No. You do not need a referral to access an assessment with us. We believe you know your child, or yourself, best. If you are considering autism or ADHD, we are here to listen and explore whether an assessment could be helpful.
Yes. We offer a free 30-minute telephone consultation before booking. This gives us the opportunity to listen to your concerns, understand your reasons for seeking an assessment, and decide together whether moving forward to the information-gathering stage is appropriate. We recognise that the process can feel emotional and sometimes anxiety-provoking, so we want to make sure it is the right next step for you.
Most assessments take place in person at our clinic in Southam, Warwickshire (Southam Speaking Space). Some parts of the process, such as the developmental history interview, can be completed online if requested. However, we complete the ADOS-2 and other diagnostic appointments in person, as we feel this provides the most accurate and meaningful experience.
As well as appointments with you and your child, we will send questionnaires to your child’s education provider or daycare setting. We will also review any reports you are happy to share with us from other professionals. For adults, we are led by you as to who you would like to be involved in your assessment. Many people choose for their parents and/or spouse to complete questionnaires, meet with us, or talk on the phone. Some people ask us to speak with a close friend. Others choose to complete the assessment by themselves.
For home educated children and young people, we are happy to liaise with others who can share observations from different settings they might access.
The initial information-gathering stage for any assessment costs £350. If you decide to proceed with the full assessment after this stage, the total fees (which include the £350 information gathering fee) are:
Autism assessment: £1,850
ADHD assessment: £1,250
Combined Autism + ADHD assessment: £2,600
Additional feedback or support sessions can be arranged if needed and are charged separately. Please see our ‘Services We Offer’ page for details about our assessment process.
Yes. Some insurers will fund assessments, although some use in-house providers. Please check with your insurer first. We are happy to register with insurers we are not yet affiliated with.
No. We are not currently registered with the NHS Right to Choose scheme.
No. We do not offer medical treatment or prescribe medication. Our focus is on a thorough, strengths-based assessment. If medication is being considered, we recommend discussing this with your GP or psychiatrist.
Families seeking medication to help ADHD symptoms will need to consult a private psychiatrist, paediatrician, or nurse prescriber, and check whether a shared care agreement with NHS services is available. We have links with private prescribers and can provide their details on request.
Yes. Our assessments follow NICE guidelines, use gold-standard tools, and are carried out by accredited clinicians. The SEND Code of Practice (2015) states that a Local Authority cannot reject a professional report simply because it was privately obtained. If you face any difficulties, we are happy to liaise with the Local Authority on your behalf.
For ADHD, families seeking medication will need to consult a private psychiatrist, paediatrician, or nurse prescriber, and check whether a shared care agreement with NHS services is available.
Yes. We consider presentations that may align with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), increasingly referred to as a Pervasive Drive for Autonomy (PDA). This alternative framing perhaps better reflects the underlying need for autonomy and control. We also explore other potential reasons for demand avoidance as part of our holistic assessment.
Absolutely. We have a particular interest in identifying nuanced presentations, especially in girls and women, where traits may be masked or misunderstood. Our approach is designed to capture these differences with care and clarity.
Masking is when someone uses strategies to adjust their behaviour in order to “camouflage” their neurodivergence and “fit in’ with neurotypical expectations. This is often exhausting and can impact wellbeing. We have knowledge and experience of working with children who mask, and recognise the impact this can have.. Our comprehensive assessments are designed to unpick any potential masking behaviours and to learn more about the child's internal experiences across different contexts. If you have any concerns about your child masking, please discuss this at the assessment.
It is important to note that you are paying for an assessment, not a guaranteed diagnosis. Whatever the outcome, we aim to ensure the process is meaningful and helps you understand yourself or your child better. Our reports always include detailed recommendations to support identified needs.
Yes. We provide a range of post-diagnostic support options. Please see our Post-Diagnostic Support page for more details.
You will receive a thorough feedback appointment and a detailed report with tailored recommendations, strategies, and resources. We also signpost to local and national services. For those who would like ongoing guidance, we offer post-diagnostic support sessions.
Only with your consent. We can share your report with your GP, your child’s school or nursery, or other professionals if you request it. We will never share information without your permission. The only exception is if we believe you or your child may be at risk of harm. In this case, we would aim to discuss our concerns with you first, in line with safeguarding responsibilities.
We were inspired by a beautiful quote from a member of the autistic community (Instagram: @omgimneurospicyaf) when choosing our zebra logo. Helping our clients understand themselves and find belonging (whether as a zebra or a horse!) is central to our values at Mindsight Autism Services.
“Why do you need a label? Because there is comfort in knowing you are a normal zebra, not a strange horse. Because you can’t find community with other zebras if you don’t know you belong. And because it is impossible for a zebra to be happy or healthy spending its life feeling like a failed horse.”