Autism Assessment at UMID

Once you have completed the booking form and given consent, we request your GP summary records.

We then send pre-assessment questionnaires for you to complete online, and where indicated, a set for a close relative who has known you well. These need to be returned before the assessment meeting.

The relative's questionnaire is a structured form. If they cannot complete it electronically, we arrange to do it by telephone instead, which takes around 45 to 60 minutes.

The report explains the diagnosis and the recommendations, and is available within four weeks of the assessment.

Additional letters to third parties can be provided as part of the initial assessment where needed. These confirm the diagnosis for a specific purpose such as work, education or travel.

Please note that reports setting out specific workplace adjustments are not included in this service.

Adult autism assessments are available on a self-pay basis.

Private Medical Insurance funding through Vitality and Healix is available for assessments with Dr Baig, where your insurer has given pre-authorisation for a Specialist Autism Assessment.

ADOS-2 — Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule. A semi-structured observational assessment lasting up to an hour. Your child takes part in activities and interactions designed so we can observe how they naturally communicate and interact. It is best thought of as a structured play session, and the activities are matched to your child's developmental level and interests.

ADI-R — Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised. A detailed interview of two to three hours with parents or carers, covering your child's development, communication, social interaction and behaviour from early childhood to the present. This builds the developmental picture and shows how your child functions across different settings.

1. Appointment with your child, including the ADOS-2 — up to 1 hour
2. Developmental history using the ADI-R with parents or carers — 2 to 3 hours
3. Review of school observations using standardised rating scales
4. Additional measures, including communication and social interaction questionnaires, where applicable
5. Multidisciplinary team discussion to review all the information together
6. Family meeting with parents, and the young person where appropriate, to discuss conclusions and plan further care

Recognition requires persistent differences in social communication and social interaction across more than one setting, together with distinct patterns of behaviour, interests or activities — including sensory differences, differences in cognitive processing, and repetitive behaviours.

These differences must be present from the early developmental period, although they may not become apparent until social or environmental demands exceed what the person can manage. They must affect functioning in important areas of life, and must not be better explained by intellectual disability or global developmental delay alone.

Where a diagnosis is given, we think it matters to discuss what it means for that person and how they can live a life that works for them. Every autistic person is different; the point is difference rather than deficiency.

Care plans are built collaboratively, respect the person's autonomy, build on existing strengths, and address difficulties in a way that is supportive rather than corrective.