What does an autism or ADHD assessment look like for an adult?
Initial consultation
For anyone over the age of 18, the first step is an initial consultation with an Affiniti+ psychologist.
This is just an opportunity for us to hear your personal story and find out why you’ve decided to seek an assessment.
We’ll ask you to fill out a questionnaire, and we’ll give you a questionnaire for your university tutor or line manager at work. We’ll also ask for a medical report.
If you already see a psychologist or have other mental-health support in place, we will ask them for a report, too.
This consultation will last around 30-40 minutes.
Family interview
Once we have agreed that an assessment is appropriate, we will ask to speak to your parents – no matter how old you or they are. Where a parental interview is not possible or appropriate, we can instead speak to older siblings or members of your extended family. This can be in person or online, and we’re happy to offer evening appointments.
This consultation will cover everything from your mother’s experience of pregnancy and birth through to how you bonded with your parents and how you learnt to walk, talk and use the toilet. Our experience is that even very elderly mothers will be able to recall their experiences of pregnancy, labour and birth weight with remarkable clarity.
Your family members will be asked what you were like at school, and whether there is any relevant history or experience of trauma. We will look at whether there is any family history of autism, ADHD or mental ill health.
If you’re being assessed for ADHD, the consultation will take a very similar form, but with a particularly focus on any experiences of significant life events.
When we’re conducting a joint assessment for autism and ADHD, we will be particularly comprehensive in our questioning.
If you have a partner, we may also ask to speak to them.
This consultation usually lasts around 90 minutes.
Personal interview
You will be invited into our office to complete an ADOS (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule) assessment.
This is a semi-structured, standardised assessment of communication, social interaction and imaginative use of materials. It is considered the gold standard of autism assessment.
In an ADHD interview, you will be assessed according to the DSM-5 criteria for ADHD.
In an assessment for autism and ADHD, we will assess you according to ADOS and DSM-5.
In all three instances, we will ask you questions in a relaxed and informal manner.
This session will last up to 90 minutes.
University or workplace interview
If you’re a university student, we will ask to speak to a member of staff who knows you, such as your personal academic tutor.
Otherwise, we will ask to speak to your line manager at work, asking questions related to your workplace manner, performance and attendance.
These interviews should not last longer than 30 minutes.
Report
We will then take all the information that we have gathered during these interviews and observations, and write it up into a detailed report.
We will send you a draft of the report once it is written. You will be to read this draft and suggest any changes, before it is finalised.
The report will consist of a summary report, followed by a series of appendices. These appendices will include: the family interview; the ADOS or/and DSM-5 reports; your personal interview; the educational or workplace report; the medical report; the mental-health report (if required); the outcomes of all questionnaires given.
The full report can be shared with your GP. If you’re at university, you should also give a copy to your pastoral adviser, as it will count as a mitigating factor in exam performance and with issues such as lateness.
We will also give you a copy of the summary report, without the appendices. We would recommend sharing this with your line manager at work, as it is relevant for workplace appraisals. There may also be occupational-health recommendations that your organisation can follow up.
