We offer free autism screening for children and adults to help ensure that an autism assessment is the right option. We understand that a private autism assessment is a costly investment, and offer this complimentary service for those who unsure whether the difficulties that they, or their loved one, are experiencing are due to undiagnosed autism.
What is autism screening?
Autism presents with a pattern of differences, or characteristics, which are fully explored during a full autism diagnostic process.
Autism screening identifies the presence of certain characteristics, initially through the use of evidence-based questionnaires. Autism screening is not an autism assessment, but the screening process can indicate whether an autism assessment is warranted.
Autism screening questionnaires have been widely used in research and are a reliable indicator of the presence of autism characteristics. The scores on these questionnaires, along with interpretation by, and discussion with, one of our clinical experts, can help you to understand the likelihood of the presence of autism.
Can the free autism screening tell me if I am autistic?
No, autism screening is not a diagnostic assessment. Screening is a valuable step in the journey to autism diagnosis, but a diagnosis can only be made following a thorough diagnostic assessment by qualified specialists.
Free autism screening for children
If you are a parent who is concerned about your child’s development, social interaction, anxiety or emotional dysregulation, you can familiarise yourself with the characteristics of autism on our website and consider how well they apply to your child. You can find information about the general signs of autism here, or how autism presents in girls here.
We have the 10-item Autism Quotient Questionnaire available for self-completion on our website.
For children aged 5-11: You can self-complete the 10-item Child Autism Quotient here.
For children aged 11 – 18: You can complete the 10-item Adolescent Autism Quotient here.
If your concerns about autism remain, or your child is under 5, we can offer more in-depth screening on a complimentary basis.
You can either complete or contact form or call us on 01685 686250 to request this.
We will send you a background information form and further questionnaires as appropriate, such as the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) or the 50-item Autism Quotient.
Once you have completed these, they will be reviewed by one of our clinical experts.
We will then provide you with feedback on your responses via email and offer a telephone consultation with one of our specialists to discuss the findings.
Alternatively, if you would prefer a chat, we will be more than happy to discuss your concerns with you.
Free autism screening for adults
If you are only just beginning to explore the possibility of autism, you can find out about the characteristics of autism in general on our website here, and characteristics of autism in women here.
You can self-complete the 10-item Autism Quotient on our website here. A score of 6 or over indicates the need for further assessment, although we often find that women score a little lower.
If you are further along your journey and would like more in-depth screening before committing to an autism assessment, we can offer this on a complimentary basis.
Reach out to us by completing our online form or calling us on 01685 686250.
We will send you further screening tools as appropriate, such as the 50 item Autism Quotient (AQ-50) and the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q) as well as our background information questionnaire.
When these have been completed, they will be reviewed by one of our clinicians who will provide feedback via email. They will offer you a telephone consultation to discuss the findings further, or if you find talking on the phone difficult, they will liaise further via email.
What happens after the autism screening is completed?
If your autism screening indicates that a range of autism characteristics are present and an autism assessment is recommended, you can choose whether to proceed to request an assessment or not.
Requesting an NHS assessment
Referral routes for local NHS pathways vary by area. You can find out your local process by looking at your local NHS website or Local Offer website.
Autism assessments for children are typically requested through the school, but some areas have parental referral routes.
For adults, referrals are typically made via your GP or self-referral.
You can use the feedback from your autism screening with us as evidence for the referral.
Requesting a private autism assessment
You can self-refer for a full autism assessment with our service. Our assessment coordinators will have been in touch with you regarding the autism screening process, you can simply let them know you wish to proceed to a full assessment, and they will arrange this with you.
Should I choose a private autism assessment or NHS assessment following my autism screening?
The choice of how to pursue an assessment is entirely yours. You will need to pay for a private autism assessment, whereas you can access an NHS assessment at no cost.
However, a private autism assessment can be completed in weeks whereas you may have to wait years on an NHS waiting list. There are also other benefits to choosing a private clinic, such as a more flexible appointment system and access to specialists.
Find out more
We are here to help, if you would like to discuss or access our free autism screening for yourself or a loved one, get in touch today.
