Private Autism Assessments for Women
Start your diagnostic journey today
- Highly rated with over 20 years of experience
- Diagnostic Autism Assessment for adults (16+)
- ADHD Screening for adults (16+)
- Carried out online via video call for your convenience
- Officially recognised in the UK
Autism Assessments for Women - Understanding the Signs Behind the Mask
Men and women share many common autistic traits, but it would perhaps be misleading if we assumed the presentations of these traits remained the same. Studies suggest women with autism tend to use masking behaviours more often than their male counterparts. This makes overt observations of autistic traits harder without the help of an experienced clinician who understands the subtle nuances of autism in women.
At Connect To Autism, we understand the challenges and struggles autistic women undergo in their daily lives and the significant emotional stress they carry. As a result, our clinical online autism tests for women are tailored to be gender-sensitive and inclusive, giving undiagnosed autistic women a chance at better understanding themselves and receiving the right support.
Want to learn more about how our tailored clinical online female autism assessment can help you or a loved one? Get in touch with Connect To Autism today.
Do You Think You Are masking Your Autism?
Why Autism Looks Different in Women
Autism is four times more common in males than in females and so research into autism has largely focused on males.
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While masking autistic traits may look like an effective coping mechanism, autistic women who employ such behaviours find it frustrating and exhausting to constantly operate this way. They may feel misunderstood, depressed and helpless as their natural instincts and tendencies are suppressed. This takes an emotional toll on them, and if it’s not managed with appropriate support, it can lead to a loss of self-identity. An autism diagnosis for women can be a great starting point in a journey towards greater self-acceptance and authenticity. Many women have benefited from gender-sensitive autism assessments, which are insightful and deeply validating. Want to learn more about our autism tests for women and how they can help you or a loved one? Get in touch with us using our contact form or book a free 30-minute consultation today.Autism Assessment Process
Step 1
Click here to send Anne Marie a message via the contact form
Step 2
Completion of an Early Developmental Questionnaire.
This can either be a self-report or filled out by someone who was well-acquainted with you during your childhood.
Step 3
This questionnaire, when reviewed by an experienced clinician, is highly reliable in indicating if there is childhood information that will support the diagnostic process.
I would be reticent in completing a private diagnostic assessment, where I would think it highly improbable that the person would reach diagnostic caseness. In reviewing the questionnaire, the fact that behaviours consistent with ASD are often not noticeable until later in life, is taken into account.
Masking and camouflaging difficulties can begin very early and home circumstances can influence the parental reporting.
Step 4
Arrangement is made for a telephone consultation to give feedback on the evaluation of the early developmental questionnaire and discuss if there is sufficient information to support the diagnostic process.
Appointment letter sent with invoice, to be paid 7 days prior to assessment date.
Step 5
Arrangement is made for the full diagnostic assessment, which will take place over zoom.
The full assessment is completed within 4-6 hours. However the Zoom call part of the assessment is typically 2 – 2.5 hours.
Our Specialised Autism Assessment for Women
Connect to Autism is led by Anne Marie Gallagher, a certified speech and language therapist with over 25 years of clinical experience in autism assessments. She has worked with autistic adults from diverse backgrounds, bringing her wealth of expertise, unique perspective and knowledge to autism diagnosis and assessments.
Since autistic traits in women are not as observable externally due to masking tendencies, many remain undiagnosed or the autism is missed when they are diagnosed with other mental health conditions. This prolongs their internal struggle and can delay access to appropriate support.
Anne Marie understands the subtle presentation and the nuances of autism in women, which she brings to her gender-sensitive, inclusive assessments. Her clinical online female autism assessments are rooted in professional experience, and led by compassion, sensitivity and empathy. She offers a personalised assessment experience that is backed by client testimonials from across the UK.
If you or a loved one identifies with autistic phenotypes associated with autism in women, you may benefit from a comprehensive autism assessment specially tailored for women.
Connect To Autism’s clinical online autism tests for women can bring you clarity, validation and help you define your next steps, as you begin a transformative journey. Take advantage of a free 30-minute consultation with Anne Marie to discuss your concerns or get in touch to learn more about services today.
Your Diagnostic Journey
Ready to take the next step towards clarity? The steps below will give you a brief idea of what you can expect in your autism assessment.
Step 1
This initial telephonic consultation is completely free of charge and lasts about 30 minutes. You can discuss your concerns here and see if a clinical online autism test for women, with Connect To Autism is right for you, and if it meets your goals. This will give a clearer picture of what you can expect, know your assessor better and make sure you’re comfortable with the assessment approach. It ensures that the assessment offered will meet your needs.
Though optional, we highly recommend you have this call. Many autistic women have felt at ease and more confident about undergoing an autism assessment when they’ve spoken to Anne Marie personally. This sets the tone for future interactions if you choose to go ahead with a clinical female autism assessment online.
Diagnostic Assessment
The online autism test for women is divided into two parts.
Part 1
Once you have booked an appointment for part 1 you will be sent pre assessment paperwork.This paperwork involves filling out a detailed questionnaire which focuses on understanding your developmental history. Though not mandatory, it is helpful to have a parent, carer, sibling or relative who has known you from early childhood to help you recollect your experiences from that time.
It is important to identify signs of neurodiversity earlier in your life. However, it is also important when it comes to diagnosing women, as autistic traits are harder to spot without a nuanced understanding spanning an individual’s entire lifespan.
The questionnaire requires to be returned no later than 24 hours before your part1 appointment time. Anne Marie will review and evaluate this questionnaire. She may ask further questions for clarification during your part 1 interview. She will conclude this part of the assessment once she feels confident in making a good prediction as to whether, following a full diagnostic assessment, you would meet the diagnostic criteria for an autism spectrum disorder or not. A full explanation of the clinical decision making will be given.
If it is predicted that you would meet the criteria for autism then you will be given a chance to proceed with the part 2 of the diagnostic process.
Part 2
In the second part of the clinical online autism test for women, you can expect Anne Marie to discuss your questionnaire results in depth. You’ll be guided through all the diagnostic criteria for autism in women, your developmental history, the signs, coping strategies and other behaviours or thinking that support it.
Please bear in mind that this process is not based on external observable traits, as autistic women as adults have already mastered masking behaviours. The diagnostic criteria and tools help identify your challenges, communication style, sensory sensitivities, and other behavioural patterns that you struggle with.
At the end of this, you will have all the clarity and understanding you will need to align your life more closely to your authentic self.
The Final Step
You’ll receive a detailed diagnostic report of approximately 4,000 words, explaining how you fulfil the autism diagnostic criteria. This will be forwarded to you by email in PDF format at the end 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 also be generated, which can detail your personal recommendations within education or work environments.
A formal clinical online autism assessment for women comes with several benefits. Besides giving you personalised feedback and strategies to improve your day-to-day life, you’ll also be able to access any support that may be available in your local area.
Your autism assessment report also acts as proof of autism, which is needed to access workplace accommodations, granted under the Equality Act 2010, where autism is considered a disability. You will be able to use your report to support application for government benefits like PIP, in addition to specialised government support services. For women 16+ still pursuing education, you will also be able to access educational concessions and benefit from an inclusive learning environment.
How Much Does It Cost?
The initial telephonic consultation is free of cost. This is your opportunity to discuss your needs and concerns with Anne Marie. You can ask her about the assessment process, discuss the potential benefits of a clinical online autism test for women or what you can expect in the diagnostic process.
This can also include a discussion on the nature of the assessment report and confirming if the report meets your requirements (such as accessing benefits under PIP, workplace accommodations, etc). Finally, you will have a chance to familiarise yourself with Anne Marie Gallagher, the clinician who will conduct your assessment to ensure you feel at ease with her style of assessment.
Diagnostic Autism Assessment
The initial clinical assessment and evaluation of the developmental questionnaire can be undertaken for £300. All assessments are completed using Zoom, Microsoft Teams, etc.
Fees can be paid by bank transfer, UK or international.
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PART ONE: Steps 1-4 of the diagnostic process £300
This is the initial clinical assessment, the outcome of which will be to say that its highly likely or unlikely that the person will get a positve ASD diagnosis.
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PART TWO: Full assessment including report £1200
This is the second part of the clinical autism test for women, the outcome of which will be to say that its highly likely or unlikely that the person will get a positive ASD diagnosis.
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TOTAL COST £1500
Please note:
- All assessments are completed using Zoom, Microsoft Teams etc.
- Fees can be paid by bank transfer, UK or international
- ADHD screening is included in the ASD diagnostic assessment.
Why Choose Connect To Autism?
Anne Marie Gallagher is a widely recognised autism consultant who is a certified speech and language therapist with over two decades of clinical experience in autism assessments. She has worked extensively with the NHS in Scotland and with the Scottish Government to improve autism services across the country.
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Anne Marie has also provided training to clinicians across the NHS in Scotland on the usage of DISCO, a widely used autism assessment tool. She started Connect To Autism to extend her expertise in autism assessments with a special focus on autistic women. Her academic background, expertise and clinical experience come highly recommended and are backed by client testimonials who praise her sensitive, compassionate approach to autism.
If you or a loved one would like to explore the possibility of getting a clinical online autism test for women, we recommend getting in touch directly with Anne Marie using the contact form or consider booking a free 30-minute consultation.
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
- Free 30-minute consultation
- Convenient scheduling, no need for in-person appointments
- Comprehensive, detailed reports
- Timely results
- Guidance toward other autism support services
Common Questions About Autism in Women
Why are women often diagnosed later in life?
Autistic traits in women largely differ from external presentations in men due to their cognitive differences and the female motivation to meet societal expectations. Studies also show that to present a normal, or socially adept appearance, women use masking and camouflaging techniques to cover their autistic traits.
This makes it difficult to observe traits outwardly and contributes to a delayed diagnosis. However, an experienced clinician who understands the nuances of autism in women can identify this with a clinical online autism test specially tailored for women.
Can I still be autistic if I’ve learned to “mask”?
Masking is one of the most prominent autistic traits that researchers have noted in adult women. If you have learned to mask because it makes you feel more confident at navigating social settings or to hide your anxiety, you might benefit from a clinical autism assessment for women.
This will help you explore the reasons behind why you rely on masking behaviours and if you meet the clinical criteria for autism. It can also help you adopt healthier coping mechanisms and move forward with much-needed clarity and enhanced self-understanding.
Can masking affect the accuracy of an autism assessment for women?
Masking can impact the accuracy of autism assessments for women, whether it’s done consciously or unconsciously. This is because when a woman uses masking behaviours, she is trying to hide her autistic traits. Clinicians find it challenging to diagnose women with autism for this reason, and more often than not, it is one of the primary reasons behind a late autism diagnosis.
However, that’s not to say that this is an unsolvable problem. An experienced clinician like Anne Marie, with professional experience and a specialised focus on women with autism, can identify these subtle traits in a clinical autism assessment for women. The use of gender-sensitive tools and a personalised approach using an interview format like DISCO can help clinicians get past this ‘mask’ and make a more accurate diagnosis.
How long does an autism assessment for women take?
An autism assessment for women can take anywhere between 3-6 hours from start to finish. Since most sessions are carried out on different days, you can expect this to take a few days to complete, but it’s a comparatively better option than autism assessments elsewhere, such as the NHS, which have long wait times.
Is the online autism test for women accurate?
The accuracy of a clinical online autism assessment test for women largely depends on the experience of an assessor and the cooperation of the individual undergoing assessment. A qualified speech and language therapist like Anne Marie at Connect To Autism, with a special focus on autism assessments for women, can provide you with a highly professional and accurate assessment.
What is the difference between a free online test and a clinical diagnosis?
Connect To Autism’s clinical autism tests for women are highly personalised, gender-sensitive assessment tools that differ from online generic screening tools and tests. A free online test has a narrower criterion based on traditional phenotypes, which can prove limiting, especially for diagnosing autism in women.
A formal clinical diagnosis is professional, backed by evidence-based methodologies and experience. It serves as proof of neurodiversity, which can be used to help access specialised support services and benefits like PIP. Free online tests can serve as a sounding board but lack the depth and expertise needed to make an accurate or professional autism assessment.
What should I expect during an autism assessment for women?
If you’ve been struggling with anxiety, resorting to masking to fit in socially, and need a lot of time to recover from socialising or identify with autistic traits, you might benefit from a clinical online autism test for women. You can expect to receive clarity and improve self-understanding. This can help shift your mental narrative from a place of guilt to empowerment and compassion.