Can a child be diagnosed with both autism and ADHD?

Yes. Autism and ADHD commonly co-occur, and many childrenmeet the criteria for both. They are, however, two separate conditions with different diagnostic criteria, so a combined assessment is needed to look at each one in its own right and reach a clear diagnostic picture of a child’s differences.

AuDHD is an informal term that describes the co-occurrence of autism and ADHD. It is not a separate clinical diagnosis in its own right. Within a combined assessment, autism and ADHD are each formally assessed and diagnosed against their own diagnostic criteria, and your child may receive a diagnosis of one or both conditions.

Will a private AuDHD diagnosis be recognised by the NHS and other organisations?

The NHS will accept private AuDHD assessments as long as they have been completed robustly and in line with national standards. As long as you use a reputable company, such as ourselves, you can be assured that your child’s assessment, report and diagnostic outcome are evidence-based and will be recognised by other services. To be recognised, an assessment must: Meet NICE guidelines Be completed by appropriately registered clinicians (HCPC, NMC, etc.) Produce a comprehensive diagnostic report You can read more about whether a private assessment will be recognised in our information section here.

Are your combined autism and ADHD assessments for children NICE-compliant?

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) sets out the expected standards for both autism and ADHD assessments in its NICE Guidelines. Our child combined assessments follow NICE guidelines; therefore, you can be assured that our assessments are NICE compliant. You can find out more about the NICE guidelines here.

What if I’m unsure whether my child needs an autism or ADHD assessment, or both?

If you are not sure whether your child’s differences point to autism, ADHD or both, our free pre-screening process is designed to help. You provide us with some background information about your child, and one of our clinicians reviews it and advises which assessment — if any — is the right fit for them. There is no cost or obligation at this stage, and the aim is simply to make sure you are pointed towards the most appropriate assessment. Feel free to contact us to discuss.

How much does a combined autism and ADHD assessment for a child cost?

The cost of a child’s combined assessment with us ranges between £2995 and £3095, depending on whether you choose a fully online assessment or the in-person option. Children aged under 10 will need to be seen in person. You can find out more here.

Do I need a GP or school referral for a child AuDHD assessment?

You do not need a referral from your GP or school to access a combined autism and ADHD assessment with us. You can refer your child by completing our online form, calling or emailing us.

Will my child’s school accept a private AuDHD assessment?

Yes, schools must accept a private assessment that has been completed by registered professionals and meets National standards.

Child Combined Autism and ADHD Assessment

Private, NICE-COMPLIANT Diagnosis for Children

If you are concerned that your child is displaying traits of both autism and ADHD, a combined autism and ADHD assessment can provide clarity, validation, and a fuller understanding of your child’s neurodivergence.

We provide private child combined autism and ADHD assessments that are NICE-compliant, personalised, and neurodiversity-affirming. Our assessments are designed specifically for children with complex presentations that may or may not have been identified in the educational setting.

Children aged 6+
No GP referral required
Experienced, registered clinicians
Clear diagnostic outcomes and practical recommendations

Start your free pre-assessment screening here.

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What is a combined autism and ADHD (AuDHD) assessment?

Although autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are distinct conditions with separate diagnostic criteria, they frequently overlap. The co-occurrence of autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is informally referred to as AuDHD.

Research suggests that 50-70% of autistic individuals also meet criteria for ADHD. When autism and ADHD are assessed in isolation, important aspects of a child’s neurodivergence can be missed. A combined assessment allows both conditions to be explored together, with careful consideration of how traits interact, mask one another, or create internal conflict.

Our child combined autism and ADHD assessment provides a joined-up, clinically sound exploration of your child’s neurodivergence as a whole.

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Why choose a combined autism and ADHD (AuDHD) assessment?

Children showing traits of both autism and ADHD often have complex presentations, and if assessed for autism or ADHD separately the whole picture of how they are impacted by their differences can be missed. A combined approach reduces the risk of partial or incomplete understanding.

The benefits of a combined autism and ADHD assessment include:

One coordinated assessment journey, rather than multiple separate referrals and processes
Improved diagnostic accuracy by understanding how autism and ADHD interact
Lower overall cost compared with completing two separate assessments
A clear, joined-up explanation of your child’s strengths, challenges and needs
Personalised recommendations that can be used at home and in school

Signs of AuDHD in Children

Children with autism and ADHD experience the traits of both conditions. They often display behaviours that vary across environments and situations. Autism and ADHD traits can conflict with each other, meaning that children can really struggle to regulate their emotions and are often overwhelmed by environmental stimuli, social situations and neurotypical expectations.

Some signs of AuDHD may include:

Difficulties with maintaining friendships
Struggling to sit still in class or at the dinner table
Talks a lot, interrupts others, but tends to talk about facts or their own interests
Repeats words and phrases, blurting them out or makes repetitive noises that can annoy others
Seeks out familiar routines but then becomes bored or frustrated with them
Difficulty focusing on tasks unless they are intensely interesting
Feeling more regulated when fidgeting or moving
Heightened sensitivity to sound, light, smells or tastes

Everyone’s profile is different, and a diagnostic assessment explores how the different traits impact your child.

Who is this assessment for?

A combined autism and ADHD assessment can help parents understand their child’s strengths, difficulties and support needs. An assessment is suitable for your child if they:

Are aged 6 or over
Display traits of both autism and ADHD
Struggle with daily activities, school and friendships
Appears to have complex differences
Are not getting the right support and understanding from others

What does a combined autism and ADHD assessment involve?

Our process is designed to be thorough, supportive, and clinically robust. Assessments are completed by experienced clinicians trained in child autism and ADHD diagnosis and follow recognised best practice standards.

Our process adheres to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines for both autism and ADHD, thereby using recognised diagnostic criteria and evidence-based assessment tools.

Onboarding

You will be allocated a dedicated assessment coordinator who will support you throughout your child’s assessment journey. They will gather your child’s details, set you up on our secure system and remain your point of contact at every stage.

Background Information Gathering and Pre-Screening

You will complete screening questionnaires and provide background information about your child. These can be completed on a laptop, tablet, or smartphone.

A clinician will carefully review this information and check whether a combined assessment is indicated. If our clinical team feel that the information you have shared with us does not indicate that your child needs a combined assessment, they will discuss this with you. They may feel that an individual autism or ADHD assessment is a better fit, or that no assessment is needed. We do not want you to pay for an assessment you do not need, and we will share our clinical opinion with you.

If an assessment is indicated, we will gather information from your child’s school.

Assessment Sessions

Your child’s assessment includes three clinical sessions:

A direct observational assessment with them
An autism diagnostic history interview, completed with you
An ADHD diagnostic interview with you and your child

We use gold-standard diagnostic tools, including:

Autism Diagnostic Observational Assessment – 2nd Edition (ADOS-2)
Autism Diagnostic Interview – Revised (ADI-r)
Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in children aged 5 – 17 (Young DIVA-5)

Different clinicians complete each part of the assessment to ensure a balanced and objective outcome.

Multi-Disciplinary Review

All information is reviewed by our multi-disciplinary clinical team, including screening results, assessment observations and history.

This includes:

Information provided by you informant
Results from screening questionnaires
Observations from the assessment sessions
Scores and findings from the assessment sessions
School information

The team will carefully decide whether the diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are met and what recommendations will be most helpful.

Report and Feedback

You will receive a detailed diagnostic report outlining the assessment process, findings, and outcome. A feedback session is then offered to discuss the report, answer questions, and explore your next steps.

What are the benefits of receiving a combined autism and ADHD assessment?

Children with autism and ADHD are often misjudged, labelled or dismissed by professionals.

A diagnosis can help:

You to understand your child’s strengths and differences
Encourage wider family members to recognise that your child has a disability
Support requests for adjustments and support in an education setting
Evidence your child’s needs when applying for financial assistance or adaptations when out and about

Start Your Assessment

Why choose a private child autism and ADHD assessment?

Many families choose a private assessment due to long NHS waiting times and the need for timely answers.

Benefits of choosing a private provider include:

Being seen in weeks rather than years
No need for a GP referral
A dedicated assessment coordinator throughout
A comprehensive diagnostic report

Our friendly, professional team will support you and your child throughout your assessment journey. Our clinicians are highly experienced, qualified, and registered with the appropriate professional bodies.

start your assessment View our clinics

Ready to take the next step?

If you think a combined autism and ADHD assessment may be right for you, we’re here to help.

Enquire about an child combined autism and ADHD assessment here.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can a child be diagnosed with both autism and ADHD?
Yes. Autism and ADHD commonly co-occur, and many childrenmeet the criteria for both. They are, however, two separate conditions with different diagnostic criteria, so a combined assessment is needed to look at each one in its own right and reach a clear diagnostic picture of a child’s differences.
What is AuDHD?
AuDHD is an informal term that describes the co-occurrence of autism and ADHD. It is not a separate clinical diagnosis in its own right. Within a combined assessment, autism and ADHD are each formally assessed and diagnosed against their own diagnostic criteria, and your child may receive a diagnosis of one or both conditions.
Will a private AuDHD diagnosis be recognised by the NHS and other organisations?
The NHS will accept private AuDHD assessments as long as they have been completed robustly and in line with national standards. As long as you use a reputable company, such as ourselves, you can be assured that your child’s assessment, report and diagnostic outcome are evidence-based and will be recognised by other services.
To be recognised, an assessment must:
- Meet NICE guidelines
- Be completed by appropriately registered clinicians (HCPC, NMC, etc.)
- Produce a comprehensive diagnostic report
You can read more about whether a private assessment will be recognised in our information section here.
Are your combined autism and ADHD assessments for children NICE-compliant?
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) sets out the expected standards for both autism and ADHD assessments in its NICE Guidelines. Our child combined assessments follow NICE guidelines; therefore, you can be assured that our assessments are NICE compliant. You can find out more about the NICE guidelines here.
What if I’m unsure whether my child needs an autism or ADHD assessment, or both?
If you are not sure whether your child’s differences point to autism, ADHD or both, our free pre-screening process is designed to help. You provide us with some background information about your child, and one of our clinicians reviews it and advises which assessment — if any — is the right fit for them. There is no cost or obligation at this stage, and the aim is simply to make sure you are pointed towards the most appropriate assessment. Feel free to contact us to discuss.
How much does a combined autism and ADHD assessment for a child cost?
The cost of a child’s combined assessment with us ranges between £2995 and £3095, depending on whether you choose a fully online assessment or the in-person option. Children aged under 10 will need to be seen in person. You can find out more here.
Do I need a GP or school referral for a child AuDHD assessment?
You do not need a referral from your GP or school to access a combined autism and ADHD assessment with us. You can refer your child by completing our online form, calling or emailing us.
Will my child’s school accept a private AuDHD assessment?
Yes, schools must accept a private assessment that has been completed by registered professionals and meets National standards.

Child Combined Autism and ADHD Assessment

Private, NICE-COMPLIANT Diagnosis for Children

What is a combined autism and ADHD (AuDHD) assessment?

Why choose a combined autism and ADHD (AuDHD) assessment?

Signs of AuDHD in Children

Who is this assessment for?

What does a combined autism and ADHD assessment involve?

Onboarding

Background Information Gathering and Pre-Screening

Assessment Sessions

Multi-Disciplinary Review

Report and Feedback

What are the benefits of receiving a combined autism and ADHD assessment?

Why choose a private child autism and ADHD assessment?

Ready to take the next step?

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a child be diagnosed with both autism and ADHD?

What is AuDHD?

Will a private AuDHD diagnosis be recognised by the NHS and other organisations?

Are your combined autism and ADHD assessments for children NICE-compliant?

What if I’m unsure whether my child needs an autism or ADHD assessment, or both?

How much does a combined autism and ADHD assessment for a child cost?

Do I need a GP or school referral for a child AuDHD assessment?

Will my child’s school accept a private AuDHD assessment?