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Private Autism Assessment

Private autism assessments for adults throughout the UK

Private Autism Assessment for Adults

If you’re considering an autism diagnosis and want answers without long NHS delays, a private assessment could offer the clarity and speed you need. For many adults living with undiagnosed autism, seeking a private autism assessment is a deeply personal step that comes after years of struggle and misunderstanding of autistic traits.

While the NHS and other public pathways for adult ASD assessments are credible, they have long waiting lists. This can delay access to key autism support services and self-understanding needed to navigate life with autism.

When you opt for a private autism assessment, you’re assured of a more personalised evaluation. Experienced clinicians like Anne Marie offer a holistic, gender-sensitive assessment that takes into account your personal experiences, developmental history, communication preferences and sensory sensitivities. You also receive a comprehensive report, containing practical recommendations that can help you live a life that’s more aligned with your needs.

Find out how you can start your diagnostic journey today! 

For all enquiries and to arrange a private autism assessment, contact Anne Marie by clicking below.

have an informal chat with anne marie
Anne Marie Gallagher
BSc, RCSLT, ASILTIP
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Over 236,000 people are waiting for an autism assessment in England

Today, over 236,000 people are waiting for an autism assessment in England. NICE recommends a 13-week wait max, but 89% of those seeking an adult ASD assessment wait for much longer. An online autism assessment can be a viable pathway, giving you a chance to benefit from accessible, inclusive and timely autism assessments.

What You Can Expect from Connect To Autism’s Adult ASD Assessment

Connect To Autism’s private autism assessments are widely renowned for their sensitive, professional approach that makes for a highly personalised assessment experience.


Chat with Anne Marie (optional)

Not sure if an assessment is right for you? 

You can ask questions, talk through what has brought you to Connect to Autism and find out whether the service is right for you. There’s no obligation or requirement to proceed.

You’ll speak directly with Anne Marie, the clinician who carries out your assessment, so you can also get a feel for whether you’re comfortable with her approach. 

This consultation lasts up to 30 minutes and is of no cost. 

Arrange your chat here. 

* Please note: If no times are suitable for you, please enquire via the contact form for another available option. 

This consultation lasts up to 30 minutes and is free of cost. 

Diagnostic Assessment: Part 1

Ready to proceed?

You’ll first be asked to complete an early developmental questionnaire (EDQ). Ideally, this is completed by someone who knew you as a child, but if that isn’t possible, you can complete it yourself using your own memories to the best of your ability. 

I’ll review the questionnaire and arrange a 30–60 minute phone or Zoom call to discuss your answers and ask any follow-up questions. Subtle signs of autism can be easy to miss, particularly in women, so this review is an important part of the process.

After the call, I’ll explain whether I believe it is:

  • Highly likely that you meet the criteria for autism, or
  • Highly unlikely that you meet the criteria for autism.

If autism appears highly likely, you’ll then have the option to continue with the full diagnostic assessment if you wish. 

Diagnostic Assessment: Part 2

The full diagnostic assessment takes place over Zoom and usually lasts 2–2.5 hours.

We’ll work through the diagnostic criteria together, looking at both childhood experiences and how autism may present in your life now. In adults, traits are often subtle or hidden through years of masking, so the assessment looks beyond outward behaviour and considers the way you think, process and experience the world.

Because we go through the criteria together, there is no sudden “reveal” at the end. You’ll understand how and why the diagnosis has been reached. 

Many people find the process helps them understand themselves, their past experiences and their challenges in a new way.

Report

A full diagnostic report, approximately 4,000 words, explaining how you fulfil the diagnostic criteria will be forwarded in PDF format, by the Friday of the week in which you have been assessed.

You will also get a very short document that just states your diagnosis. If required a third document can be generated which can detail recommendations within education or work environments.

Benefits of a Private Autism Assessment

  • Short wait times compared to the NHS, which can take a few months to a few years.
  • Personalised, empathetic approach rather than adhering to fixed protocols.
  • Expertise backed by years of professional experience in ASD assessments, with special emphasis on autism assessments for women.
  • Professional autism assessments that involve multiple sessions with family members, questionnaires, and the use of diagnostic tools like the ADOS-2 to deliver a more holistic assessment.
  • Detailed reports with practical recommendations
  • Serves as proof of autism, enabling quicker access to workplace and educational accommodations and support.
  • It can be done from the comfort of your home, at your convenience, without the need for an in-person appointment, while still accessing the same level of expertise and professionalism.
  • No need for a GP referral, direct or self-referrals are accepted.
  • Our autism assessment report is recognised and accepted by employers and the NHS.

The Connect to Autism Approach

This process is designed to be clear, efficient, and supportive

Anne Marie uses a collaborative approach to adult ASD assessment, where she works with the individual to find evidence from different stages of their life to support the diagnostic process.

Evidence is gathered through an interview with the person being assessed, as well as with a family member or carer who knew the individual in their early childhood.

Although interviews with loved ones are helpful, private autism assessments can still be completed without access to an early childhood informant.

Anne Marie recognises that many females with undiagnosed autism often camouflage the extent of their true difficulties. As a result, diagnostic decision-making is informed by the person’s thinking and personal experiences without relying solely on demonstrable behaviours.

Why Choose Connect To Autism for Your Private Autism Assessment

Looking for a highly experienced and qualified clinician who offers exceptional service yet is sensitive and professional in approach? Anne Marie Gallagher at Connect To Autism is all that and much more. With over 25 years of clinical experience, she’s a leading speech and language therapist who brings a wealth of expertise and knowledge to her private autism assessments. 

Anne Marie has specialised in both diagnostic assessments and interventions for autistic adults with NHS Scotland. She’s also worked extensively with autistic individuals from different backgrounds, which has enriched her professional experience. Over the last two decades, Anne Marie has dedicated herself to providing professional autism assessments, ensuring that these assessments are accessible to those who need them. 

While she provides ASD assessments for individuals over the age of 16, she understands that women experience autism quite differently from their male counterparts. These differences involve less observable traits, which are further compounded by masking, camouflaging or performative behaviours. As a result, many undiagnosed autistic females receive a delayed diagnosis, prolonging their internal struggle with neurodiversity.

Anne Marie has taken a unique approach to tackle this gender gap in autism diagnosis and uses gender-sensitive tools. This allows her to take into account the many nuances in autistic presentations and form a more holistic private autism assessment. 

So when you choose to take an online autism assessment from Connect To Autism, you access a highly quality, professional service that is led by an experienced clinician.

Here’s what you get when you choose Connect To Autism

  • Personalised, sensitive approach
  • Specialist in adult ASD assessments
  • An experienced clinician
  • Fully online and accessible
  • Convenient scheduling, no need for in-person appointments
  • Comprehensive, detailed reports
  • Timely results
  • Guidance toward other autism support services
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Fees

Diagnostic Autism Assessment

  • CHAT WITH ANNE MARIE FREE

    This is your chance to ask questions about the assessment and talk through anything you’re unsure about, including masking, trauma, sensory sensitivities, the potential benefits of diagnosis, and what the final report includes. You’ll also speak directly with Anne Marie Gallagher, the clinician who would carry out your assessment, so you can get a feel for her approach and make sure the service feels right for you.

  • DIAGNOSTIC ASSESSMENT: PART ONE £300

    This is the initial clinical assessment and evaluation of the early developmental questionnaire (EDQ), the outcome of which will be to say that its highly likely or unlikely that the person will get a positive ASD diagnosis.

  • DIAGNOSTIC ASSESSMENT: PART TWO: Full assessment & report £1200

    This is the full assessment, the outcome of which will be a report that details how you meet the diagnostic criteria for an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Recommendations for education and workplace can also be given if requested. This assessment takes place over zoom.

  • TOTAL COST £1500

Fees can be paid by bank transfer, UK or international.

Find Out More

Please note:

  • If none of the times are suitable for you to chat to Anne Marie, please feel free to email and request a time that would suit you.
  • Part 1 is via telephone however a zoom call can be requested if preferred 
  • ADHD screening is included in the ASD diagnostic assessment.

Signs & Symptoms That Suggest Autism in Adults​

While this list of symptoms is not exhaustive, they are part of common autistic traits. These traits also present themselves differently from person to person, especially among men and women. A nuanced approach and understanding are, therefore, a necessity when making an autism diagnosis.

Here’s where Anne Marie truly shines and makes a difference. Get in touch with Anne Marie today, to find out more. 

If you’re wondering whether your experiences align with autism, these are some of the key signs we look for.

  • Masking, camouflaging, performative behaviours
  • Stimming or repetitive behaviours
  • Struggle making eye-contact
  • Difficulty in verbal and non-verbal communication
  • Trouble reading social cues and body language
  • Preference for routine
  • Sensory sensitivities
  • Struggle with planning, organising or multitasking
  • Co-occurring conditions
  • Anxiety
  • Eating disorders
  • Unable to forge or maintain relationships
  • Resistant to change
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Can I Use My Diagnosis for Workplace, Education or Legal Purposes

Many adults seek an autism diagnosis for practical reasons. This is because a professional autism assessment is more than just a diagnosis. It serves as proof of autism. Connect to Autism’s private autism assessments are accepted by both government-led autism services and employers. This offers you real-world benefits and goes beyond being a proof of neurodiversity. It can open the doors to a wide range of support options and therapies, paving the way to a better quality of life.

Workplace Accommodations

Under the Equality Act 2010, autism is considered a disability and mandates employers to offer a wide range of workplace accommodations, like taking into account your sensory sensitivities and communication preferences. A private autism diagnosis can help you access these benefits with ease.

For autistic individuals pursuing educational and vocational opportunities, you have a chance to access educational concessions with an autism assessment. This could include extra time during exams, assistive technological tools, sensory tools, etc.

Since autism is viewed as a disability under UK law, you’re entitled to benefits like PIP, etc. Though not mandatory, a professional autism assessment can help you access these in a smoother, quicker manner.

FAQs

No, my online autism assessments are specifically tailored to adults with autism, with a special emphasis on autistic women.

Yes. Private autism assessments are personally conducted by Anne Marie, an experienced private clinician in the UK. You do not require a GP referral unless you choose a government-funded public service like the NHS. A private autism assessment removes the hassle of referrals and long wait times, providing you with timely service, done at your convenience.

Typically, autism assessments take anywhere between 1-4 weeks from the initial assessment to the final report. However, online assessments are much more accessible and quicker. At Connect To Autism, the whole process takes only about 4-6 hours, but depending on scheduling and your convenience, it could take up to 1-3 sessions of an hour or more.

The initial assessment done over a telephone call with Anne Marie is free of cost and is an optional service to give you a better idea of what you get in a private autism assessment. 

Our assessments come in two parts. The first part consists of an interview and questionnaire to assess whether you fit the autism diagnostic criteria. You can proceed to the second part of the assessment only if you’ve tested positive for autism. We believe in being upfront and transparent about our costs, learn more about our fees here.

Yes. Professional autism assessments serve as proof of autism and are recognised by all schools, workplaces and government-led institutions like the NHS. This can help you access workplace and educational accommodations and concessions, including benefits like PIP.

Private autism assessments are a viable pathway for those seeking a diagnosis without having to experience the stress that comes with long wait times typical for standard autism assessments. Online autism assessments done by experienced clinicians like Anne Marie are also more thorough, personalised and sensitive in approach compared to those following fixed assessment protocols.

With a private autism assessment, you can get a diagnosis in a matter of days instead of months or years, which is sometimes the case with NHS services. This enables you to access support services and the right resources more easily and quickly.

Anne Marie is a qualified and experienced speech and language therapist who will be with you every step of the way through the assessment process. From the initial assessment telephone call to the final report, you can expect her to give you clarity and improve your understanding of autism and how you can confidently navigate a neurotypical world.

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