We use NICE (National Institute of Clinical Excellence) recommended assessments.

For our child autism assessments we use a clinical interview informed by the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-r) for people under 18 years old. We also use play-based observations and interviews using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, 2nd Edition (ADOS-2).

For our adult autism assessments we use the ACIA (Autism Clinical Interview Adults) and an ADOS-2 informed observation.

Four our ADHD assessments we use the Adult-DIVA-5 and Young-DIVA-5 (for children). We may also use a Qb check if we feel this is necessary.

For children we also gather information from educational settings and any other relevant information.

All our assessments involve the completion of several questionnaires online.

We prioritise seeing you as quickly as possible. We will begin the assessment process within two weeks of your booking with us.

Face-to-face appointments will occur at one of our clinics in either Birmingham, Cambridge, Hitchin, Milton Keynes, Northampton, Nottingham, St Albans, Wolverhampton, Bedford or Liverpool. When you book, we will send you full details on your chosen location, including parking, facilities and maps.

Remote clinical interviews are held online using a secure virtual platform. You will need access to a computer and the internet in order to complete these.

You will not need to download anything.

No. You can book with us directly. Please see the contact us page.

Our reports are written by professionally trained and registered specialists using Gold Standard assessment tools, which meet/exceed National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommendations. As a result, they meet the requirements of public bodies.

Medication & NHS Care

Our assessments and any diagnosis we provide are clinically valid. However, decisions about medication are made separately by your GP or NHS specialist, who must follow local NHS guidelines and policies. In some areas, doctors may request a referral through NHS services before prescribing. This does not affect the validity of your diagnosis.

It is also important to understand that medication is not a treatment for autism itself, but may sometimes be considered for specific co-occurring difficulties (such as sleep or anxiety). A private diagnosis is usually suitable for accessing non-medical support, reasonable adjustments, and educational accommodations. If you are seeking medication, we recommend checking with your GP or local NHS services before proceeding with a private assessment.

Yes. We will discuss our suggested recommendations with you during your feedback call. We will work collaboratively with you to ensure that we have addressed your most important needs. This may include recommendations for:

- School/education-based support and adjustments

- Work and employment-based support and adjustments

- Financial support

- Signposting to local services

- Details of literature, including first-person accounts by autistic persons

- Sensory

- Support with managing emotions

If a diagnosis is given and you are seeking medication, this is not provided by The Autism Pathway.

You may choose to continue with private treatment, supported by our partner clinics and psychiatrists. All private medication management and follow-up will be handled by an independent provider and will incur an additional cost.

If you wish for your medication to be managed and administered by the NHS after the point of the assessment, you are responsible for liaising with your GP about a shared care agreement. The options for receiving treatment through the NHS will depend on the services offered by your local NHS team.

We strongly advise that you check with your GP before undergoing an ADHD assessment with us to clarify what ongoing care and prescribing options are accessible to you.

The Autism Pathway does not hold responsibility if your shared care agreement is denied.