Autism Assessment for Adults.
Observation-based, documented, conclusive.

Masking is one of the primary reasons we use the ADOS-2 observation protocol rather than relying on questionnaires and interview alone. The ADOS-2 creates structured tasks where social scripts are less applicable, allowing clinicians to observe underlying processing rather than performed behaviour. We also conduct a structured assessment of masking strategies as part of the clinical history. If your previous screenings produced false negatives, this is something we ask you to flag explicitly so we can apply the appropriate clinical lens.

High functional performance does not rule out autism and is not a criterion that reduces diagnostic likelihood. Many autistic adults function effectively in structured professional environments precisely because they have developed sophisticated compensatory strategies over decades. The clinical question is not whether you function, but what it costs you to do so, and whether the underlying experience is consistent with autistic neurological processing. A rigorous assessment looks at both what is visible and what is not.

Yes. Autism is under-diagnosed in adults — particularly in women, non-binary individuals, and highly intelligent individuals who mask effectively. Many adults receive a confirmed diagnosis after having been told by GPs or therapists that autism was unlikely, particularly when those assessments were not conducted using validated observation tools. A structured assessment using the ADOS-2 and standardised protocols will produce a conclusion based on clinical evidence, not on a clinician’s general impression.

ADHD and autism co-occur in approximately 50–70% of cases. If both are clinically suspected, we assess both within a single integrated process rather than requiring two separate assessments. This is both clinically more accurate and practically more efficient. Please mention this at booking — the protocol and questionnaire set will be adjusted to assess both conditions.

Both tiers include the full ADOS-2 observation session, clinical history interview, standardised questionnaires, and a comprehensive report. Tier 2 adds two elements: a separate structured informant interview (with someone who knows you well), and an extended developmental history session. These additions are particularly valuable when you mask significantly, when a previous assessment was inconclusive, or when you need highly detailed documentation for NHS or workplace purposes.

Our reports are produced by qualified clinical assessors using recognised diagnostic protocols (ADOS-2, validated questionnaires, structured clinical history). They are formatted to meet the documentation standards expected by NHS specialist services and UK/EU employers under equality legislation. We cannot guarantee how any specific NHS trust or employer will respond — policies vary — but the diagnostic methodology and report structure are clinically robust. The employer letter specifically addresses reasonable adjustments under disability equality frameworks.

The main preparation is completing the pre-session questionnaires (sent 48 hours before your appointment) and ensuring your device, camera, and microphone are working. The session is structured by us — there is nothing to revise or prepare in terms of knowledge. If you have access to previous psychological assessments, school reports, or similar documentation, bringing them is helpful but not required. We also recommend being in a quiet, private space — sensory environment can affect performance on some observation tasks.

Autistic burnout is clinically recognised, and it is important that we know about it in advance. Burnout can affect performance on some cognitive and social tasks, and can temporarily reduce the visibility of some characteristics while heightening others. Please mention burnout status at booking — we will note it in the clinical record and factor it into the assessment interpretation. In some cases, where burnout is very acute, we may suggest waiting a short period before assessment to ensure the most reliable clinical picture.

Clinical sessions are conducted in English. If you prefer to communicate primarily in Russian, please contact us before booking to discuss whether this can be accommodated for the history interview portion. Note that the ADOS-2 protocol itself is conducted in English, as it requires specific verbal prompts as standardised. Reports are issued in English as standard; Russian-language report summaries may be available on request.