Gold standard clinical autism assessments for teenagers and young adults

Good assessment is often the first step to getting the right support.

Our multidisciplinary team is here to help.

Initial Consultation

We offer a free initial 20 minute telephone consultation where we can hear more about your needs and decide if our service is right for you. During the phone call we can arrange further appointments, or if we don’t think we are best service for you we will try to direct you to other supports.

  • Duration: 20 minutes
  • Fee: Free

Autism Assessment

We offer the gold standard in Autism Assessment, which includes full developmental history interview, a face to face assessment and multidisciplinary team discussion. All of our clinicians are trained in ADOS-2 Assessments and have many years experience in Autism assessment.

  • 3 stage assessment process
  • Fee: £1,800

Diagnostic Assessment Report

We provide you with a detailed diagnostic report following your assessment. We detail our findings and offer personalised strategies and recommendations.

Post Diagnostic Advice

We offer a follow up appointment to help you make sense of the assessment outcome and discuss any questions you might have. Additional appointments are available on request following a completed assessment.

Individual Consultation

We offer individual consultations on request. Please contact us for further details.

  • Duration: 60 minutes
  • Fee: £150
View booking and fees information

Curious about assessment?

Curious Minds assessments are aimed at helping teenagers and young adults who are struggling with their social interactions, social communications and behaviours. It might be that you have considered the difficulties as part of the Autism Spectrum already or maybe someone you know has suggested this.

Once these difficulties are better understood (either as Autism or another type of difficulty) it becomes easier for others to understand and provide the support you need. We know that when challenges are not well understood or support, they can cause further difficulties socially, behaviourally and emotionally and can negatively impact on educational and personal achievements.

Sometimes the difficulties associated with Autism can overlap with other developmental or psychological conditions. Our assessments consider all these possibilities and we will always consider the bigger picture.

Why people seek further assessments from us

  • Finding it hard to make friends or keep friendships
  • Not understanding what other people are thinking and feeling
  • Finding it hard to communicate socially, verbally (in conversations) and non verbally (using eye contact or expressions)
  • Masking of social difficulties (often seen in females)
  • Finding it hard to be flexible when plans change, or unexpected situations occur
  • Becoming upset if routine changes
  • Having unique or specialist interests or hobbies
  • Being sensitive to certain sounds/smells/tastes

What does an assessment involve?

Our assessments take place in three stages, face to face in our clinical rooms.
We will first meet with you for an initial assessment to help establish whether it is appropriate for you to undergo full diagnostic assessment. This first appointment usually lasts up to 1.5 hours and we would take a history of the difficulties and complete screening measures together. Our clinicians will then discuss with you whether there are enough concerns associated with Autism to suggest a full diagnostic assessment, and you will be able to confirm whether you wish to proceed.
Our diagnostic assessment takes place face to face and usually lasts for up to 2 hours. All our diagnostic assessments are completed by two ADOS-2 trained clinicians, who are highly skilled in Autism assessment. ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule – 2nd edition) is well established as part of the gold standard method of diagnosing Autism. Our assessments are always personalised, and paced for the individual to feel comfortable and relaxed. We provide comfort breaks when needed, and we usually find that clients enjoy the process, particularly some of the activities involved in the ADOS.
After we have completed the assessment the findings are discussed by out multidisciplinary team and an agreement is reached about diagnosis. We will arrange a feedback session with you, either in person, online or over the telephone. During this feedback session we will explain to you how we reached our conclusion and give you a detailed explanation of your profile. You will have the opportunity to ask any questions you might have and we will discuss any particular strategies or supports we think might be helpful to you. If we feel that further assessments or interventions are needed we will make recommendations and sign post you to services we think might be useful. We will send you a detailed assessment report, which confirms the diagnostic outcome and details the recommendations we spoke about during the feedback session.

Fiona Mitchell

I qualified as a Speech and Language Therapist from The University of Strathclyde in 1996 and have over 25 years of experience working in NHS Scotland. I started work as a community Speech and Language Therapist working with children and young people.

I very quickly developed a real interest in Neurodevelopmental conditions, working closely with young people and their families to support the development of their speech, language and communication skills. I am passionate that all children should be in an environment where their communication can develop to the best of their abilities.

I have further developed my skills and knowledge particularly in the area of Autism, completing my ADOS 2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale) training and for a number of years my role has included being part of both community and specialist Autism Multidisciplinary Assessments.

I thoroughly enjoyed completing the National Autistic Society training in EarlyBird and EarlyBird Plus programmes. Delivering these parent groups allowed me to support families to learn more about Autism and to help them develop new ways to support their child.

I continue to work in the NHS supporting families on their journey pre and post assessment of Neurodevelopmental conditions.

 

Qualifications:

  • Bsc Hons Speech and Language Pathology

Claire Pollock

I am an Occupational Therapist (OT) with nearly 23 years experience within NHS Paediatric and Child and Adolescent Services both in Tayside and Fife, as well as a year as a Neurodevelopmental Therapist in a District Health Board in New Zealand. I have experience in both In-patient and community settings and have also been based within schools.

During this time, I have developed a particular passion for learning and sharing knowledge about Sensory integration and neuroscience. I feel privileged to have been able to explore and have conversations with many individuals about their unique sensory experiences; which are our foundation and gateway to how we experience our world with confidence.

I bring a broad and varied proficiency within the team around the child, supporting consistency in the home, school and other environments. Helping others to support you to achieve what is important to you.

OT considers the whole person, grounded in bringing a holistic approach to supporting people to achieve their goals. I also enjoy the creativity and problem solving aspect of being an OT and look forward to exploring this with you.
I look forward to meeting you and am curious to learn about your unique brain and subsequent different skills, abilities, needs and considerations.

Qualifications:

  • BSc Occupational Therapy
  • HCPC Registered

Claire Mathewson

I am an Advanced Nurse Practitioner with 17 years’ experience of working for the NHS with children, young people and adults who have Neurodevelopmental Disorders.

I qualified from the University of Dundee as a Learning Disability Nurse in 2005, then as a Mental Health Nurse in 2008. Following the undertaking of a Degree in Nursing, I went on to study and graduate with a Post Graduate Diploma in Advanced Practice in 2019. I am a Non-Medical Prescriber also who focuses on sleep and other neurodevelopmental disorders. I am currently undertaking a Masters Level research project in the diagnosis of Autism.

Over the last 7 years my experience of working within NHS services has focused on the assessment and diagnosis of Autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. I am trained in the delivery of the 3di and ADOS-2 assessment.

My professional passion is working with neurodiverse children, young people and adults and I am fortunate to be able to say I work alongside a diverse group of people who I learn from every day.

Qualifications:

  • BSc Nursing
  • PG Dip Advance Practice

  • Registered Independent and Supplementary Prescriber

Dr. Louise Loughran

I am a Clinical Psychologist with more than 16 years experience working in NHS Child & Adolescent Mental Health services across Scotland.

I am passionate about delivering high quality care for children and young people with neurodevelopmental conditions, with my particular area of interest being Autism. In my NHS clinical work I am fortunate to be involved in both CAMHS and Autism Assessments Teams, and have been for many years.

I studied for my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Glasgow and over the years I have developed my skills with extensive specialist training in Autism Assessments (ADOS), Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Family Therapy.

After qualifying I worked in NHS Greater Glasgow for many years as a Principal Psychologist with a key role in the development of Autism Assessments services.

I have always particularly enjoyed offering Autism assessments to young people and working with them and their families to reach a greater understanding of neurodiversity.

Qualifications:

  • Doctorate in Clinical Psychology
  • PG Dip Cognitive Psychology
  • BA Hons Psychology & Marketing