How to prepare and what to expect – before, during and after your autism assessment.
Step 1: Booking your Assessment
- You do not need a GP referral.
- Click the Book Online link on our website.
- Fill in the Booking Form.
- The assessment costs £1,950. You will need to pay in full when you book. Please have your debit or credit card ready.
- After payment, you will receive a confirmation email.
Choose your treatment
- Select Adult Autism Assessment.
- You must live in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
- This service is not available if you are currently serving in the UK armed forces.
- You will receive a Welcome email.
- This email contains a link to set up your MedQare patient portal account.
- You will also be asked to complete a Medical History Questionnaire.
Step 2: Preparing for your Assessment
You must complete a pre-assessment checklist before you can book your appointment.
Your Portal Profile
- Go to ‘My Profile’ in your MedQare portal dashboard.
- Fill in all your personal details.
Identity Verification
- Upload photo ID (passport, driving licence etc.).
- Upload proof of address (utility bill, bank statement, etc.).
- This is mandatory for online assessments.
Pre-assessment Questionnaires
- You will find these under Forms > Pending Forms in your portal:
- ASD Self-Report Questionnaire (Parts 1 & 2)
- AQ-10 (Autism Quotient-10)
- ASD Informant Report Questionnaire
If you still have school reports, please upload these too. They can be very helpful.
These forms give your consultant information about:
- Your daily life and routines.
- Your relationships.
- Your work or education experiences.
- Your family and medical history.
The assessment team needs as much information as possible to check for the core characteristics of autism (DSM-5 criteria).
- Standard questionnaires help your clinician make an accurate diagnosis.
- Set aside quiet time to gather your evidence and complete your forms.
- Give as much detail as possible to help your consultant build a clear picture of your life, symptoms and challenges.
- This must be completed by someone who knew you as a child (before age 12).
- If this is not possible, choose the person who knows your best and has known you the longest (for example, a parent, sibling, partner, friend or support worker).
- If you do not have anyone suitable, please let us know.
Why this matters: Childhood information is very important. Without it, it may be harder to give you a clear outcome or diagnosis.
- If you find the forms difficult, you can ask for help.
- Click Request Support to arrange a one-to-one session with our patient support team.
- This is available from the Forms section of your portal or within the Self-Report Questionnaire itself.
Step 3: Booking your Appointment
You can only book once you have:
- Uploaded your photo ID and proof of address to the portal.
- Submitted all three questionnaires.
When this is complete:
- We will send you a booking link by email and SMS.
- Click the link to see available times and consultants.
- You can read each consultant’s profile before choosing.
- Appointments are available 7 days a week, from 6am to 11pm.
You will need:
- A computer, laptop or tablet with a camera and microphone.
- Most modern devices already have these.
To check your device:
- Go to the Test Your Device tab at the top of the Psychiatry UK website.
- Allow the site to access your camera and microphone when prompted.
- We recommend using the Microsoft Teams app for the best experience.
- You do not need a Microsoft account.
- If you don’t want to install the app, please use the most recent version of Microsoft Edge browser.
If you need to change your appointment, leave a note in your portal for the medical secretary team.
Please read our Booking, Cancellations and Non-Attendance (DNA) Policy for full details.
Step 4: Accessibility and Adjustments
It’s important for you to feel comfortable in your assessment. If it’s helpful, you can request:
- Communication support (for example, shorter questions, more time to reply, or written prompts).
- Adjustments for sensory needs.
For deaf and hard of hearing patients:
We can provide:
- 90-minute appointments (instead of 60 minutes).
- A qualified interpreter (with the option to meet them 10–15 minutes before your session).
- A second interpreter if needed.
- Your choice of sign language (e.g., BSL, Signed English).
- Live transcription during your appointment.
- Ask your consultant and/or interpreter if you need clarification on the live transcription. This helps to reduce any misunderstandings or errors.
Please let us know your preferences through your patient portal.
Step 5: Your Online Consultation
- Your appointment will last about 1 hour and will take place on Microsoft Teams.
- We recommend finding a quiet, private place where you feel comfortable and can talk freely.
- You are welcome to have a family member join you if you would like.
- Your consultant will introduce themselves and explain the purpose of the session.
- They will ask to see your photo ID to confirm your identity.
- They will ask whether you’re happy for the consultation to be recorded.
- If you do not want it to be recorded, please say so clearly.
- Your psychiatrist must still keep accurate written notes. These notes go into your Psychiatry UK patient record.
- Please keep your camera on throughout. Observation is an important part of the process.
- The consultant will follow a structured format to make sure all diagnostic criteria are covered within the session time.
They will:
- Review the information from your pre-assessment questionnaires
- Ask questions about your history, experiences, and current challenges
- Gather a complete psychiatric history
- Consider whether you may have other conditions that are often linked to autism
- Observation and discussion together help the consultant look for the ‘core’ characteristics of autism.
Important to know
- If any questions make you feel uncomfortable, please tell your consultant. You will not be pressured to share anything you do not want to.
- If you want to add more information after the session, you can:
- Write a note in your MedQare portal
- Ask your consultant to consider this information before finalising your diagnosis
Step 6: Your Results and Next Steps
- Your consultant will explain their findings.
- They will give you a diagnosis, if appropriate.
- You will get a written report within 7 working days.
- With your permission, this report can also be sent to your GP.
- A diagnosis (if indicated).
- A personalised treatment plan.
- Resources and support options.
Your treatment plan will recommend:
- Options for non-pharmacological treatments (such as therapy, coaching, or skills training)
- Advice on where to seek ongoing support and guidance
- There are no specific medications for autism itself. However, medication may be offered for associated conditions, such as depression, anxiety, OCD, ADHD, alcohol or drug misuse.
Treatment and Support Options
There is no medication to treat autism directly. However, treatments and support can help with challenges and related conditions (such as anxiety, depression, OCD, ADHD).
Your consultant may recommend:
- Relationship or family therapy
- Coaching or life skills training
- Occupational therapy
- Employment advice and workplace adjustments
- Support for sensory sensitivities
- Psychotherapy for related conditions
You may also find self-help books, websites, and online communities useful.
Helpful websites:
Autism Wellbeing Pack (download)
Our website Resources area for more guides.
- If you need urgent advice or support, please follow the guidance on our website.
- For all general enquiries, please raise a note on your portal to contact our medical secretaries (available Mon to Fri 8am-5pm).
- IT support guides are available under the Information Hub tab on our website for help with logging into your portal, resetting your password or 2FA (two-factor authentication).
You are now ready for your assessment journey.
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