate for difficulties, and the effort involved in managing everyday demands may not be apparent to other people.
Combined Assessment
£2,495
Where both Autism and ADHD are being explored, the assessment considers how characteristics associated with each may be present and interact within your individual profile.
Autism and ADHD can overlap in some areas, while in others they may influence your experiences in different or sometimes competing ways. Looking at both together can help us develop a clearer understanding of areas such as attention and executive functioning, communication and relationships, sensory experiences, routines and flexibility, activity and impulsivity, emotional regulation and everyday functioning.
Autism Assessment
£1,795
Where Autism is being explored, we consider areas including:
• Social communication and interaction
• Relationships and navigating social expectations
• Sensory experiences and preferences
• Interests and areas of strong focus
• Routines, predictability and responses to change
• Communication style and individual ways of expressing yourself
• Developmental history and patterns that may have been present throughout your life
• The impact of these experiences across relationships, education, employment and everyday life.
We also consider the ways you may have learned to adapt, compensate or mask over time, recognising that what other people see may not always reflect the effort involved in navigating everyday situations.
What Does the Assessment Involve?
Every assessment is individually planned according to your experiences, presentation and circumstances.
1. Initial Consultation
An opportunity to discuss what has led you to consider assessment, the experiences you would like to understand and what you hope to gain from the process.
2. Developmental History
Autism and ADHD are neurodevelopmental differences, so understanding your earlier development and experiences is an important part of assessment.
We explore relevant aspects of childhood, education, relationships and your experiences over time. Where appropriate and available, information from someone who knew you during childhood can also contribute to this understanding.
3. Individual Clinical Assessment
You will have time to explore your experiences in depth, including areas such as attention, executive functioning, communication, relationships, sensory experiences, regulation and everyday functioning according to the assessment being completed.
4. Additional Information
Where appropriate and with your consent, additional information may be gathered from someone who knows you well or knew you during childhood.
We recognise that this is not possible or appropriate for every adult and will discuss the options with you.
5. Questionnaires & Assessment Measures
Evidence-based clinical assessment tools and questionnaires are selected according to your individual presentation and the questions being explored.
6. Bringing Everything Together
Information from across the assessment is considered together rather than relying upon the outcome of any single questionnaire or assessment tool.
You will receive a detailed written report explaining the findings, diagnostic outcome and personalised recommendations. A feedback appointment provides an opportunity to discuss the findings, ask questions and consider what the outcome means for you.
An Assessment Process That Works With You
It is understandable to feel uncertain about a neurodevelopmental assessment, particularly if you have spent many years questioning your experiences or have previously felt misunderstood by professionals.
You do not need to know the “right” things to say or demonstrate particular characteristics during assessment.
We aim to create a relaxed and collaborative environment where you can describe your experiences in your own way. Time is taken to understand not only what other people may observe, but also your internal experiences and the effort that may sit behind appearing to cope.
We recognise the potential impact of masking and learned coping strategies and take these into account throughout the assessment process.
Clinical Assessment
Assessments are led by Dr Emma Rigby, Highly Specialist Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Director of I.N. Therapy Berkshire.
Emma has extensive experience working across mental health, neurodevelopmental assessment and psychological therapy and has particular experience in understanding more subtle, complex or masked presentations of autism and ADHD.
Assessments use recognised clinical assessment methods and are informed by NICE guidance. Information from across the assessment is considered together as part of the clinical formulation and diagnostic decision, rather than relying upon the result of a single assessment tool or questionnaire.
Where appropriate, assessment may involve or draw upon information from other experienced professionals as part of a multidisciplinary approach.
Our aim is to combine clinical rigour with a warm, compassionate and neuroaffirming assessment experience.
What Happens After the Assessment?
Receiving a diagnosis can provide important answers, but it can also lead to new questions.
You will receive a detailed report explaining the findings and personalised recommendations based upon your individual profile. Recommendations may include practical strategies, reasonable adjustments and support relating to areas such as executive functioning, emotional regulation, sensory needs, communication, relationships or work.
Some people find that receiving a diagnosis changes the way they understand previous experiences and can take time to process.
For those who would like further support, our six-session Life After Diagnosis programme provides a focused opportunity to understand what your diagnosis means for you personally, explore identity and previous experiences, identify your support needs and consider how you would like to move forward.
Considering medication following an ADHD diagnosis?
Medication is not prescribed directly through I.N. Therapy Berkshire. If your child receives an ADHD diagnosis and you would like to explore whether medication may be appropriate, we can discuss options for accessing an appropriately qualified medical professional for further assessment and advice.
Not Sure Whether An Assessment Is Right For You?
You do not need to be certain that you are autistic or have ADHD before speaking with us.
A standalone Neurodevelopmental Consultation provides an opportunity to discuss what you have been noticing, the experiences you would like to understand and whether assessment or another form of support might be the most appropriate next step.
60 Minute Session - £150
There is no obligation to proceed with an assessment.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Deciding whether to pursue an autism or ADHD assessment can feel like a significant decision, particularly if you have spent a long time wondering whether neurodivergence might help explain your experiences.
If you would like to discuss an assessment, please get in touch. We are happy to answer any initial questions and help you consider the most appropriate next step.