Autism assessment for adults

Thank you for considering The Cooley Practice for your Autism assessment.

You can be assured that your assessment will be offered by a multidisciplinary team of professionals with expertise in autism and other neurodivergence who will hold your needs at the centre of the process.

Informed by NICE guidelines, we use evidenced-based assessment tools that are considered ‘gold standard’ within the profession, offering a valid and reliable assessment to explore and understand your difficulties. Where autism is clearly evidenced, a formal diagnosis will be given and the assessment and recommendations will be documented in a comprehensive report.

This page talks about our adult autism assessment service. Whilst our practice in based in Leicestershire, we do have other sites in Warwickshire and Norwich. Additionally, autism assessments for adults can be facilitated remotely, via video call if you would prefer. If you are looking for an assessment for a child, please visit our Autism Assessments for Children and Adolescent page.

We are listed in the Autism Services Directory of the National Autistic Society.

Autism assessment for adults Leicester

What is Autism?

Autism is characterised by differences with social communication and interaction, impacting a person’s relationships. These social differences are combined with restricted and repetitive behaviours; this may include unusual or intense interests, sensory processing differences, a need for routine, or repetitive body movements known as complex mannerisms. These differences have a persistent and pervasive impact on the person’s functioning.

Please contact us for further details on the assessment process.

What is Autism?

Triage

The Cooley Practice offers a triage assessment to determine whether a full diagnostic assessment of ASD is warranted.

The triage assessment involves completion of questionnaires, including recognised screening tools, as well as other questionnaires to help us better understand the reason for your referral and your current strengths and needs.

This information will be reviewed by one of our clinical psychologists, who will be able to advise whether formal diagnostic assessment is recommended.

Please contact us for further details on the assessment process.

What is Autism?

Formal diagnostic assessment

The assessment process is broken down in three parts, including information gathering, a multidisciplinary team meeting and feeding back the outcome.

1. Gathering information

Our comprehensive assessment process will explore your childhood development and current behaviours.

Specifically, our assessment will include:

  • clinical interview with a significant other (e.g., a parent where possible) to explore your childhood and their current experiences
  • self-report questionnaire to explore your perspective
  • a meeting with you to complete the ADOS-2
  • questionnaires to explore possible co-existing conditions
  • a review of any relevant prior assessments and reports

2. Multidisciplinary team meeting

Once the assessment has been completed, the multidisciplinary team of professionals will meet to review the information gathered. They will confirm the outcome of the assessment in accordance with the diagnostic criteria for ASD, in line with the DSM5.

3. Sharing the outcome

Once the clinical team have finalised the assessment outcome, you will be invited to a feedback appointment with the lead clinician, after which you will receive a comprehensive diagnostic report, including recommendations.

Please contact us for further details on the assessment process.

What is Autism?

Our Services

Specialist independent providers. Experienced and passionate about what we do, we are committed to working alongside you.